PopSpiracy

There's Something about Salander...

2012-01-08T02:02:00.033-05:00

The world can't seem to get enough of Lisbeth Salander, the main character of Stieg Larsson's
books (The Millenium Trilogy; The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played with Fire, The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest), whose adventures have resulted in international bestsellers, three Swedish films, and one new American remake (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo or 'Men who Hate Women', as the book is titled in Sweden). Salander is one of the most interesting literary and film heroines to appear on the landscape in years, a goth hacker and Ward-of-the-State turned vigilante.

For those unfamiliar with the story, I will be careful not to reveal all its secrets - they are worth unraveling on your own. The first book/film tells the story of Mikael Blomkvist, an investigative journalist trapped at the epicenter of media scandal, accused of libel. He finds an unlikely ally in cyber hacker extraordinaire Lisbeth, who believes he has been set up. The duo team together to solve the mystery of a tycoon's missing niece, believed to have been murdered 40 years prior by a member of her family.

Author Stieg Larsson met an untimely death at the age of 50 of a heart attack, himself having been an investigative journalist like character Blomkvist. The books were written as a hobby and were published posthumously to massive acclaim (Larsson was in the middle of the 4th book when he passed, and had supposedly outlined 10 books total for the series, forever leaving audiences curious about Lisbeth Salander's future). Larsson witnessed the brutal gang rape of a young girl he felt powerless to stop, which haunted him for years and supposedly served as the basis for his creation of Salander, a youth who falls through the cracks of a broken system and suffers a lifetime of abuse at the hands of family, guardians, and doctors. Lisbeth Salander doesn't see herself as a victim, she chooses to fight back, and exacts revenge on those who have harmed her (or seek to harm others).

There are countless reasons audiences are so drawn to the mysterious female protagonist of the books and films; Lisbeth is altogether different. Unorthodox and unapologetic, Salander is in a class all her own. On the exterior, she is anything but conservative - her gothic design seems to be a reflection of a life of hardship - her dark clothing, piercings, and tattoos intimidate while offering an inner glimpse at Salander's physical and emotional pain and societal disdain. Described as "boyish", about 4'9", with small breasts, anorexic weight, and the occasional mohawk, Salander seems to defy convention yet is accepted whole-heartedly by the mainstream, who seem to overlook her peculiarities and love her, regardless - and despite being an unlikely heroine or sex symbol, finds her place in the public's favor as both, quite the accomplishment.

Salander's piercings and tattoos are her personal wallpaper - her war paint in a seemingly neverending battle of personal and societal torment.

In fact, Lisbeth physically dons war paint in both the American remake of Dragon Tattoo (in the infamous scene with character Bjurman) and in the Swedish film The Girl Who Played With Fire, while interrogating a suspect. It is as if Salander has to visually transform to mentally detach and work up the intensity to serve up her own dish of personal justice against societal predators.

How she is written in the books versus the Swedish and American screenplays differs slightly. Having seen all versions, my personal favorites are the original Swedish film trilogy -notably the first film, all portrayed to perfection by Swedish actress Noomi Rapace in one of cinema's most electrifying performances of recent years. I wondered if any actress could live up to such a tour de force - American actress Rooney Mara breathes an altogether different energy into Salander that while brilliant, does not quite capture Salander as pictured in my mind (I anticipate an Oscar nomination). Sweden's Rapace brings the unpredictability, uncertainty, frightening intensity, and a social awkwardness to this complex character while Rooney's Salander is overly matter-of-fact yet somehow more apologetic in approach, perhaps a bit more designed for mainstream likability and more socially adept and visibly needy. Both portrayals are noteworthy and intriguing, but Noomi Rapace seems to understand Lisbeth and inhabit her skin to an uncanny degree - her Salander is strong and guarded yet fearful - she reminds me of a squirrel - small but incredibly muscular, ready for anything, and convinced an attack is inevitable so she must be prepared - a ticking time bomb ready to detonate. The sculpting of Rapace's body for the role makes a great deal of sense and everything right down to her dragon tattoo is far more intense than the remake.

Part of the success of the Swedish films comes from the remarkable chemistry of actors Noomi Rapace and Michael Nyqvist. Both are actors who have the rare gift of saying a lot through mere glances, words are unnecessary to peg the complex relationship between the two. The backstory of the characters is more fleshed out in the Swedish film, where we come to understand the public's fascination with Blomqvist while Salander remains enigmatic. In the American remake, Daniel Craig portrays a far less charismatic Blomqvist [than Nyqvist] and plays the journalist as an extension of his character James Bond - an overly confident man with little vulnerability - and zero chemistry with Rooney Mara, though you'd never guess that from the racy promotional materials that seem to bring far more heat to the union than anything that materializes on screen. While the American version has a longer and more graphic intimate scene between the characters, the lack of screen chemistry, misconstrued relationship, and poor onscreen representation of their connection suggests that the point has been altogether lost in translation, as evidenced by the promotional materials.

Note the American poster of Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (I have censored it here). I can't recall an American poster for a mainstream film bearing this much nudity - which is often more of a problem for American audiences than European ones. Lisbeth Salander is an abused young woman yet here, she is being exploited by the very person who could perhaps be the only man in he life that would never harm her. If Lisbeth were a real person, she would never have allowed such an invasion of her privacy and would have been quick to kick the photographer - I'm certain this poster would NOT meet with her approval. The poster and subsequent photo shoots are completely out of sync with Larsson's brainchild and example, which sought not merely to entertain but also to draw attention to the societal issue of violence towards women (at the hands of men) and misuse of power by those in authority positions. The promos, like much advertising, use sex to sell Lisbeth Salander to an audience - cheapening her existence and dulling the point. The sex appeal Lisbeth harbors comes largely from the fact that she doesn't try to be sexy - her attitude, brains, and talents are enough to intrigue and attract. Compared to most of her contemporaries, Salander fascinates because what is inside of her is far more interesting than what is on the outside, so to see the poster and promotional materials err in such a fundamental way is tragic - Salander is about the prevention of abuse, not the encouragement or objectification of women, which her character detests.

In general, the Blomkvist/Salander connection was flubbed in the remake and their connection lacked credibility. In the Swedish version, one tends to see more of their personalities and backstory and can understand how such a seemingly mismatched connection (on the surface) could materialize in reality. Both Blomkvist and Salander are, in their own way, outsiders, both are sharp minds and intellectually curious investigators who oppose the establishment, and both find themselves in positions of vulnerability they don't simply accept - they are both defenders and speakers of truth, who believe in justice and understand it has an inherent cost and one they are willing to pay - both would die for their convictions. In the American remake they are wooden, cold and hollow cardboard cutouts trapped in an action movie who exude far too much confidence, ultimately making the characters less interesting and mysterious; The film is essentially an action movie peppered with sex to sell the characters, while the European version kept the focus where it needed to be and humanized its leads, while still allowing them to share a secret or two. The Swedish version focused more on Salander while never revealing too much, and the film enjoyed a more heroic ending for its lead. That said, both Mara and Craig's performances were brilliant - even if at times misguided, and the American version is still quite good, especially if you have no point of reference for the story - and is a different interpretation that, while entertaining, misses several points that made the Swedish films and books great, though it has its own strengths (notably the opening credits sequence, one of the best I've seen in a long time and the perfect way to set the tone for the film). Sexuality and violence are graphic in both films, yet the Swedish scenes appear to have purpose while the American scenes feel more exploitative. The books were written, after all, to draw attention to the plight of abused women - not to encourage it.

In summary, I applaud the efforts of both the European and American cinematic attempts to tell this story - which I consider to be an important one, and I am grateful for Larsson's contribution and wish he would have had more time to tell this unique story. Salander is an incredibly empowered, capable, and brilliant young woman who uses more than just fists to fight against societal corruption. She gives abused women a voice and options and I find her story heartbreaking and her journey compelling. I admire her, as much as you can any fictional character, and while I am personally glad I am not Lisbeth Salander, it gives me hope that there are women out there who can learn something from her. She doesn't simply accept circumstance or that she is "unlucky", she does what she can with what she has and uses her skills to try to find solutions to her most vexing problems (and those of society). She is also a reminder that you can't judge a book by its cover.

I am most reminded here of the jury's assumptions of her in The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest and how she uses her ingenuity in the most horrid of human conditions to expose the truth and prove she is more than they can ever assume.

Indeed, Lisbeth Salander is a character that both men and women can respect - and they better, she won't have it any other way.

Justice served: Conrad Murray found Guilty.

2011-11-07T16:41:00.007-05:00

I am proud of the jurors of the Conrad Murray trial for making a brave decision that I can only hope sets a precedent and sends a strong message to 'celebrity doctors' and other medical professionals who put profit over ethics, logic, and human life.

May Jackson's family finally get the peace they deserve.

AMC Theaters Stubs card review: 0 Stars

2011-10-26T00:55:00.006-04:00

Sadly, AMC laid to rest its beloved MovieWatcher card and replaced it with a major downgrade, otherwise known as the "Stubs" card. And yes, included in those changes are the disappearance countless 'points' MovieWatchers accumulated over the years as well as everything truly great about a discount movie card.

If you've been to an AMC Theater recently, you know about Stubs - it is shamelessly plugged to every patron that walks in - at the ticket booth AND at the concession stand. Naturally, it is touted as the greatest thing since bad 3-D made a comeback at your local cinema, but the deal is really more of a steal. (Perhaps you've seen one of the countless brochures lying on the table inside the theater - note the back of the brochure - an entire folded page lists nothing but endless small print, highlighting the countless ways Stubs finds even more ways to cheat customers out of good deals.)

For starters, movie card programs are successful as they offer incentives for patrons to return to theaters again and again as continuous swipes stack up to accumulated points, which turn into free concession items or movie tickets. The Stubs program, on the other hand, ensures more money for AMC Theaters while placing an increased cost on consumers (during pressing economic times, no less). Stubs offers several extras that consumers don't want or need. While rewards cards are normally complimentary, the Stubs program charges patrons $12 up front (also advertised as a dollar a month so it doesn't seem so bad). Considering the last AMC rewards program was free, this doesn't bode well. Charging customers for 'incentives' to come to an already overpriced movie theater experience does little to encourage customers to continue walking through the door and thus misses the point and defeats the purpose of an incentive-based rewards card).

Among the 'perks': For every $100 you spend, you get $10 back. As a patron, you are already charged $12 upfront, so by the time you actually make it to $100 (How often do you go to the movies?) and you get your first 'reward', you already paid for it yourself, and a few dollars extra. You also get free refills on soda and popcorn - just what our country needs when it's facing an obesity epidemic. (Would you like more butter with that? You'll have to get it yourself, because the butter is self-serve.) How much soda or popcorn does a person need? Too many liquids will send you running to the restroom during mid-movie and popcorn is simply filler - you can only eat so much of it (or would want to). Due to rising costs, most people eat prior to attending the theater - having healthier options available. Not to mention, it barely costs AMC a thing to pour more soda in your cup or top off your popcorn - this boils down to mere cents.

Another 'perk' is that patrons who order tickets online don't have to pay purchase fees. There are several websites where you can purchase your movie tickets without fees. (AMC's website adds fees for online ticket purchases - just so they can justify what a 'deal' your Stubs card is. Not to mention, ordering tickets online saves THEM money as they can lay off more employees and automate their system. As such, why are YOU being charged more money for this?

Also available through the Stubs program is an online stubs collection so you can keep track of the films you've seen. I don't know anyone who cares about this - if you are that interested in a collection, you can keep your paper stubs or save a copy of your yearly movie lists on your computer - this is a simple online application that sounds far more interesting (or useful) than it is.

Some AMC Theaters offer "Student Night" or "Senior Night" once a week, though there are terms and conditions (a midnight movie will be counted as the next day, sneak peaks don't apply, etc). Given that students are presently drowning in loans, it's unfortunate that not all AMC Theaters offer this, nonetheless one day per week. You can buy gold or silver passes, yet many restrictions exist on these - if you try to watch a new movie with a silver pass, you will receive a $1.50 upcharge that defeats the purpose of buying a pass to begin with.

As an avid moviegoer (and once AMC patron and fan), I couldn't be more disappointed by the introduction of such an awful program, far inferior to MovieWatcher and several movie rewards cards at competing chains (who now have my business and full attention).

In this economy, all consumers are watching their expenses. There is never a good time to implement absurd policies - though if there was, this certainly isn't it. Times are tough and customers want to spend their hard-earned money on chains that have policies which prioritize the consumer, not the corporation. After a long day, a customer wants to walk into a theater chain and have a relaxing experience, not hear employees forcibly try to dupe them into purchasing a Stubs card. I have no doubt that some consumers (those who fail to research the card or read the fine print) will purchase the card and the company will make some money off of the idea in the short-term, but this is NOT a long-term idea and will turn away the loyal patrons AMC had, MovieWatchers and film fans alike. Sadly, these new policies make it clear that consumers and their satisfaction are no longer the top priority.

Aside from Stubs, several areas at AMC Theaters could use improvements - not excluding the introductory experiences. The theater promo reel informs theater patrons not to use their cell phones or text, yet the commercials played in the theater are an endless barrage of cell phone advertisements, phone Apps, and products with web addresses. Is this ironic to anyone else? It certainly encourages cell phone use, making it unlikely consumers will actually turn off their phones. (Once again, revenue placed over consumer experience.)

AMC’s policies should make moviegoing experiences more pleasant and customer-friendly, not the opposite. Want to share your AMC experiences at the website? You'll have to sign in and divulge all of your personal information and post your comments in public forums, making the process more complicated and invasive than necessary (bye-bye blank entry fields). You shouldn't have to join a website or sign up for anything to leave customer feedback, something most companies value, simplify, and privately communicate with consumers.

What a disappointing direction AMC has taken - this type of corporate greed and poor management will reflect in lost consumer base and detract from finances, not create loyal patrons. (Take a lesson from Netflix.) Support your local movie theaters and chains that have YOUR best interests at heart.

The Jury's Still Out on Dr. Murray

2011-10-20T15:01:00.010-04:00

Today marks the last day of testimony for the prosecution against Dr. Conrad Murray, cardiologist and former physician of Michael Jackson.

It has also been nearly two years since my initial post 'Why no hurry to nab Dr. Murray?'. The defense is set to begin arguments tomorrow.

I am struggling to understand how the defense plans on winning this case. The prosecution has done a terrific job showing the reckless abandon that was Dr. Murray's "care" of Jackson. That the defense planned on arguing that Jackson injected himself (or drank additional Propofol) is laughable in and of itself and numerous witnesses, including today's testimony from anesthesiologist Dr. Steven Schafer, have been quick to explain the improbability of this scenario. A defense team building a strategy blaming the victim for their death has their work cut out for them. How many scenarios can you think of where a patient dies under a doctor's care and it's the patient's fault? The defense has finally decided to toss out the theory that Jackson may have ingested Propofol, though that it was even suggested at all is preposterous, and that a segment of the population actually believed Jackson self-injected or drank Propofol is even worse. If the patient had any other name, I don't believe anyone would entertain that suggestion.

I believe name recognition has a great deal to do with the public's opinions on such matters. I have never seen a celebrity (or any dead man) be subjected to the claims and scenarios I have witnessed over the past two years in relation to this case.

Let's review the facts. Dr. Conrad Murray administered Propofol repeatedly to patient Michael Jackson. Propofol is a dangerous anesthetic, one that slows heart rate and depresses breathing, as such it is not supposed to be administered outside of a hospital setting, nonetheless for "insomnia". Even as a Cardiologist, Murray did not anesthetize his other patients - he had an anesthesiologist do this and he did not have the training or knowledge to properly administer doses. He did not have the equipment on hand to correctly monitor the patient or prepare for an emergency situation. He broke the cardinal rule for administering anesthesia - leaving the room to talk on the telephone (he claimed he went to the bathroom for two minutes, which contradicted his phone records and witness testimony). The patient was left unsupervised (which, given that the patient is unconscious and on a dangerous drug, heart rate and breathing must be constantly monitored). When Dr. Murray discovered Jackson wasn't breathing, he did not call 911 immediately, which is standard protocol, and the 911 call was not placed until 20 minutes after the discovery, which the paramedic on scene claimed would have saved Jackson's life. Despite his years as cardiologist, Dr. Murray did not know how to properly administer CPR and did so one handed (as opposed to using both hands) and on a bed (as opposed to the floor, a hard surface). The patient was already dead yet Dr. Murray continued to give CPR and staged a show, having Michael's eldest son Prince brought up to the bedroom so he could see Dr. Murray trying to 'save' Jackson and when paramedics came, Dr. Murray insisted they continue CPR, despite their belief that he had passed. Dr. Murray lied to paramedics about the IV bags, claiming they were filled with harmless saline solution, lied to EMTs, firefighters, doctors, and police, failed to mention Propofol as a drug he had administered when inquired, ordered hundreds of vials of the dangerous substance, lied to law enforcement saying he had comforted Michael's children at the hospital (a claim they refute), hid evidence, and fled the scene. Do these events sound like the actions of an innocent man? Dr. Murray can choose to blame the patient or other doctors, but he is clearly at fault - this was his patient, who died under his care, due to his negligent decisions. Dr. Conrad Murray took a Hippocratic Oath - and on all levels, failed to care for his patient, resulting in Jackson's death from "acute Propofol intoxication".

Despite all the testimonials and evidence from those who were actually there and who saw the events unfold, a significant percentage of the population continues to assert that Jackson killed himself and is responsible for his own death. Again, the name "Michael Jackson" appears to be the source of bias in opinions as these people negate fact. Some have apathy for the situation, suggesting no one should care, or insinuate that the trial is a loss of tax payer's money (they certainly weren't saying this when Jackson was on the stand). This is a human life we are discussing and the implications are significant for all patients who have faith in their doctors to provide adequate healthcare. If this happened to your loved one or certainly if it had happened to you (though you wouldn't witness the outcome), you would have wanted the truth to emerge, the facts brought to light, and would want to see justice served. Not to mention, Jackson gave a great deal of himself as an artist to the public and as a humanitarian to the world, to suggest the matter is 'irrelevant' or not worth taking the time to examine is a sad statement. How many public figures have to die at the hands of these 'celebrity doctors' who compromise health standards for blood money? Elvis Presley, Anna Nicole Smith, and Heath Ledger, to name a few, might still be with us if the were not enabled by their doctors, the very people paid (handsomely) to care for them.

Along with this trial come accusations that Jackson was an unhealthy drug addict. What is known about Jackson's past is that he began to take painkillers in 1984 due to pain from burns he suffered on the set of a Pepsi commercial. As he had numerous surgeries, he was not a stranger to undergoing anesthetics for procedures. In the early 90s, spurred by the initial allegations, he had a painkiller addiction for which he went to rehab and overcame in 1995 (he references his addiction to Demerol in the song "Morphine"). While no other mention was made, Jackson was known for his insomnia and chronic back pain. While it isn't known what his exact habits were in his last years, Jackson was said to take painkillers regularly given physical (and presumably some emotional) pain and his family did claim to have had interventions with him, so he must have relapsed at some point. He was taking painkillers prior to his death as Dr. Murray recorded audio of Jackson's slurred speech (a sad recording was played in the courtroom). Why the doctor secretly recorded him, nonetheless kept the recording, is highly questionable and disturbing, a clear breach of patient/doctor confidentiality clause and ethics).

Was Jackson addicted to anesthetics and/or painkillers in the midst of his last months? This Is It" director Kenny Ortega did notice some health problems at one point upon which he confronted Dr. Murray who denied there were any problems, while Michael's manager Frank DiLeo mentioned that Michael had "an episode". Dancers and crew working on "This Is It" didn't notice anything wrong and if you watch the concert film footage, Jackson appears hyper-focused, able to intensely concentrate and multi-task, and seems like an artist not only at the top of his game, but clear-headed and able to carry out his vision of a great show. As such, perhaps he had a bad reaction to medication, if he was using drugs at this very busy time that required so much physical and mental focus and stamina, it was most likely sporadic and not a constant. This was certainly not a man who was drugged beyond rationality every day he was preparing for his final concerts, he had too much to do.

If Jackson was an addict, does this still make his death his fault? It is a doctor's responsibility to know their patient's history. If Dr. Conrad Murray's sole patient at the time was Michael Jackson and they had a working relationship, he knew better than anyone what Michael's habits may have been and bore the ultimate responsibility of ensuring his patient's healthcare needs were met. Jackson didn't inject himself - Dr. Murray injected him and had hundreds of vials ready. For what?! Let's entertain the hypothetical fantasy that Jackson did inject himself (which, anesthesiologists and the coroner have already explained didn't happen). Jackson was left alone in a room, something you don't do when a patient is under anesthesia nonetheless if a patient has a drug problem, therefore it would have been Dr. Murray's responsibility regardless of scenario as his physician. The doctor broke countless rules and procedures, leading to this tragic passing.

To assert that Jackson was physically unhealthy is problematic. Despite Jackson's frail figure, he was always known for his poor appetite and struggled with anorexia throughout his life (if you observe footage of him during the Thriller era, he is just as painfully thin). Perhaps with the appearance of age, this was even more superficially noticeable. However, all reports peg Jackson as healthy, despite his low weight. The autopsy report confirmed how healthy he was (aside from his cause of death) and the coroner noted in court that he was healthier than a 5o-year old would normally be. Personal Trainer Lou Ferrigno trained Jackson several times a week for his tour, insisting that Michael was very strong, and AEG, the company involved in Jackson's last would-be concerts ensured that he passed a battery of tests and rigorous physicals to ensure he was in good physical condition to perform. Addict or not, Jackson's physical health was in good form.

I am also most disturbed by images of Jackson's corpse that continue to surface both through the trial and in other avenues (such as autopsy photos shown by VH1). I have grappled with this, trying to determine a reason we are subjected to this constant inappropriate viewing - often without warning. I can think of no other entertainers where such graphic photos were openly displayed for all to see - sure, there is the supposed photo of Elvis in his coffin, which is a far cry from a corpse lying nude on a sheet. Like Elvis, Jackson was the largest star of his time and the most famous man on the planet, though I doubt the King of Rock N' Roll would have ever been publicly displayed in such a manner (regardless of era). I also shudder to think of Jackson's children coming across such images, that corpse doesn't simply belong to a megastar - but also a father, brother, and son. Initially, I suspected this came out of Jackson's level of unprecedented fame and global recognition, but I recognize it as an extension of the blatant disregard and disrespect consistently bestowed upon him by the media and further attempts to exploit his name and image unethically for continued ratings and profit, a recurring theme. Even in death, Jackson is not allowed to peacefully rest or avoid scrutiny on the most invasive levels.

In summary, this is not a trial about the name "Michael Jackson". It is irrelevant whether or not you liked the man, whether or not he was a "junkie", or what you think he did or didn't do in the past. This trial is simply about a human being that died as a result of a doctor who was engaging in unethical behavior and treatment (or lack thereof) of his patient. Dr. Murray has had two years to carry on with his life, while Jackson has been deprived of breath altogether. (Consequently, on zero evidence and based on an accusation alone, Jackson was dragged out of bed, handcuffed, and thrown into a police station for allegations while upon his death, the man responsible has walked free without being subjected to any such indignities. I'll leave you to speculate what's wrong with that picture). Among reasons for the lengthy delay, the LAPD did not treat the scene as a crime scene, perhaps due to the patient's name and their assumptions, they assumed a crime wasn't committed, so the evidence was not correctly collected and processed and sloppy mistakes were made, as evidenced in the courtroom upon several interrogations. Who knows what facts may have been brought to light if these procedures were properly handled?

It is my understanding that Dr. Murray can face up to 4 years in jail if found guilty and that he may be allowed to undergo house arrest at some point during that sentence. The outcome of the trial remains to be seen. In any event, he will most certainly lose his licenses to practice medicine and will forever be known as the man who killed Michael Jackson. Given that Jackson has millions of adoring fans spread around the globe, it's a safe bet that Conrad Murray will never have a smooth ride through life, regardless of the jury's decision.

I am not sure what the definition of "justice" is within the context of such a situation. Three children must grow up without the only parent they knew and adored, a family continues to grieve, and the world was deprived of a singular talent that can no longer grace the stage. I can only hope that this trial sets an example for other "celebrity doctors", too often it is their patients who pay the ultimate price. Patient care is the number #1 responsibility of a physician, perhaps this case will remind all doctors how important it is to remain vigilant and prioritize ethics in treatment, to not anesthetize if you don't have the training or equipment to do so, and to learn CPR, which seems obvious but clearly can't be emphasized enough. I can only take comfort that this man will most likely be rendered unable to provide medical services or anesthesia to patients again and hope something is learned in the wake of this tragic event, so we don't continue to see history repeat itself in Hollywood.

Ancient Aliens on the History Channel

2011-10-16T15:37:00.008-04:00

The Great Pyramid of Giza. Machu Picchu.

How do we account for numerous wonders of the Ancient world? How could "primitive" humans, without the technology we take for granted today, have created such vast and mysterious creations? For some, the answer lies in science, in archaeological digs and theory. For others, the only explanation is that we were visited by extra-terrestrials who gave us the tools to achieve these great feats.

While history is undoubtedly filled with misunderstandings and miscommunication rife in our historical media, I find it personally disappointing that The History Channel would give into such outlandish fair. Don't get me wrong, the series 'Ancient Aliens' is as amusing as watching the film 'Stargate' or indulging in any fun science fiction. It's also a clever demonstration of Individual Selection Theory, which posits that viewers essentially "see what they want to see", gathering information that supports their perspective (in the Technological Age - especially on the internet, there is no shortage of information to support any view humans have - no matter how far-fetched).

I have heard quite a bit about this show and have even met a few individuals who strongly subscribe to the belief that ancient civilizations were built by alien visitors. I understand why humans are so baffled and bewildered by ancient treasures, they stand the test of time and leave us in perpetual wonderment. But I am sad to see these theories play out on a channel dedicated to historical education (though I am sure there are several embellishments and errors portrayed on the channel with respect to other events and happenings for entertainment purposes). I am also concerned as to what such beliefs truly say about those who believe such theories, with respect to the potential of our species.

The show indulges in speculation as to how these ancient structures were built during times when humans seemed to understand so little. Many of the guests have little credibility (as could be expected), such as citing an 'investigative journalist' as a source or a host practically forcing a stonemason to indulge in the notion that aliens gave ancient humans the tools to cut through granite. The stonemason proceeds to say that it would take an incredibly long time to cut such intricate patterns and essentially suggests that he wouldn't have the time to do so because he basically has a life to return to. He has also been cutting through rock for 40 years and can't explain how the ancients were able to master their craft. What is life without a few unsolved mysteries?

Suggesting that aliens either built ancient civilizations or gave humans the tools to do so, simply because we modern humans can't explain some of the mysteries of the past, is unfortunate and frankly, lacks human imagination. I believe that most of our difficulty to comprehend these scenarios lies in extreme judgment of our ancestors, human capability, and a lack of empathy and understanding of those who lived in other eras.

Flexing our empathy muscles, it's not hard to conceive that ancient people had lives drastically different than our own, and their concept and use of time greatly differed from how we spend our days. Ancient civilizations sustained themselves, they grew their own food, and while many worked, the definition of "job" wasn't the usual 9-to-5 system we are accustomed to. (Nor do we have leaders that force thousands of us at a time to work on projects of their choosing.) The modern stonemason is correct to suggest he doesn't have the time to devote decades to carving out intricate patterns on the mass scale as done thousands of years ago. However, ancient people had a great deal of time on their hands and while they weren't staring at a blaring screen, they had to fill their time with creative and intellectual pursuits or were often subject to forced labor in mass numbers. Our ancestors most likely spent a great deal of time pondering mystery, problem-solving, and making due with the resources they had available, not unlike their modern counterparts.

To suggest that we needed an alien species to "show us the way" to correctly build and create suggests a profound lack of faith in our ancestors' ability to be independent thinkers and strategists. Why is it so hard for the modern human to believe in our own species? Did aliens build our airplanes, light bulbs, and computers or cure Polio? No, human ingenuity did. What makes us so certain that our ancestors did not have the same capacity to use logic and reasoning to find practical solutions to their problems and to enjoy amazing feats and accomplishments as a result? OK, so they didn't have
power drills, forklifts, and computers to engineer and build. This doesn't mean they didn't have expert knowledge and utilize their definition of "technology" to make ends meet.

Per Occam's Razor, the simplest explanation tends to be true. What is more plausible - that man was intelligent and made the most with what they had or that ancient aliens visited us and gave us tools and then whisked off (with the tools) later, that they had flying machines, and that obelisks could communicate with satellites that beamed across the globe? Humans are brilliant creatures and always have been. Suffice to say, ancient people were far more intelligent and resourceful than we credit them for. Humans are far more capable than they expect of themselves on a daily basis. I have had the wondrous experience of seeing DaVinci and Michelangelo works in person, pieces of art that continue to fuel the human imagination and defy explanation hundreds of years after-the-fact. Art and architecture will always inspire other humans to push the boundaries of possibility and think outside of the limitations we often impose on ourselves. After all, man has rocketed to the moon, taken to the skies, and found solutions to numerous global and geological challenges, and we didn't need E.T. to do it.

Were it not for the burning of the library at Alexandria, we may have a few more pieces of the puzzle as to unlocking some secrets of the ancient world (though fortunately, we had duplicates of many texts). However, our endless curiosity and wondering as a species inspires further investigation and innovation. We have, after all, survived thousands of years for a reason: We have the capacity to use our minds, think critically, and forge ahead, regardless of the obstacles that lie ahead. Perhaps hundreds of years from now, our descendants will wonder some of the same questions about us.

I can only hope 'Ancient Aliens' finds a home on a different channel and that humans restore faith in one another and continue to forge a unique path in our history, one of advancement and exploration.

Addiction strikes again: RIP, Amy Winehouse

2011-07-23T14:52:00.009-04:00

Today, the world received the sad news that singer Amy Winehouse passed away at the tender age of 27.

This event is shocking in the way any death is - it is sudden and one doesn't associate death with the young. Note that the cause of Winehouse's death is as of yet unknown though it is suspected to be alcohol or drug related related as Amy struggled with addiction in life.

I've already heard people using simple labels and blanket terms to describe this passing, as people often react to tragedy in the most simplistic terms when in fact, there is nothing "easy" about addiction. People label Winehouse a "junkie" or say she has joined 'the 27 Club', referencing her place in an increasing group of rock stars that passed at the same age, as if this is an expectation or normal rite of passage.

Amy's death is a sad reminder of the brevity of life, the consequences that can result from not getting help, and offers further proof as to how devastating addiction can truly be.

Winehouse sprung up as a sort of anti-hero (not unlike Kurt Cobain), a person who challenged convention and rebelled against the system, writing and belting out a song about her refusal to go to rehab - for which she was rewarded when the song became a #1 hit and international smash, making her a household name. The only time one heard Winehouse referenced in the media was for her antics regarding drugs and alcohol and its resulting behavior, such as one of her final performances during which she seemed unable to remember song lyrics on stage.

Celebrities with addiction are not an uncommon phenomenon, most of the public is quick to point out who has a problem and lambast them. Shows like 'Celebrity Rehab' turn their stars into profit pawns instead of giving them the tools to overcome addiction, hence their continued relapses, overdoses, and deaths, while 'celebrity doctors' continue to turn a profit with blood money, supplying celebrities with drugs they don't need and enabling addicts. The public does not allow celebrities to make mistakes, be imperfect, or have real problems - and is quick to judge and ridicule those who need help while supporting media that preys off of their illness and misery. How could a star like Amy Winehouse turn a new leaf when her public image as an addict was given so much attention? Did the media ever highlight other aspects of her character and did the public focus on her talent, or just her mounting problems as a topic of discussion around the water cooler? Would a sober Winehouse have ever been successful or supported? Did people come to see her shows to listen to her amazing voice or to see if they could catch one of her famous onstage mishaps? There are even websites online taking bets on who the next celebrity will be to make it into an early grave. The public has made a game of the misery of public figures, as a scapegoat from the realities of their own lives and as an outlet for their own dark desires to see others fail, namely those with some measure of financial success or fame.

There is more than enough blame to pass around for the loss of Winehouse and a celebrity-obsessed society that makes light of celebrity problems and revels in seeing big names fall. Yes, the media needs to be more accountable, as do these 'doctors', but the public also has a level of responsibility to fulfill here. The media circus is fueled by the public's cravings to see all and know all, yet they clearly don't understand all. What they see is a small snippet of a person, not a complete picture, and I'm sure there was plenty more in Amy Winehouse worth celebrating than what she snorted up her nose. I choose to remember Winehouse as a talented singer and young person who deserved better, both for herself and from the public and media so quick to profit from her troubles. People must be willing to take a look in the mirror prior to throwing stones at those they have never met when they dwell in their own glass houses. They should expect more from themselves, raise their standards of media expectations, and encourage a media to flourish that celebrates human achievement, not destruction.

RIP.

Dr. Drew strikes again...

2011-05-27T23:16:00.006-04:00

Two years ago, I blogged about Dr. Drew being a hack, referencing his disturbing habit of "diagnosing" callers on the Loveline show within seconds of hearing their voices or exploiting patients on Celebrity Rehab while violating confidentiality clauses important to achieving sobriety and encouraging poor behavior amongst addicts instead of offering the treatment they needed.

Sadly, the situation has worsened. Two of Dr. Drew's former patients (both appeared on Celebrity Rehab) have died within the past few months: Alice In Chain's bassist Mike Starr and actor Jeff Conaway. Dr. Drew was quick to release a statement today on the passing of Conaway, disputing reports that the actor had died from an overdose by saying his death was caused by years of drug abuse (he was 60). Time will tell what the cause of death really was, but I certainly wouldn't take Dr. Drew's word for anything. These addicts were expected to 'put on a show' and be entertaining on television (bad antics = good ratings) instead of focus seriously on their treatment. Rocker Steven Tyler wrote a passage in his new book (Does the Noise in my Head Bother You?) discussing the show 'Celebrity Rehab' and sharing his anger with respect to how the show exploited his friend Steven Adler (of Guns N' Roses): "They wanted him to act out his own messed-up state when he entered rehab. It was ghoulish and unreal. They gave him 30 grand for the episode, he snorted it all, crashed his car, and he ended up in jail detox." Of the show itself, he mentions: "It didn't seem to me all that ethical using actual f**ked-up people like Steven Adler in a reality show, but who am I to say? Not to mention getting trashed celebrities to mime their own self-destructive nosedives which they then sensationalize on a melo-f**king-dramatic reality show, which so traumatizes them they end up in worse shape than ever - from the drugs they bought with the money from the show." The late DJ AM, who died of an overdose two years ago, was also a patient.

Sadly, Dr. Drew's patients are losing their lives and battles with addiction, a sad reminder of how unorthodox and completely unethical Dr. Drew's methods truly are. While it is true that many addicts relapse even when seeking treatment, one need not look further than an episode of Celebrity Rehab to understand the dangers and errors of his approach. Odd that a man who has written a book about celebrity narcissism not only promotes it on "Celebrity Rehab" but is also a prime example of it, finding his way on countless shows to break the Hippocratic Oath left and right by talking about not only his patients but also the lives of countless celebrities, commenting on their personal matters that are none of his business or concern, nor does he have the knowledge about their situations to comment as they aren't patients (just as he 'diagnosed' callers on Loveline based on a split-second call. That is NOT sound psychology, nor is it useful. Not only is this behavior not becoming a doctor, but Dr. Drew is so hungry for attention and fame he takes any opportunity to get on television to judge and exploit celebrities in trouble. This helps no one. He might as well join the cast of "The View" with all the trash-talking he engages in. (Remember when he diagnosed Joaquin Phoenix based on his infamous interview with Dave Letterman? Despite Joaquin playing a part in an elaborate hoax, Dr. Drew took the appearance seriously saying "Notice that his facial expressions are not still but rather one can see what we call flat suggesting a physiological alteration of his facial expressions due to his mental state. He was dysarthric, a specifically thick tongue that again is difficult if not impossible to mimic. And finally there was severe motor slowing which is a yet another feature of intoxication or a severe psychiatric condition such as depression." Er, wrong diagnosis, Doc. This example is a perfect demonstration of why no doctor can diagnose a stranger, nonetheless someone who isn't even a patient (nor is it ethical to tempt to do so).

I am sad that Dr. Drew is given so many TV shows and forums to express his warped priorities and opinions. He is no better than many of these television "doctors" who are more interested in attention than public service only he is far more dangerous than many as his name continues to be linked with tragedy for those under his care, as an enabler (not unlike the doctors charged in the death of Anna Nicole Smith or Dr. Murray whose inattention and mistakes led to Michael Jackson's passing). Dr. Drew may not be giving celebrities drugs, but he certainly isn't helping them get off of them when they turn to him for guidance and is enabling and encouraging bad behavior for his own reward. It is my sincere hope that the public wakes up to the dangers of doctors who suckle off of celebrities and place profits over humanity. Human life is sacred, these unfortunate individuals deserved better care.

Wedded Bliss

2011-04-30T15:01:00.007-04:00

Like billions of people around the globe, I tuned in to watch the wedding of the Duke and Dutchess of Cambridge (otherwise known as Prince William and Kate (Now, Katherine) Middleton.

Years ago, I posted articles that referenced Prince William's shortage of public duties (in contrast to his father, Prince Charles, by his age). For much of his life, William has tucked himself away from the public as much as possible, in the impossible quest for more privacy and anonymity. Since these articles, Prince William has stepped up his A game and has served his country through his military service and current work as an RAF search and rescue pilot. He has done more royal engagements, philanthropic work, and has performed increased duties that have long been expected of him. (Better late than never.) His reluctance to step into a more public role is somewhat understandable given his view that the press was responsible for his mother's death and a source of unhappiness as they hunted her every move. There is no doubt that, standing on that balcony with his new bride, Prince William must have received a clear picture of the influence and public support he truly had, as evidenced by a million people that had gathered within his sight to catch a glimpse of the new couple, hoping to see an iconic kiss.

Prince William and Catherine gave the public far more than they bargained for, including a second (more lingering) kiss and a view of the couple riding in Prince Charles's Aston Martin. The most striking visual was seeing the future of the monarchy take central stage on the balcony, next to figures that looked nothing short of antiquated. The massive crowds and record-breaking global views of this historic day show that the monarchy is certainly here to stay (for now) . While the whole day was PR heaven for the royal family, giving the public what appeared to be a new royal couple set to breath modernity and warmth into an institution that badly needs it, one must remember that the monarchy doesn't change much. Prince William and Catherine repeated a scene set on the same stages countless times before. In the same church, in the same carriage, on the same balcony as several predecessors. For certain, their children will be photographed in the same rooms and lawns, whose children will follow suit (if the monarchy survives the test of time). Prince William and bride are extensions of tradition and in truth, neither is a figure the public can much relate to. When the PR machine is at rest, not much is known about these two or their private life as a couple, but the few details that emerge showcase two individuals not many modern people can relate to. Despite endless attempts at comparison by the media, Catherine is NOT Princess Diana II, nor is Prince William. The young royals have a carefully crafted image and despite the beauty and happiness of this royal wedding, one must remember that the occasion is both tradition and orchestration. The public face the press is trying to sell, the monarchy wants to the public to believe, and that which society actually does are often in conflict.

As for the future of the monarchy, much of the public has voiced an opinion that Prince Charles is not a worthy successor to the Queen (and regardless of pointless articles and public polling, the line of succession is not a popularity contest). There is an order to this tradition, and unless Prince Charles dies prior to the Queen or abdicates (neither scenario seems likely), he will be the next on the throne. I am disenchanted when I see a public that disregards all of Prince Charles's years of sacrifice and duty to his country in favor of his son, simply because Prince William is younger and looks like his mother Diana, the beloved Princess of Wales. Prince Charles has put in over sixty years of waiting and work for this role which he has taken seriously while Prince William spent much of his time avoiding that level of responsibility. Prince Charles is not only the heir to the throne, but also a man who has done more charity work than Diana and rarely receives any credit. He has the unfortunate situation of being wedged between figures he can't possibly compete with, but that doesn't diminish his commitment and service to Queen and country.

The wedding was everything the public hoped it would be, offering us all a glimpse into a true fairy tale. That Prince William married a 'commoner' (which simply means someone who isn't a royal or aristocrat - bear in mind her family does have money) only serves to increase public interest and turn tides in favor of this couple, as he brings to the table what Diana hoped he would - a monarchy with a closer connection to its people. Time will tell if this hope will ultimately be fulfilled as Prince William's preference is generally to hide from the public when possible, though unlike his father, one can be assured that if public opinion favors his bride, it won't cause that same marital strife. Prince William would most likely be happy to see someone else get the brunt of the spotlight unlike Diana who found it disturbing and problematic in her marriage. Catherine Middleton offers beauty, style, and a sense that she is "one of us". She comes from an intact family and a more commonplace life, qualities Prince William could have only wished for. Despite endless comparisons, Catherine Middleton and Princess Diana have little in common. This could bode well for their marriage, as Princess Diana was only with Prince Charles for 6 months by the time he proposed and despite her privileged background, Princess Diana was thrust into a situation she was ill-prepared for unlike Catherine who spent ten years with the prince, groomed into royal life little by little, living alongside press and speculation. She was afforded the "time to adjust" that was a luxury Princess Diana was never afforded and is much more confident in her role and persona than Prince William's mother, as evidenced even in the flawlessness of the wedding (Princess Diana got Prince Charles's name wrong on the altar).

In many ways, the strength of the marriage of the newly dubbed Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will dictate the future of the monarchy and its continued existence in British life. Despite all of Prince William's years, he has made choices that have mostly removed him from controversy (with the exception of spending public money by using a helicopter to surprise Kate on several occasions). In a sense, by staying out of the public eye, he has not only protected his privacy but avoided courting controversy while providing increased stability in his romantic relationship. The little that is known about Prince William serves to work in his favor as he has the genetic gifts of Princess Diana and as such, the public will associate him favorably unless he makes major missteps. He is far more protected than Princess Diana, thanks to laws put into effect after her tragic and pointless death that served to protect royals and celebrities to a larger degree. In a rare breach of this policy, Prince William was photographed by paparazzi riding his Ducati motorcycle in the streets prior to his wedding, shockingly published by The Telegraph, a dangerous scenario that evokes feelings of Princess Diana. Nonetheless, Prince William enjoys a personal freedom that eluded Princess Diana and gives hope that his marriage will not suffer the same fate, critical for continued support of the monarchy.

The wedding evoked strong public memories of Princess Diana and undoubtedly so for Prince William himself, between the familiar sight of crowds outside of Westminster Abbey to Princess Diana's engagement ring that had been worn by Catherine prior to the big day, as well as selections from the ceremony reminiscent of the late Diana. Prince William holds his mother dear much as the public does, and when the masses see him, they see both his mother in his face and the face of the 15-year old boy who solemnly escorted her coffin. As such, he naturally courts public empathy and enjoys wider acceptance than he might otherwise, even though he is a distinctly different individual. The irony of this is that in her last years of life, Princess Diana painted a dark picture of the monarchy that turned public favor against them and yet her untimely death had the unanticipated effect of garnering public support for the future monarchy with her eldest son at the helm. By holding the ceremony at Westminster Abbey, Prince William was not only able to allow his mother to be part of the ceremony in a symbolic sense but also was able to create an event that created a familiar yet all-together different experience for the public, an event that may have had similarities as far as location but was full of joy and hope as opposed to the dismal realities of Princess Diana's funeral.

Between a perfectly executed ceremony steeped in traditions that dates millenia, a bride and groom who looked like flawless dolls, two balcony kisses (one more memorable than the other), and their drive away from the palace in the Aston Martin with a "Just Wed" license plate and balloons flying out the back, the happy couple managed to give the country and the world the spectacle it hoped for and allowed the global community to share (in a rare moment) a worldwide event that was hopeful and positive, while making us all believers in true love and the power of romance. Audiences hope for good news and rarely get it in the media, nonetheless on such an incomparable scale, and millions tuned in to share in the joy and happiness of two people, united in love and its many possibilities (including the inevitable birth of the next future king/queen). Even the most jaded heart that was witness to this ceremony felt warmth and belief in humanity even temporarily, as people are inherently good by nature and came out in droves to share together in a joyous occasion. People were happy to see something good happen to a young man whose live has been so full of tragedy while a new tomorrow was born for the monarchy. An awful lot of tradition rests on those strong shoulders and Prince William and Catherine Middleton have mighty big shoes to fill and a lot to live up to. They may not be the second coming of Princess Diana, but one can only hope her short life and death served to teach many lessons that can be wisely implemented for a better future for this historic family.

Cheers to the happy couple, may their lives be filled with continued love and celebration.

Sending love to Japan...

2011-03-11T03:31:00.005-05:00

I am terribly sad to hear about the earthquake and tsunami that has hit Japan. I wish all of my dear Japanese friends and readers safety, healing, and strength during these difficult times. You are in my thoughts, I am sending you all my sincere condolences and heartfelt sympathies.

Skins UK vs. MTV: Still Controversial

2011-02-17T02:56:00.013-05:00

MTV has released a remake of the BBC UK's "Skins". A remake made for seemingly no plausible reason, given that the UK version is indeed in english and by the looks of it, is far better on all levels. America's obsession with remakes is puzzling in and of itself; most Americans dislike subtitles and seem to prefer a worse-made remake to a great movie with subtitles. But when a show is in the same language and the world of the teenager is universal, the concept truly loses all logic.

The first episode is a scene-for-scene remake, only with more makeup, bad actors, and is far less watchable (I love the original series and couldn't stomach MTV's version and I AM an American, only one of those rare ones that appreciates the media of other cultures as well). I'm not sure why MTV felt they couldn't just buy the rights to air the UK version, that sounds like a much cheaper and sensible option.

Many critics have jumped on the Skins-bashing bandwagon, much as they do with other reviled MTV shows. They allege that the show has too much skin, sexuality, and drugs, is too controversial and unrealistic. The reality is that sex and drugs are realities found all too often in high schools across the country and teens needn't turn on a channel to learn those lessons the hard way. The UK show is far more explicit as international broadcast standards differ. If MTV was concerned about the potential for the show to be considered "child pornography" which it obviously isn't, they should have stuck to casting older actors in younger roles as is often the case in productions involving high school characters, especially knowing the nature of the show going into it. Sponsors have even pulled out due to the show's depiction of sex and drugs, including Taco Bell and Subway - comical hypocrisy in that these very companies pretending to bring "values" at the forefront are selling nothing short of poison that will surely cause far more harm to teenagers than any fictional depiction.

Skins UK has one healthy advantage - the teenagers on the show actually look like *gasp* teenagers. If the actors have acne, guess what - so do their onscreen counterparts. Even Tony (the only name that remains the same on both shows) the hearthrob is subject to extreme closeups in which acne and skin blemishes are present - and he's still the most desirable kid on the block. If only the characters living in the MTV version could be afforded the opportunity to present teenagers with a real face free of pounds of makeup and visual enhancement, THAT'S unrealistic. Body issues run rampant amongst teens watching these shows or reading magazines loaded with airbrushed pictorials. Having a character with an eating disorder on a show geared towards teens can only be a step in the right direction, if only the creators of the show didn't then turn around and cancel out this concept by making its cast look completely unreal.

The issues on the show are widespread and include themes involving drug abuse, death, eating disorders, homosexuality, religion, and numerous other societal pressures and issues facing modern teenagers. If the MTV version continues down a path similar to its UK cousin, many of the characters will teach their audience unexpected lessons; The characters do experience negative consequences for certain actions which is revealed in a way that does seem realistic and not preachy, a tone teenagers can relate to.

Censorship is not an answer to media problems. Messages to teenagers aren't just seen on MTV but every channel and on billboards, magazines, and all over school. A teenager isn't going to make a bad decision because they saw it on TV, they are going to make a poor decision because the weren't raised properly. Parents need to take a proactive role in developing their children and teenagers for a harsh world, giving them tools at their disposal to confront life's challenges and to develop a strong sense of self so they can make the strongest decisions possible. This is the best protection, scapegoating MTV will do little given that it's a very small slice of a large world where possibilities are endless and messages abundant in all directions. Nudity and sexuality seem to send American censors in an uproar, yet the amount of violence and crime on television is rarely complained against. Priorities? This reminds me of the Janet Jackson's 2001 Nipplegate incident at the Superbowl (see previous article), fines and lawsuits for emotional distress over a nipple that aired for a second. The backlash never made sense, especially compared with the fare children, teens, and adults are met with on television that is really worth an eye roll and a call to the networks.

So, to MTV critics I say, yes I agree with you - the show is awful. Teens, if you want to see a really good show, watch the UK version, currently available on Netflix (only the first three seasons are noteworthy). The acting in the MTV version was so bad I could barely watch it, I stomached it just for you (my loving readers from around the world, who I appreciate so much). This is just another outlandish MTV attempt to gain attention and ratings. However, I disagree with all the controversy the show is generating and critics seem just as out for attention as MTV. I suggest they go run home and parent their children and champion their school boards for media literacy programs in this country, much as they do in numerous others. Instead of placing the blame on a media that will always be there, they should focus attention on winning more logical battles, those on the homefront.

Can't We All Just Get Along?

2011-01-10T18:27:00.004-05:00

PopSpiracy sends sincere condolences to the individuals and families impacted by the Arizona shootings that injured numerous victims including Congresswoman Giffords and killed several others, including a child.

I have long been opposed to partisan politics and my car proudly displays a custom-made bumper sticker that encourages us to put aside party affiliations and focus on decisions, something that seems more relevant now than ever. I created it to add a little balance to the numerous extremist bumper stickers I have been seeing more of in recent times, apparently it could not be more relevant.

It is too early to jump to conclusions as to the exact motives behind this incident, that will emerge in due time. However, I will take this moment to pause and reflect on those lost and to remind everyone to think about your own individual words and actions regarding party politics. You are contributing to a lot more than you think with the words you chose and the actions you decide to display. It doesn't matter which side of the fence you are on, while we all have disagreements, BOTH parties want a better America, on that we can all agree.

Bear in mind that if you are on the right or left, if you only chose to listen to news arriving to you from organizations slanted on one side, you will see a distorted picture of the other. A more balanced list of news sources will give you a stronger representation of both halves. I cannot express how many people on each side have taken to skewed information designed to incite hysteria, propaganda, and extremism and am consistently shocked at comments seemingly average Americans are making. This negativity is the last thing that will take our country out of hard times and is not a healthy aim for whichever party you call home. We are better than this and this bickering can only serve to destroy one of the many things that make our country great - our ability to infuse differences and give others a chance. Yes, you have the freedom to say and do what you want. Do not mistake this for an excuse to be anything less than the best you can be. My thoughts are with Republicans and Liberals tonight, that we may all learn from this tragedy and realize what has been created so that we can dismantle it. The parties have always had their own collective identities and beliefs and this is completely acceptable in a democratic society, but there is a way to have an intelligent discussion and not flat-out put-downs and insults. I encourage everyone to aim to listen more and condemn less and to try not to magnify petty differences.

I also want to express my disappointment in several media outlets, including NPR (most shocking), for falsely reporting that Congresswoman Giffords was dead. The media has long played into fear and the intense political division we are seeing. I hope that more news outlets commit themselves to having the facts and checking sources prior to releasing information, an increasing threat to honesty in media in a digital age where news travels fast and anything without merit can be quickly published in the name of ratings and money.

Mass bird and fish deaths = Mass Media Fear-Mongering

2011-01-07T16:30:00.006-05:00

2011 starts off with a bang, or rather, a thump.

Many people are concerned about the mass bird and fish deaths cropping up around the globe, with theories ranging from sinister poisonings to apocalyptic warning signs. And, this is just the beginning in what is sure to be a year filled with ominous warnings inciting public hysteria over the impending arrival of 2012, a year that some cultures and groups have predicted as being the end of the world. Do not doubt that the media will take every opportunity this year to engage in irresponsible fear tactics, it is what the media tends to do best, especially when there is money and ratings involved, not unlike the uneventful Y2K scare.

Just this week I conversed with a man concerned over the implications of this phenomenon as a result of over-reporting and sensationalism. He insisted it was the result of intentional poisoning. When reports were released saying that birds had died from Fireworks over the new year as they were startled from the trees, he insisted "Like the government is going to tell you the truth. I'd like to believe that, but you can't trust the government."

One sentence frequently echoed in articles on the subject is that mass critter deaths are common, yet that line gets forgotten in the midst of the remaining article. Mass bird and fish deaths happen all the time around the world and are tracked by organizations such as the National Wildlife Health Center, who assure the public that this is normal and that the problem lies with people linking together events that happen all the time.

Living in the digital age, it's not hard for people to connect dots and "see what they want to see", especially if it means selling papers. This is not a new phenomenon, this was done in the post-Columbine era with school shootings that became sensationalized as was the case with Killer Bee invasions and any number of opportunities for the media to make a quick buck. Much like all these phenomenons, we will forget about this story tomorrow and a new one will emerge.

Fret not, as sad as these deaths are, there are plausible explanations for them. Be vigilant for this selective style of reporting, it will be all the rage in the coming months.

Tron: The Legacy pays homage to Epcot

2011-01-04T19:55:00.009-05:00

Note the appearance of this building in the film, a homage to the defunct Horizons pavilion.

Tron: The Legacy continues the new Disney tradition of using visuals from Epcot Center in its motion pictures. This was evidenced in 'Iron Man 2' (refer to previous article) and has been repeated in this later Tron. (Note: Epcot currently has a Tron monorail, called the Tronorail). Given that EPCOT (Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow) was designed to look like a futuristic city, it's not surprising that when a new Disney film calls for an alternate universe or city with a futuristic edge, images of Epcot Center factor in.

The weapon discs could almost pass for the circular symbols associated with Epcot Center while the technology handed to Sam Flynn to help him find Zuse is also shaped like the Horizons main sign (refer to above photo). A hologram that appears from a disc appears as a geodesic sphere representing Epcot's Spaceship Earth, much as one did in Iron Man 2, as well as a holographic version of the globe that travels across World Showcase Lagoon during the Illuminations fireworks show.

PopSpiracy's inner Epcot Center geek cannot help but love these references and hopes the Walt Disney Company will continue to pay homage to Epcot Center (and will stay true to it's original vision, something I feel is losing hold on the current Epcot).

"New" Michael Jackson track 'Breaking News' a fake

2010-11-08T01:38:00.012-05:00

PopSpiracy has come out of the shadows to announce that the "new" Michael Jackson track "Breaking News" is indeed fake.

Sony has defended the song, saying they had "experts" confirm its authenticity. Sony is a corporation (one that, mind you, had a terrible relationship with Michael Jackson) and can thus get anyone to say the track is authentic to protect their investment.

Upon listening to the track tonight, there is no doubt. As a longtime listener of 20+ years, holder of one of the largest footage collections in the country of Michael Jackson performances from the start of his career to the end, and owning all the Jackson albums, B-sides, and unreleased tracks currently available, I can guarantee this is not (entirely) Michael.

Sony has sampled the classic signature MJ sounds, (i.e. "Aaaoow", "Heehee", etc) which are authentic and a few of the sung lyrics are Michael Jackson. The vast majority of the lyrics are done by another singer, and the voice transposed over Michael Jackson's is not his. It's as though the samples and overlay serve to "trick" the audience into believing it is his voice.

I can only conjecture, but given that he did sing a few of the lyrics, perhaps this was a song he went into the studio and begun but left mostly unfinished so in a rush to get out a quick album and make some cash, Sony hired someone to fill in the large missing gaps.

Truly bizarre, indeed. I am glad I listened to this first, I will definitely not be purchasing this album or supporting such behavior and encourage others to do the same.

Take it from Michael's mother, LaToya, and children - they know his voice far more than an unnamed "expert".

Bad blood between Sony and Michael Jackson is nothing new, Michael referred to Sony records and it's then-president Tommy Motolla as "the devil" as they engaged in vindictive behavior when he refused to sell them his stake of the Sony ATV Beatles catalog. They failed to promote his "Invincible" album (which sold over 7 million copies regardless on zero promotion) and did not allow the "You Rock My World" video to be completed to his satisfaction nor would they release other videos for the album, which was to be his last.

I don't doubt that they probably have their hands on a few legit tracks, but this one is certainly not one of them and if it's any indication of what fans can expect, that's not saying much - I'm sure this won't be the only deceptive track.

The Jackson family itself holds much of Michael's unreleased music and his children have hundreds of songs at their disposal should they ever decide to release them to the public one day. Until then - steer clear.

Another odd tidbit - the symbol representing the Artist Formerly Known As Prince appeared on the album cover (above) in a bubble in a montage of images from Michael's career. Unsurprisingly, it has been removed (most likely by the request of the lawsuit-happy Purple One) , yet Prince had no connection to Michael Jackson's career nor did they get along, making the symbol's appearance (and speedy disappearance) inexplicable.

UPDATE: A second leaked track, "Keep Your Head Up" has just been released - and is NOT Michael Jackson's voice.

UPDATE: Just-released "Hold My Hand" track w/ Akon is an authentic song, as is "Much Too Soon".

As expected, the album is partially authentic and partially fraud.

The Karate Kid: Then and Now

2010-06-16T00:57:00.006-04:00

Like most children of the 1980's, 'The Karate Kid' paid my VCR frequent visits. "Wax on, wax off" randomly found its way into conversation and The Crane never got old.

Upon seeing the trailer of The Karate Kid (2010), I was riddled with skepticism. A long-time Jackie Chan fan and lover of the original film, I couldn't possibly imagine how any of this was a good idea. If anything, it felt like a step down. Not to mention, Pat Morita's Oscar-nominated performance as Mr. Miyagi felt irreplaceable. It is, but I was pleasantly surprised that this film breathed new life into a franchise long in need of a makeover. That's not to suggest I'd like to see any more versions of it. While the traditionalist in me was offended by the need to remake a favored childhood film, I also understand that younger generations would rather watch anything but something made prior to their birth. From this angle, this remake feels like a necessity. It's a feel-good winning formula audiences never tire of.

Watching the opening title sequence of the 2010 version, I noted that Will Smith & Jada Pinkett-Smith were among the films producers, heavily implying that Jaden Smith landed a role due to his parents involvement. I found myself studying his movements, trying to find glimpses of his parents. What I didn't anticipate was his natural talent and on-screen watchability. Yes, he was cute, and like most child stars will earn him harsher critiques, but his real appeal lies in his ability to bring the authenticity and heart to the picture required of any actor taking on the title role in the series. Dre Parker is more confident than Daniel LaRusso (who happened to be far more skittish than I remembered upon revisiting the original film for this review). However, his lack of karate skills and small stature and the ferocity of his enemies instantly makes you feel he's at a disadvantage. Watching both films back-to-back, Dre appears far more capable towards the film's climax of being a great fighter than Daniel. It seems Mr. Han (Jackie Chan) has prepared him far more for battle than Miyagi. Jackie Chan doesn't try to replicate Pat Morita, nor should he. Both turn in performances worthy of their leads. Only instead of Morita upstaging Ralph Macchio, Jaden Smith somehow manages to steal the show from world-famous icon Jackie Chan, no small feat. By the film's climax, I forgot Jaden Smith's family relations and had to give him the props he clearly deserved; only to be horrified that the film's ending title sequence is loaded with pictures of Jaden hanging out on set with his famous parents. Clearly, their names in the credits roll wasn't enough. This was a true disappointment felt after a feel-good show.

The ultimate curse of any celebrity offspring is having one famous parent, nonetheless two, and finding a way to dissociate the public with that. Every celebrity child suffers for this, as they have to work twice as hard to earn a name for themselves and endure constant comparison. Jaden Smith had the opportunity of a lifetime and proved himself worthy of it, regardless of how he ended up with the part to begin with. Sadly, his parents couldn't let him bask in his cinematic glory without reminding us all of his birthright. Given that I haven't seen Will Smith in a few years, I guess he felt the need to stay relevant. I personally feel they did their son a true disservice. Perhaps unsurprisingly, his son also does a Will Smith-esque rap in a soundtrack song in the film's ending. I have hope for Jaden Smith's acting future, he is a capable and multi-talented young artist who can forge his own path if he uses his parents as inspirations, not clones.

The Karate Kid story is timeless. Not simply because of fancy martial arts moves or unique character relationships, but because The Karate Kid is about self-respect. We all have choices in our daily lives to pack up our things and walk away or to confront challenges head-on. When the going gets tough, we can shape up or ship out. There comes a time in all our lives where we learn to stand on our own two legs (or one) and set out to chart a new course toward the life we deserve and truly want. Note that Miyagi and Han's lessons come in unconventional ways but teach discipline through the simple practices of picking up your clothes off the floor or painting a fence. After all, if respect doesn't begin within our own personal environments, we can't expect it outside our front door. LaRusso and Parker learn to respect themselves which ultimately leads them on the path to earning the respect of others. Not through flying fists but through an unwillingness to let the bullies have the last word and to take a stand. We all deserve to live lives free of fear and oppression, but acceptance first begins with us.

BONZAI!

"Iron Man 2" Pays Homage to Walt Disney's Epcot

2010-05-09T10:33:00.009-04:00

Attending a screening of 'Iron Man 2' on opening weekend, my inner Epcot fanchild could not have been more pleased. The film makes multiple references to my favorite Disney World park.

Tony Stark uncovers footage his father Howard left behind to help him unlock the secrets of his inventions. In this vintage footage, Howard speaks about the City of Tomorrow and stands in a suit and tie in front of the model of his futuristic city. He bears a striking resemblance to Walt Disney himself discussing his blueprint of his vision of the "Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow" (EPCOT). They even bear a similar mustache.

If you look at the actual model of the fictional city in the film, it bears an extreme resemblance to the actual early models built for Epcot right down to the placement and specific buildings, namely of Future World. As you can see in the film, Howard Stark's future city is ultimately built, as seen below Iron Man as he flies through the sky, including a flight between a metal globe that bears a similarity to the globe that travels through the middle of World Showcase Lagoon for the IllumiNations fireworks extravaganza.

Once Tony Stark uncovers the key to Howard Stark's vision, his electronic blueprints expand in mid-air into a perfect geodesic sphere that is Spaceship Earth, the iconic centerpiece of Epcot.

Clearly, Disney's $4 billion Marvel Comics investment has its perks.

PopSpiracy's Practical Guide to Weight Loss

2010-04-27T21:31:00.003-04:00

I bumped into an acquaintance at the supermarket this week I hadn't seen since last year. Her eyes bulged out of her head when she saw me, she barely recognized me. It's at times like these that I realize my weight loss has been truly drastic. The #1 question asked of me is, "How did you do it?" This question seems rather odd to me, as I believe the majority of the public is already well aware of how to lose weight, it's actually putting it into practice that is off-putting to many. Perhaps the question does warrant a lengthier explanation, so to answer the age-old question in a more precise manner, I bring to you my methods. In doing so, please note my plan worked for me and I can't guarantee it'll work for you. Also, I don't make any money off my blog so any products I may mention are simply personal preferences I felt willing to share. I lost weight as a personal goal, not to please others. I encourage all of you to make positive changes in your life and silence your inner critic. I feel great since my weight loss. If it's something you want to do for you, go for it.

In a rare breach of privacy, I bring to you the following - an admission that I was an emotional eater and junk food addict, that I lost massive amounts of weight in a short time span, and the story of how I did it.

It was 2008. I was going through a particularly horrendous time in my life emotionally, and it reflected in my habits. I found comfort in eating copious amounts of food; the less healthy, the better. While I didn't realize it at the time, my lack of nutrition and healthy habits increased the fluctuations of my moods and contributed to making life far worse for me than need be. A personal tragedy made me further aware that time was short, life was precious, and I needed to get myself together and feel better. Deep down, I believe we are all aware of the changes we need to make... it's finding the strength and willpower to do it that proves the most challenging.

From personal experience, I've found several personal motto's that I believe to be truthful and helpful:

#1: You are what you eat.
I never understood this expression when I was younger. I learned the hard way. This is sort of another take on the karmic belief that what you put out into the universe comes back to you. Eating and living in an unhealthy manner will result in an unhealthy you.

#2: Change is possible. The first step is BELIEVING.
Never underestimate the power of belief. Most people I know that have talked about weight loss come up with a great deal of reasons to procrastinate or to believe that it isn't going to happen. 'Well, I've tried before and it didn't work.' 'Maybe one day I will.' 'The universe made me this way.' I know right away said people won't lose the weight and do what needs to be done. The first step to change is realizing one needs to take place and to take personal responsibility. The second is BELIEVING change is possible. The rest will come, but only if you truly believe it can and will. Out of the firmness of that belief comes the willpower.

#3: Don't "diet".
Diets never work. People lose the weight only to rapidly put it on again. I don't call my eating habits a "diet", I call them a "lifestyle". It's a personal commitment, not a temporary fad.

I also have a few additional weight loss tips to share prior to delving deeper into my tale...

#1: The most valuable tip I ever heard about committing to a healthier lifestyle was to "fall in love with it". Go to supermarkets, pick up new things you've never tried, read the health magazines that are available near your health supermarket entrance or exit, you'd be amazed at the information they provide. Read about health, educate yourself about it. Own it. Get yourself excited about it or find new ways to change your perspective. Discover your alternative healthy supermarkets. If you stick to local, note that even WalMart is carrying a larger selection of all-natural and organic produce.

#2: Be patient. You won't see the results immediately. Trust the process and that it's working.

#3: SPEED UP YOUR METABOLISM.
You can do this by eating multiple times a day, at least 5 or 6 times. Meaning three meals and healthy snacks in between every few hours.

#4: Eat until you are satisfied, not until you are full.
If you can be responsible about it, you are allowed to eat something less than healthy once in a blue moon, and not feel horrible about it. If you don't allow yourself a little wiggle room once in a while, you aren't going to stick with it. Be responsible about your health and a little splurge every now and then won't hurt too much. Bring someone with you if you are going to have a desert and take a bite or two to satisfy any cravings, share the rest of the desert so you don't have to eat a whole thing.

#5: Tailor your food and exercise lifestyle to your liking.
Don't force yourself to eat foods you dislike, choose the fruits, veggies, etc. that you can actually stick to eating and enjoying. You don't have to suffer to eat delicious food and stay healthy. Stick to exercises and sports you enjoy, don't force yourself to do things you can't stand or it won't last.

Weight loss tip #6 (and a few extra pointers):
Eat at home. Restrict eating out to at least once a week. It'll save you a lot of money and loads of calories. Contrary to what your mother says, you don't have to eat everything on your plate. And certainly, not all at once. Bring home a doggie bag at restaurants. If you are on the road and think you have to eat junk food to get something quick, don't compromise your health for quick calorie intake. Many fast food chains now offer healthier alternatives and substitutions, i.e. apples instead of fries, etc. I find that purchasing kids meals is a great way to limit portion size and calories when you do splurge, same as kids packs at the movie theater. No, they won't ask for your ID! Eat before you go to the movies, ask for a cup for water while there. Instead of fast junk food, swing inside your gas station while pumping up. They have fruits available as well as ready-made sandwiches, such as your basic turkey-cheese for less than 250 calories. Who said convenience has to be bad?

Weight loss tip #7:
Drink lots of water. At restaurants, instead of asking for a multitude of drinks, stick with plain water. You'll be surprised at how much money is shed off your dining bills. Not to mention, the more water you drink at mealtime, the less food you'll eat as your stomach will have less room. Avoid sodas, even diet soda, which is loaded with aspartame. There are water calculators online that give you a rough idea of how much water you should drink daily for your size. When it comes to drinks, I stick with water and natural/low-cal fruit juices.

Health tip:
Eat organic and all natural where possible. It's not just a fad, the long term health benefits add up when you stay away from additives, preservatives, pesticides, hormones, etc, which cumulatively lead to numerous cancers and trips to the hospital. Yes, there are organic fries, burgers, etc. Note that these are healthier, but they are still what they are. Just because you see an organic chocolate chip cookie doesn't mean it isn't loaded with the usual calories!

READ LABELS. THOROUGHLY. Take into account serving size when adding up calories.

Even fast food restaurants now offer calorie counters on their websites. The next time you are craving that Burger King mega-meal, check the site first, do the calculations, and you might just talk yourself out of it.
________________________________________________________________

WHAT TO EAT
Humans are as diverse as it gets, do what works for you. I am mentioning some of my favorites and general thoughts on mealtime, again, tailor to meet your own liking.

BREAKFAST
They say this is the most important meal of the day. I'll be the first to admit I was never fond of having breakfast, so I found ways to do it while 'on the go'. Which generally means a healthy granola bar like Kashi, and some sort of yogurt, fruit, or smoothies. If it's cereal you want, there are plenty of healthy and inexpensive brands available at health food stores that are low in sugar. Instead of regular milk, try soy milk, almond milk, or rice milk.

The wonder that is "the smoothie".
Smoothies are fantastic and very easy to make. My recipe consists of:
-a bag of frozen fruit (there are all sorts of combinations possible. Your supermarket most likely has a mixed concoction, such as mixed berries or some sort of tropical blend)
-a scoop of rice or soy-based ice cream, as opposed to dairy) to thicken
-powders/granules (You can toss in all sorts of healthy things in a smoothie you can't taste, such as whey protein powder. I also use lecithin granules (soy) and bee pollen, which comes in granule form) for extra vitamins, protein, etc. There are numerous vitamin powders and combinations available, chose those that meet your particular needs.
-one bottle of all natural fruit juice (apple, pineapple, etc)

All of this should fit into your blender, and should make three servings worth. There are great smoothie bottles you can buy, I recommend filling three of them up and keeping them in your refrigerator for the week so you can grab and go if you have a busy day or not hassle yourself in the morning with preparation. Smoothies are quick to make and very healthy.

Other breakfast items I enjoy are apple slices with nut butters (such as almond butter, etc).

Note that there are healthier versions of breakfast foods available on the market, feel free to make substitutions. For example, if you are a bacon lover, choose turkey bacon instead. It's tasty and has half the fat. Health food stores should offer you a number of organic sausages, buckwheat pancakes, etc. You don't have to sacrifice the foods you love, find substitutions or alternate versions that provide great taste and healthy benefits.

LUNCH

Lunch should be your largest meal of the day. I recommend making your lunch meals in advance and leaving them in tupperware in the fridge so you can grab and go in the morning and not be tempted to eat lunch out.

I will confess to having a love of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches which I often choose as a lunch possibility. I chose jelly that is sugar-free, organic, all natural, etc. and peanut butter with extra health benefits, such as Naturally More, which is high in fiber. The best solution I've found to yummy sandwich bread is Arnold Wheat Thins. They are literally miraculous. Only 100 calories and available in flavors from Honey Wheat to Multi-Grain and Whole Wheat, they are inexpensive, come in decent size packs, stay fresh in your fridge, and are just the right size for portion control and are very tasteful. Many brands have jumped on the bandwagon with similar products. They have so many purposes it's astounding - you can toast them and spread nut butters or jams on them for breakfast, you can turn them into lunch sandwiches, or use them as hamburger buns.

DINNER

Make sure to have your final meal several hours prior to bedtime. No midnight snacks!

SNACKS
Fruits, honey glazed almonds, nuts, seeds, organic apple sauce, fruit cups (beware high sugar content), yogurt (particularly greek yogurt), salads (watch the dressing!), Quakers cheddar cheese mini-cakes, etc.

CHEESE
I eat a small portion of light or reduced-fat cheese every day, such as a mini-Babybel cheese wheel or mini-cheese wedge on light crackers.

BEANS
While I still eat meat, I eat it less. I have incorporated beans into my lifestyle. While baked beans appear to be an American staple at cookouts, I admittedly never made friends with many members of the legume family until recently. Since I changed my food habits, I found that my body not only changed, but began to ask me for different things. Listen to your body, it knows what it needs. Apparently, my body wanted more beans and less meats, and being as beans are so high in protein. Watch out for the sodium in beans, aim for sodium-free and reduced fat items.

SUBSTITUTIONS
I was never aware there was such a large number of great-tasting substitutes on the market. As a self-proclaimed picky eater, I was wary of this concept. I have since learned this is a mistake, not only does eating healthy taste great, but I can still eat the things I like in healthier versions. Veganaise is one of the miracle substitutions I've discovered. It doesn't taste identical to mayonnaise though it has a similar consistency, however it has a very pleasant taste and works fantastic in sandwiches, deli casserole/salad recipes, etc. It is refrigerated and often found at health supermarkets. Meatless meat was an idea that would have scared me in the past, but I have found it to be intriguing. Who knew meatless meatballs really tasted like meatballs?! Don't be afraid to explore and try new things. You just might surprise yourself.

EXERCISE
My approach to this is much like my approach to food - tailor it to your liking if you want to make it a habit. No one is going to force themselves to eat food they don't like or do exercises they can't stand if they don't want to. There's a fallacy that one needs to spend a lot of money to eat healthy and to lose weight. This is untrue. There are plenty of ways to cut corners at the supermarket (fruits and veggies don't cost that much, it costs more to eat out than to eat in, and you can even buy a baked organic whole chicken for less than $10 and turn it into a 3-day meal! Be creative.) and you certainly don't need a gym membership to lose weight. You can go for walks around your neighborhood, up and down stairs, take a hiking trail, bicycle ride, join a sports team, etc. Develop a new skill, practice a hobby, or find other ways to entertain yourself. Even at the gym, you can watch TV, read books, listen to your iPod, etc. Even taking small opportunities to stretch out your legs is great, i.e. taking that distant parking lot space, walking a few blocks to run an errand, even taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Exercise a few days a week even for half an hour and you'll see a difference.

Good luck, readers! Weight loss is possible. You can do it. If you've been thinking about it... Get to it!

"Killer" Whale, Indeed.

2010-02-24T22:39:00.010-05:00

PopSpiracy wants to pay respects to SeaWorld trainer Dawn Brancheau, killed in Shamu Stadium in Orlando today. SeaWorld has long held a special place in my heart since childhood, and I have been an annual passholder several times over. There was a time when I practically lived at SeaWorld. I remember Dawn well, having last seen her a few months ago during "Believe", SeaWorld's latest rendition of the famed Shamu Show. She was bright and cheery, a woman in love with her job and killer whales.

As PopSpiracy encourages truth in media, I'd like to express my disappointment with Sea World's statement made by Seaworld Vice President Dan Brown. It's hard to believe his sincerity when he's lying straight through his teeth. If SeaWorld was not yet prepared to release any details, they should have remained vague instead of giving us an obviously fabricated story when there were plenty of witnesses who could corroborate the truth.

I get it. SeaWorld is a corporation. Shamu is an image. You can't let the children of the world think their precious Shamu is indeed a killer! However, he is what he is, which is to say an Orca, and the most powerful and skilled hunter in the sea. Trainers know this better than anyone, as they work with tons of sheer lethal muscle daily.

According to Brown, the trainer slipped in the tank and was accidentally fatally injured. First of all, what is this latest trend in blaming the victims? i.e. the Olympic's official statement regarding the death of the Georgian luger? It is majorly insensitive to accuse a victim who can no longer speak out to defend themselves, and I'm sure their families have suffered enough without the added blow. Nonetheless, releasing a statement that was blatantly untrue is tactless and thoughtless. This leads me to feel the bigwigs in charge of SeaWorld have little regard for the memory of this poor woman, who they in the same paragraph describe as one of their most experienced trainers. According to multiple eyewitness accounts and a Sea World employee, the whale grabbed the trainer by her ponytail and violently thrashed her around - in other words, behavior killer whales employ to knock out their victims and kill. I must also question the logic of SeaWorld in taking in Tilikum, the whale responsible for the attack, who had a track record of killing two other people during his time spent at multiple parks. Knowing this, why did he end up performing at SeaWorld if those in charge knew his violent history? Clearly, trainer safety is not priority, despite claims to the contrary.

I am honestly astounded at the mistruths spoken, it made SeaWorld look absolutely shady beyond belief for them to release such a careless lie that was not only harmful to the victim's memory and family but knowing full well there were numerous witnesses, who didn't hesitate to spill the beans.

SeaWorld has long been a controversial staple long before this incident. I personally have supported SeaWorld, they are a leader in the rehabilitation of sea creatures and public education on sealife. They take in, rehabilitate, and release numerous animals and remind us all how precious these species are and why we should care. There is no substitute to being able to see and learn about animals face-to-face, and while I acknowledge Shamu(s) are sacrificial lambs, there are less than 100 killer whales in captivity globally and as representatives of their species to the world, who knows how many children who saw Shamu or had the pleasure of meeting him grew up to be animal activists or marine biologists? I've always found the Shamu experience to be incredibly powerful and inspirational, and I was one such kid who can honestly say my life was changed by seeing this powerful and majestic creature. I applaud SeaWorld for taking larger steps in recent years to create less stress for the performers (whales), prior to the show the gate is opened and the whales have the option of swimming out. If none do, the show is cancelled. If one or two swim out, they are the lone performers. If they all want to have a go, they can. Obviously they are trained with reward systems, but are clearly not going to be starved if they do not perform. There are rules and procedures that will no doubt be re-evaluated and changed, and perhaps this will work out best for whales and humans alike.

Regardless of the general good I feel SeaWorld is capable of, those feelings have hit a low point today. The careless, insensitive, and dishonest remarks by SeaWorld are truly rock bottom for this park and Dawn, SeaWorld trainers, employees, orcas, and fans alike deserved better.

It is my deepest hope that SeaWorld apologize to Dawn's family and the public for this ugly reaction and take its steps to restoring faith in its following.

RIP, Dawn.

2009 in Review

2009-12-05T15:52:00.052-05:00

2009, the fabulous year that brought us everything from OctoMom to Snuggies.

Let's take a stroll down memory lane before blowing out our decade's candles.

Remember the millenium - when everyone thought the world would blow up and our computers would fall silent? I guess all the death hags are celebrating the impending arrival of 2012.

In 2009, we couldn't get enough of women that couldn't stop birthing.

Behold, "The Gosselin". This hairdo graced Halloween shelves and sent children screaming in sheer terror.

The mere name "OctoMom" was enough to induce permanent celebacy. Nadya Suleman (otherwise known by her Indian name "Angelina Jolie on Crack") graced supermarket tabloids

nationwide, reminding us all to use a condom.

This year was littered with men clamoring for the Douchebag Dad of the Year Award.

Esteemed nominees include...

The Gosselin #2, otherwise known as "Ed Hardy Har Har". This lovely specimen FINALLY pulled his children off television (for a momentous 2 seconds) after his name was dropped from the TLC show that drained the life out of America for... er, who many years has it been?

Please, make it stop.

(Not to toot my own horn, but PopSpiracy warned you about these two prior to any marital hell being made public. We know how to spot a scam when we see one!)

The one and only (thankfully) Michael Lohan.

Birds of a feather suck together, and it's not surprising Jon & Michael Plus A Load of BS were seen parading around town. That is, until Michael Lohan recorded conversations with Jon Gosselin proving... I'm still not sure what. One look at this grease fry and I want to run and hide in Samantha Ronson's hat collection, too.

Tiger Woods - King of the Slut Jungle!

Do YOU have what it takes to catch the eye of the Tiger?

Probably not. If a supermodel can't do the job, nothing will.

The winner of this year's awards is none other than Richard Heene, otherwise known as Balloon Boy's Dad. Didn't I see this guy's face on Unsolved Mysteries a decade ago?

Balloon Boy wishes he could be teleported in a sea of tin foil to the great beyond. Even throwing up on TV wasn't enough to get that poor kid out of an interview...

FAMEWHORES 2009

2009 also brought us the world's favorite famewhores, the ~~Salami's~~ Salahi's!

The most brazen nuts of the year no doubt belong to this bitch, who refuses to let the spotlight shine on boring couples everywhere. Whenever the Travelocity gnome is ready to retire, he's game.

Levi Johnston, semi-nude semi-Son-In-Law from Hell

Like the rest of this nation, I waited in anticipation for the Big Johnston to arrive, only to be massively disappointed. And they wonder why no one looks at Playgirl anymore! (Even Marge Simpson's appearance in Playboy was hotter.) Anything that upsets Sarah Palin is generally a victory for me, so even though it's rated G, I'll take it.

The 2009 Fame Whore Championship pits these two hotties face-to-face in the ultimate catfight of all times:

Spaghetti Cat

VS.

Keyboard Cat

Who will win? Probably Keyboard Cat. At least he does something.

This was the year some couldn't escape The Twilight Zone, forced to choose between Team Edward or Jacob.

Should I sleep with the Werewolf or the Vampire? Sigh. Being a teen girl these days is SO complicated. Not to mention, it sucks.

UNDERDOGS OF 2009

Susan Boyle, giving us a completely staged moment that brainwashed the globe. Even PopSpiracy couldn't help but shed a tear watching this, even if it was bogus.

The Underdog of the Year Award officially goes to the deserving Swine.

We fry them up in little bacon strips and bits, put coins in them, force them to be household pets, compare them to people we don't like, then when we get the flu, it's their fault.

Pointless Fad of the Year:

THE SNUGGIE. More specifically, the pet Snuggie. We expect humans to fall for ridiculous advertising shams and horrible fashion, but seriously, what did this Dachsund do to deserve this global humilation??? (Keyboard Cat is chuckling and prepping himself as we speak.)

Everyone knows a crap product doesn't sell itself. Sadly, two pitchmen giants got more than they bargained for in 2009.

Vince Shlomi got ShamWowed and Slap Chopped by a hooker.

Billy Mays got Oxi-Cleaned and sent to the grand pearly gates beyond, which are no doubt more sparkly than ever.

The contenders for the 2009 Anger Management Award are:

Christian Bale, reprising his role as American Psycho on set.

The ever-so cuddly Chris Brown.

Kanye West, i.e. The G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Times).

Couples of the Year (Wouldn't you just like to be the third wheel?):

Leanne Rhimes & Eddie Cibrian

VS.

Balthazar Getty & Sienna Miller

Don't fight, ladies. There's enough of these boys to go around.

Khloe Kardashian & Lamar Odom. That they are the only marriage this year that even comes to mind is pretty sad. Oh well, at least Lamar is a step above loser-baby daddy Scott Disick (sorry, Kourtney. You could SO do better.)

VILLAINS OF 2009

Dishonorable Mention: Carrie Prejean, the only mouthpiece capable of saying nothing relevant.

Murderers of the Year:

Ryan Jenkins: Proof reality TV is a fraud.

They say every cloud has a silver lining. It's hard coming up with one when your limbs are severed and you are stuffed in a suitcase, but thanks to Jasmine Fiore, women everywhere can rest assured that there is a positive side to getting breast implants. RIP, Jas. You deserved better.

Conrad "I was in the wrong place at the wrong time" Murray.
Responsible for taking out the radness that was Michael Jackson. Murray is probably sitting in the Bahamas as we speak sipping a strawberry daquiri and living the good life. Good job, LAPD.

Hero of 2009:

Captain Chelsey "Sully" Sullenberger

Every time I start to lose faith in the human species or the media's
inability to capitalize on anything positive, a creature like this emerges
to bring hope where it's needed. Ladies and gentleman, I present you
with the captain that makes water landings possible. Sully, you are a true wingman.

Words of the Year: "Twitter" and "Cougar"

Art of the year: Obamicon.

Don't lie, you know you made one (or ten).

We lost a lot of amazing people in 2009.

This one brought us a neverending slew of Kodak moments, how boring is the pop culture landscape going to be without him?

RIP to the KOP. Only he could deliver this level of awesome.

RIP to DJ AM, Ted Kennedy, Farrah Fawcett, Walter Cronkite, Bea Arthur, Ed McMahon, Patrick Swayze, Natasha Richardson, John Hughes, Ken Ober, and all the people who helped pepper our lives with entertainment and brilliance. We miss you.

Bon Voyage to a jam-packed decade.

Why No Hurry to Nab Dr. Murray? And other Michael Jackson updates.

2009-11-03T17:29:00.020-05:00

It's hard to believe, but Michael Jackson died in June and it's November. Someone please remind me why Dr. Conrad Murray isn't in jail yet.

The only talk to the effect of his arrest hasn't even been in relation to killing Michael Jackson, but rather locking him up for not paying child support. During the trials, police marched straight over to Neverland and handcuffed Michael and dragged him out of bed, throwing him in the slammer on someone's word alone immediately (he was cleared of any wrongdoing). Two autopsies have been performed, it has been confirmed that Dr. Murray's lethal dosage of Propofol killed Michael Jackson, and he's still going wherever he wants, doing as he pleases while Michael lies beneath the ground permanently. Hypocrisy much?

I realize it takes a while to build an investigation, but they did find the vials of Propofol and traced them back to him and appear to have all the proof they need. Regardless, does it take six months to make this connection? Why is everyone taking their sweet old time? Why does no one appear concerned about this whatsoever? FYI: Conrad Murray has been jailed before, for domestic violence.

As a fan and concerned citizen, I'm sad and disturbed by this, and I can't imagine how furious Michael's family and friends are. Naturally the media isn't bringing up any of these issues and just want to talk about all the people suing Jackson's estate.

I can't help but feel if this was any other celebrity, Dr. Murray would have been in jail overnight. I really shouldn't be surprised, yet I am. That Michael Jackson is the victim in this case does certainly change things. When the ambulance arrived after Michael's cardiac arrest, the LAPD didn't seal the crime scene, as they were supposed to in an event when the cause of death is unknown, especially in a situation with so many possibilities. Again, they failed to even suspect it could be a crime scene and didn't take the appropriate action to secure the evidence. After all, it's Michael Jackson.

Dr. Murray had the paramedics continue to give him CPR for an hour even though he was already dead before getting in the ambulance, and he staged a scene giving Michael CPR and calling his son Prince to watch, even though again, Michael was already dead. Can you imagine the psychological trauma that poor kid has to live with on top of what is inherently already going to be there? Then, Dr. Murray fled the scene and left his car there, and had the Propofol FedExed to his girlfriend. Naturally, the YouTube video came thereafter where he tried (and failed) to make himself a sympathetic character. Propofol shouldn't even be administered outside of a hospital setting under any circumstances, nonetheless to someone in relatively good health.

There is no reason this thing is still even going on, if anyone's even keeping up with it anymore. I truly hope justice prevails, no one deserves to die at the hands of another. I was sincerely hoping this case would blow the lid off of the multitude of criminal doctors who endlessly flood celebrities with any prescription they want for their own gain. Too many stars have died needlessly and a case of this magnitude truly had the opportunity to make a difference so this fate would not befall another. It would be nice to say one good thing came out of the tragedy, but it appears another golden opportunity was lost to do something truly noble.

I hate to even stoop to the level of addressing this, but TMZ's recent "article" suggests that Michael's accuser from 1993 was able to accurately describe in detail Michael's genitals. (This, by the way, is untrue. Michael was subjected to a thorough strip search and it was revealed the description was inaccurate, which also accounts for this 'evidence' not being introduced in court for the later case.) TMZ goes on to say that Michael's plastic surgeon Arnold Klein says the reason the boy could describe this (which again, he couldn't) was because Michael liked peeing in front of people. I really don't know how much money Dr. Klein is getting that he's galavanting around town on every news show with one BS story after another, but it's so sad to think someone Michael Jackson trusted so much was so pathetic. (If Dr. Klein did indeed say any of this). With the constant Dr. Klein interviews, it's safe to say they serve to distract the authorities and public from the fact that he was also responsible for prescribing Propofol and other drugs to Michael outside of his practice, something he has since admitted yet vehemently denied at the time of Michael's death. And, not surprising that TMZ is wasting everyone's time dragging up lame gossip that completely desecrates the memory of a fallen entertainer. For in-depth information on the trials (as I seriously hope I don't have to address any more ridiculousness regarding them, there is a post available on this page which provides any thought/analysis I have on the topic).

One more blog fact-check - Perez Hilton has been continuously reporting that "This Is It" is bombing at the box office and made $2 million dollars. It has made over $100 million worldwide in a week, hence the extended release. Perez also pointed out that Fandango is giving out tickets for $1, which, by the way, they do for new releases all the time.

The Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts vs. Abigail Breslin

2009-10-31T01:03:00.006-04:00

Oscar-nominated Little Miss Sunshine herself, Abigail Breslin, is set to play Helen Keller on Broadway. Not everyone's a happy camper.

Sharon Jensen, exec director of the Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts, has this to say: “We do not think it’s O.K. for reputable producers to cast this lead role without seriously considering an actress from our community. I understand how difficult it is to capitalize a new production on Broadway, but that to me is not the issue. There are other, larger human and artistic issues at stake here.”

The media is overhyping this statement, suggesting that Deaf and Blind advocacy groups are upset by this casting choice. Really, Sharon Jensen just needs a Xanax. If casting a hearing and seeing child actor in a play is the biggest human issue happening amongst people with disabilities, we're living in a pretty rad world.

People can be so sensitive about casting. I remember when Zhang Ziyi (world-famous Chinese starlet) was cast in "Memoirs of a Geisha" and there was a huge uproar over her casting. China banned the film, calling Ziyi "an embarassment to China" for playing a Japanese Geisha girl. Do people not understand the definition of "acting"? Should Ted Bundy be cast in any role involving a serial killer? Should royalty be cast in Disney productions? Do gays have to play gay roles? Who cares. The whole point of acting is to find a kernel of truth in playing a character other than yourself. Transformation. Somehow, that got lost in the mix.

I remember playing Helen Keller on stage. It was one of my favorite performance memories, and the role and courage of Helen Keller inspired me to tempt to learn American Sign Language, with which I thought about being an ASL interpreter. The role had a strong impact on my life, you don't have to be blind or deaf to be inspired by this brave woman's journey.

I agree that it's unfortunate that certain minorities and the disabled community don't get more work in Hollywood or on Broadway. This has been an issue from the beginning affecting countless groups of people. It is not an inclusive industry and stereotypical depictions abound. Aside from the amazing Marlee Matlin, few of us can name a slew of deaf or blind actors.

While I encourage all minorities and peoples of every background and walk of life to share their experience with the world and pursue their dreams, I highly doubt a statement like this made after-the-fact makes much difference. I am reminded of Marlon Brando's then-wife Sacheen Littlefeather (an Apache Indian and president of the National Native American Affirmative Image Comittee) ~~accepting~~ rejecting his Oscar for "The Godfather" at the Academy Awards as a statement of opposition to Hollywood's exclusionary casting of Native American actors. She was promptly booed off the stage, and decades later I can't recall many Native Americans in film since. This doesn't mean minorities and actors with disabilities should cease the fight for recognition and casting. Change never occurs without opportunities for raising awareness and demanding your voice be heard. Hollywood may be a fast town, but it's slow in fundamental areas.

While I respect the idealism displayed here, I disagree with the idea that deaf or blind actors should be cast in the role of Helen Keller as much as I see no point in any actor being boxed in for any reason. There is much we can all learn from this character, regardless of whose eyes she is shown to us through. I also disagree on this level of attention being brought to a matter that pales in comparison to the inequalities in the educational system for the deaf and blind or the numerous health and social issues regarding minorities and disabled individuals face on a daily basis. Let's get the focus back on the real "larger human issues" at stake, not the sideshow diversions.

"This is it."

2009-10-28T23:41:00.004-04:00

For once, I am not going to leave a movie review. But rather, scattered thoughts, and "This Is It" conjures many.

If it's a review you want, Roger Ebert will give it to you as only he can:

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091027/REVIEWS/910289999

I really don't have much to say. Perhaps I never did, yet I felt some responsibility to defend Michael against talk that will never cease. His work speaks for itself, his humanitarian efforts stand alone, and this film says the rest. I pondered many of the questions Ebert did, yet I know how sensational the media has always been, and I know the results of the autopsy which confirm that most of the talk is just that. The film raises questions about how someone can be heavily drugged and do even a fraction of any of that. It's safe to say the media embellished quite a bit, as usual, though Michael did have a documented history of painkiller addiction in his past. The intense concentration and ability to focus on every little detail is a Michael Jackson trademark, and only possible with him at the helm, where he remained during his rehearsals.

I had the great fortune of sitting next to a woman who had nothing but backhanded comments throughout the entire film. The irony is that she paid money to see it. That says a lot. Sometimes people don't get it or "claim" not to. Instead of "This Is It", they ask "What Is It?" In a way, I think the title is brilliant, it is what it is. Not everything in this world can be explained or needs to be dissected into oblivion. If you don't get what the big deal is with Michael Jackson by now - who he was, why people cared, what he accomplished... you never will, and no explaining will suffice. Genius on that level comes around once in a lifetime, and is always misunderstood and undervalued until it's gone, and even then it flies so high above the radar most people miss everything. I'm proud to be one of the legions of folks touched by this man and his work, and I get it. I can truly say with complete honesty that without Michael Jackson, I would not be the person or artist I am today. He inspired something in me that continues to burn, much like millions of creative people around the world.

There was so much love and positivity, hope and inspiration in this film that if you failed to receive that, you are officially "Not It". The more light a person has inside with which to shine, the more others feel dimmed and have to charge up their destructive tendencies, yet it isn't enough to quell their appetite or turn them into better people. We all have choices to make and it is our responsibility to chose wisely, and I chose to be a positive force in the world and an artist that makes a difference, partially thanks to a person who needs no introduction.

I must say, in all of my movie-going experiences, I've never seen people spontaneously whip out lighters and wave their hands in the air. There were random fedora-wearing viewers and sparkled out audience members, and an audience sprinkled with every age group and color. One could expect nothing less. If a small conservative town can even get it, there is hope for us all to just get along, by golly.

I don't think Michael would have wanted this film released as he was too much of a perfectionist to want an audience to see an incomplete product, yet it's all we have for his last show and it's enough. I'm grateful this film was made, it answers a lot of questions and gives the fans one last peek at a man so hard to say goodbye to.

Michael was truly It, and It will be sorely missed.

Thumbs Up for 'Paranormal Activity'

2009-10-18T19:13:00.006-04:00

As an avid movie watcher (all genres, all time periods, all countries), I have to count horror among my least favorite genres. Not because of the gore factor or subject matter so much as the difficulty of finding a horror film that actually gets under my skin. I can honestly say no movie has ever scared me since Poltergeist when I was 5 years old. My favorite horror films are more psychological thrillers than sheer terror, including Jaws, Rosemary's Baby, and Alien. I can't stand slasher films, they aren't intelligent enough to capture my interest. A climbing body count will do nothing for me unless there is a tight script and fascinating characters to follow, as in The Silence of the Lambs.

There are several elements I consider necessary to create a great horror film and "Paranormal Activity" had too many slices of genius for me to deny it a shout out. Let me start off by saying that docu-reality in horror hasn't worked for me prior. I rolled my eyes at the Blair Witch (though I did appreciate we never saw her). Cloverfield did nothing for my imagination. The only time I saw docu-reality working recently in a somewhat effective way was in District 9, where I thought it blended well with the storyline. Paranormal Activity on the other hand could not have been filmed any other way.

One of the most effective tools in the creation of a horror film is a fantastic villain. And by that, I mean one that is virtually impossible to get rid of. When I think back to Alien, I see all the elements in place for a terrific sci-fi horror extravaganza. You have the Nostromo, a salvaging ship, and its crew passing through the voids of deep space, essentially mimicking a gang of truckers in space. Their job is not to discover and fight aliens but rather do their contracted work, collect galactic trash and go home. They are stuck in the middle of the universe where 'no one can hear them scream' and confined to a large ship with no shortage of nooks and crannies for a species to hide. Not to mention, this is no ordinary creature and something they are completely unprepared to handle, and it has acid for blood. With respect to Paranormal Activity, what better predator is there than one you can't even see, nonetheless begin to comprehend? And if you need a hand, sorry - your only help is on vacation.

A favorite weapon of mine in the filmmaking arsenal is the skillful use of allowing the audience's imagination to wander as opposed to showing the audience everything in the screenshot. What one can't see is far more terrifying than what one can. In 'Signs', M Night Shyamalan masterfully employs this concept by hiding the alien from our view. We feel its presence in the wind blowing through the trees or the dog barking outside. The brief glimpses of its hand popping out from under the door or running in the background of a children's birthday party *cringe* are enough. These techniques were so perfect that seeing the alien was a massive letdown. Our imaginations conjure up far worse. (Remember Rosemary's Baby?)

Throughout the course of Paranormal Activity, we encounter an average couple who have just moved in together. Unlike most actors employed in docu-reality (always unknowns, of course) these two were completely believable as the ordinary couple they appeared to be. Docu-reality takes a risk as the characters aren't often developed or fleshed out enough to pull me into their personal story prior to the involved plot, and if this isn't successfully accomplished, we fail to care about the character's inner experience. We can all relate to Micah and Katie; we've all been in a close relationship and if we don't see ourselves in these two, we certainly know someone just like them.

Like The Blair Witch Project, we are observing an experience after-the-fact, captured on film. We already know it didn't end well. We come to learn that Micah and Katie are not the only inhabitants in their new house. This is news to Micah but apparently not to Katie, who has felt an entity with her since she was a girl she was powerless to explain. Micah is the stereotypical young male, more curious than fearless, more concerned with his new camera and filming the possibilities than his girlfriend's emotions. He is convinced he is in full control and can handle any situation that arises, if there's anything to even be concerned about in the first place. His camera rolls non-stop, capturing the mundane details of his domestic life with Katie. While they sleep at night, the camera vigilantly captures every detail.

The true prodigy of this film is that it capitalizes on all of humankind's biggest fears harking back to our earliest nightmares as children: Things that go bump in the night, what might be hiding in our closet, attic, or under the bed, what our eyes can't see, what really happens when we are asleep and helpless in a dark room, our sleepwalking activities, and why we always have that incessant urge to keep our toes hidden underneath a blanket. Like a good Stephen King production, we are inherently disturbed because the piece has tapped into the dark recesses of our psyche to dance with our most instinctual disturbances.

I can't say I was truly terrified (movies just don't do that to me), but lets just say I was more disturbed than anything I have seen in a long time. I truly enjoyed it as a picture as the cleverness was too pronounced to ignore, not to mention it was mad fun to listen to the audience gasp and squirm in their seats. I especially loved walking out of the theater to nervous chatter among grown men who wanted to wet their seats. Now that's entertainment.

The Real World: New York vs. Cancun

2009-10-10T23:35:00.011-04:00

My, how we've changed.

While I admit reality TV isn't generally something I go out of my way to watch, I remember enjoying the early years of the genre. Specifically, the first seasons of MTV's "The Real World". The show rapidly went downhill within a few seasons and I stopped watching. Out of sheer curiosity, I decided to give Real World: Cancun a try. BIG mistake. I revisited the very first season (Real World: New York) in an attempt to see the origins of how it all began and to understand how it could have possibly ended up as hideously bad as it evolved into...

Flashback to 1992. 7 strangers were picked to live in a house...

In Episode 1, we meet the housemates. Among them are:

Eric - A troubled-teen-turned-model who despite popular misconception appears to be far more than just a chiseled face and cut six pack.

Becky - An outspoken folk-singer who is unafraid to defend her views and develop a relationship with the ("ex") Real World director.

Andre - The guy rocking out with his band Reigndance who provides the house with a much-needed mellow roommate.

Heather B - The rap singer who powerfully flows on the mic and wears her opinions on her sleeve.

Norman - The bisexual man who is always on hand to provide a good laugh and a warm hug.

Julie - The Southern girl with the overprotective parents who wants to see and experience the world.

Kevin - A gifted poet with a penchant for stirring up intense debates in the house.

Flash forward to 2009, when MTV has premiered the 22nd season of the Real World filmed in beautiful Cancun. Our cast of characters (yes, characters, i.e. not real people) include:

Ayiia - A bisexual Hooters waitress who creates no end of drama for her roommates and is revealed to be a cutter.

CJ - The Football player who has bad pick up lines (yes, this is as deep a description as we could conjure up for him).

Jasmine - The former cheerleader with a Napoleon complex that drinks far too much and never lands her crush despite the best of efforts (i.e. being a creepy stalker).

Bronne - The loud-and-obnoxious-yet-relatively-friendly house goof

Emilee - Another bisexual Hooters waitress with A.D.D. and two therapists for parents (*paging Dr. Freud*).

Jonna - A multiracial girl who loves to befriend men and steal them away from her housemates.

Derek - Your friendly neighborhood homosexual who worked at a bar with Jonna prior to filming.

Joey - A three-time high school dropout in a punk band who sleeps with anything he can get his hands on while sadistically egging on his roommates.

If the casting breakdown doesn't scare you enough, read on.

In the original Real World, there were truly 7 distinct people and personalities all thrown into a fishbowl experience without any expectation of what the experience might hold. The only similarities they all shared were that they were all artists and had aspirations to work in entertainment. After an entire season of Cancun, I really couldn't tell you much of anything about who these people were and what they thought (if they indeed had any rational thoughts at all) other than at least five of them appeared to be the same person, i.e. naggy, bratty, overly self-involved, and immature. These were people I wouldn't want to share an apartment with, nonetheless a city (save for Derek, who was smart enough not to get entangled in the drama, which is probably why we didn't see much of him - much like Season 1's Andre). I am praying that the production team of Real World just did a horrible job and have let the show be reduced to utter nothingness rather than believe that the generation gap really has widened that much and that this show is somehow reflective of its present generation (If this is the case, bring on the asteroid - we're done for).

In Season 1, we were presented with a group of determined young people ready to make their mark on the world. They were interested in learning about one another and engaged in intellectual discussion while concerning themselves with political and global issues. They attended human rights rallies (Julie wanted to understand others so much she spent the night on the street with a homeless drug addict) and the roommates worked through their issues to try to find common ground and live together in harmony so they could actually enjoy the experience, and best of all, they were real people we could connect with and relate to. Their arguments weren't always the most sound, but at least they were about real things that were relevant to our population. While they learned about eachother, we learned about them, and cared.

Interestingly, the original season took several months to film while the latest was filmed in one month (I'm sure the people in the control room were regretting the day they were born). Even in one month, these kids couldn't come up with one interesting thing to say. They were contractually obligated to work for Student City, a program designed to help vacationing college students have a fun and safe Spring Break. The cast members had no trouble immediately breaking all the no-no's they were given by the company, couldn't show up on time, didn't always fully participate, and Joey couldn't even be bothered to take responsibility for setting his own alarm clock and was fired from the job and ultimately the show, only to return on the last episode in the 'twist ending' where the sleeps with his sworn enemy and housemate, Aiiya. I wonder if they even contemplated that this was a real company with a real reputation that was giving them a real opportunity. If I were Student City and somehow still managed to be in business after the airing of RW: Cancun, a serious name and identity change would be in order.

The only seeming priorities of the Real World kids (whom I refer to as kids, because they look and act like them in every way) has been to drink, have sex, fight, and party, which basically reminds me why I stopped watching a decade ago. Watching this show, it's apparent most of these people can't be in committed relationships, control themselves in any form (drinking, sex, public urination, etc), have zero motivation, and can't perform jobs responsibly or share a house for five minutes without WWIII. The tagline should be changed to: Seven losers picked to live in a house to create pointless drama that bore us to death. I can't even conceive of a person who steals her 'friends' romantic interests, a person who encourages a cutter to cut herself again, or a person who sleeps with the individual they hate the most. I honestly think the visit to the welfare shelter they were assigned to must have been designed to make these characters look semi-sympathetic and to take their minds off of their own endless selfish desires. They came across as completely sociopathic and emotionally damaged and void of logic across the board. A reunion was aired, upon which I hoped watching the season would have embarassed them into a life-altering experience but to no avail (I should have known). I absolutely hated watching this, I'd rather endure torture than sit through it again. PLEASE give me those hours of my life back. However, I did overcome, just so I could write this for all of you.

I shudder to think that there are young people out there that enjoyed this. If this is you, just know that your generation is capable of so much more and that there is nothing real about any of these people. It's obvious they had a non-stop bid for camera time and nothing else. They kept accusing eachother of being fake, all the while being forgeries themselves. They didn't take the time to learn about eachother, presumably because that required actual intellect and took away from their precious time to party on a beach and shout at eachother. Even from a selfish perspective, wouldn't it have made more sense to get along with your roommates so you could really enjoy time spent in Cancun?

I'm not trying to reduce these people to stereotypes though the Real World has long been known for enjoying perpetuating them. I realize that these people must inherently be multi-dimensional and could very well be different if a camera wasn't taping their every move, however it is, which naturally makes it the Unreal World. Blame must fall on the production crew of the Real World who clearly made the choice to not only cast these immature charicatures but also have allowed once multi-dimensional people to be selected and edited into one-dimensional cardboard cutout puppets not worth the view. Watching this was truly like pulling teeth, I couldn't fathom what the producers were ~~drinking~~ thinking when these were the folks that appeared on their casting couch. Did they draw names out of a hat?! With the exception of Aiiya, who was selected by the MTV audience (Way to go). The producers have realized some inherent value in instigators, most likely stemming from the most infamous casting choice in Real World history: FPuck. Imagine having five of him in your apartment and you get the idea.

I honestly don't believe that this generation of teenagers resembles anything close to this colossal mess. Their generation was truly jipped with this presentation and I feel sorry for that. They are living in times of change and reconstruction and I hope they stop to reflect on something other than the beverage they have later. Perhaps the apathy so proudly displayed on this season's Real World is the same attitude that has contributed to some of the current problems our country finds itself embattled with. There are young people out there at this moment leaving their fingerprint on the world through volunteer work and the creation of ideas and art. Where is their representation? What about all the great minds and interesting young people populating this world? I'm guessing they didn't send in a tape. If they did, I'm sure they would see this opportunity as a unique time to learn from others and value their time at a new exciting locale instead of squander it away with petty insignificant arguments and illogical decisions.

Better luck next year (I won't be watching).

Vitiligo: Confirmed

2009-10-02T01:34:00.007-04:00

To debunk further rumors:

Michael Jackson's autopsy confirmed he did indeed suffer from the skin disease Vitiligo (refer to photographs from my Vitiligo post dated 2007). The autopsy also revealed that he was balding, something I suspected as when I saw MJ in 2004, he was wearing a clearly wearing a wig.

The autopsy showed him to be healthy otherwise with no other drugs/alcohol in his system other than what was injected, contrary to reports that he was too weak to perform. He was 5'9 and 136 lbs (light, but still considered normal). He had ostheoarthritis on a few fingers and his lower back and a healthy heart.

In other words, his skin disease was real (as we reported years ago), and he was healthy enough to perform. I hope that settles that once and for all, though as we know, rumors will always persist.

Oh, and the autopsy also revealed he was actively producing sperm. I certainly feel if this was any other celebrity it wouldn't have even been mentioned, I don't see any of Hollywood's leading ladies being questioned about their ovaries when they are parents, biologically or otherwise.

Yes, I did get tickets for 'This Is It' and can't wait to see Michael in action!

Jon & Kate Plus Real Jobs (we can only hope)

2009-10-01T23:38:00.006-04:00

Yes, this is the return of the Jon & Kate thread (in which, ahem, I humbly called the demise of this entire family months before any public reports of marital trouble. I may not be Madame Cleo, but exercising common sense goes a long way. If you watched one episode of this thing, it was so predictable.)

I was trying to hold off on posting about these two because I'm as tired of them as the rest of you are, but it has simply come to the point where something must be said, yet again.

The latest updates are that the show's name was changed to 'Kate Plus 8' as TLC had been having trouble with Jon since these two split. It's gotta be hard promoting yourself as a family channel when you have a guy running around town drunk with ladies half his age, spending his CHILDREN'S earnings on a phat bachelor pad in NYC, and wearing those god-awful Ed Hardy shirts. Clearly, PopSpiracy could not let this charade go unnoticed! I am not, in any way, on Team Kate either, as you all well know. I think we should put them on a desert island and tell them it's a new reality show and forget to bring the cameras (and crew). Oops.

Within moments of the show's name being changed and Jon's obvious deletion, he is now taking legal action to stop the show, his lawyers sent TLC a cease-and-desist order which claimed police would be called out if anyone stepped onto the property.

According to Jon's lawyer, "Jon realized his family was like a train wreck, so he decided to put the brakes on the divorce and on the show..."

Let me get this straight. Jon Gosselin is just NOW realizing his family is a train wreck?!!
Ok, gimme back my Madame Cleo title, please. Either I'm a rocket scientist or Jon Gosselin is a tool. Or, in this case, maybe both. Kate is not halting the divorce, and dare I say it, I actually agree with her for once.

Jon's lawyer's continued statement:

"I am totally confident that [Jon] will be completely successful in his quest to take back control of his family and preserve, protect and ensure their future and well-being by putting the brakes on his divorce and pulling the plug on TLC, the media giant that he perceives as a monster that has exploited and manipulated his family and has been partially responsible for the breakdown of his marriage. Jon is resolved not to allow the TLC Corporate machine to devour his family and promote the monster's best interests over those of his family. TLC and Discovery have been reputed to have generated approximately $186 million dollars for the quarter – compliments of the Gosselin Family, and Jon firmly believes that their greed to continue that cash flow will be trumped by his courage and determination to protect his family."

First of all, I take it this lawyer hasn't seen one episode of the show or he would know Jon Gosselin was never once in control of his family and the notion that he could protect his children is highly implausible. He couldn't even stand up for himself once the entire time the show taped. If Jon and Kate were concerned with their children's wellbeing whatsoever, this show would have never taped a single episode.

Secondly, to hear Jon Gosselin whine (once again) about TLC exploiting and manipulating his family, contributing to his dissolving marriage, and describing TLC as a monster devouring his family is the best I've heard yet. (In case he needs to be reminded, the Gosselins are the ones who decided to drag their 8 children through this nightmare, no one else. It's not as if there aren't plenty of examples of reality television families torn apart or sextuplets thrown into a circus atmosphere and the long-term devastating effects of this many times over for them to have made a more informed decision.)

Now, I'm not absolving TLC of any blame here. While it has brought us entertaining shows like 'Police Women of Broward County' and 'LA Ink', it definitely had this one coming with all the constantly exploitative shows involving children. From Gosselins and Duggars to 'Toddlers & Tiaras', the whole thing couldn't be more designed to ensure a horrible fate for its young performers all the while masquerading as a wholesome family network. (Note to TLC: What's up with your programming in general? All these awful children reality shows and then rad shows about police women and tattoo shops? A sense of direction is in order here!)

In this statement, I must say I especially love the part where Jon's lawyer mentions the hundreds of millions of dollars the show has raked in for TLC 'compliments of the Gosselin family' as if this were all a wonderfully packaged gift the family never profited from in any way. Meanwhile, Jon is off buying a new car, an NYC apartment, and entertaining clearly desperate young women. (By the way, Jon doesn't work. And he mentions TLC being greedy!)

I think it's highly amusing that he decided to halt this show the second his name was dropped off the title. Egotastic! That said, I have been calling for the cancellation of this show for a year now. Jon's first logical (and correct) decision, made for all the wrong reasons. It's about time those poor kids get off the air and try to have a normal life, though growing up with Jon and Kate will guarantee that can never happen. I can't imagine what these kids have had to go through. Divorce is hard on any kid, and the actions parents make after the divorce have a large impact on how children will feel and cope. Jon's actions have not at all reflected any concern for his family, if what he's been doing the past few months is 'protection', we all have cause to be concerned. Everytime I think he can't possibly make himself look worse, he finds a way to outdo even my next-to-nil expectations.

I seriously hope the Gosselins can get their children into therapy and stop spending their money like it's going out of style. Those kids have been working since they've been in pampers and deserve a stab at normalcy like any other kids. Instead of focusing so much on this nightmarish couple, their children should be the first priority they deserve to be.

:(

2009-09-14T20:33:00.007-04:00

Another staple of my youth gone: Patrick Swayze.

Who could forget bawling to 'Ghost' in the 80s?

Or his creepy character in Donnie Darko?

Patrick was a brave man whose positive thinking allowed him to survive as long as possible despite his circumstances. The tabloid media had a field day with his cancer, constantly posting pictures of him emaciated and saying he was already dead last year. Patrick valiantly hung on while announcing to everyone that the reports were wrong, he was still very much alive. I can't imagine how hurtful that must have been. His human spirit and bold attempts at fighting for life are an inspiration to us all.

RIP, Patrick.

Pop-Culture-Sensation-I-Don't-Get Of The Day

2009-09-14T20:17:00.004-04:00

BEANIE BABIES!

If someone could please explain the appeal of these completely average stuffed animals, please explain. In the early 90s, Ty released these critters by the bucketload to frenzied fans and massive overhyping. Some people were willing to shell out hundreds of dollars for tiny beanie babies considered 'rare', which basically meant they had a slightly different color variation from a few others, turning Ty into a multi-billion dollar business.

Years later, you literally can't give these suckers away. I used to work for a facility that bought used-but-mint condition Beanie Babies from customers who had stockpiled them for years thinking they would retire on their collection. Naturally, we bought the majority for about a dollar (and that was generous). I'll never forget their faces when they excitedly mentioned one was rare and we handed them a dollar bill. Some people literally had thousands. Even the rarest ones weren't anywhere near as valuable as they hoped and in general, we were able to buy up thousands of Beanies a week at .50 and 1.00 prices. People were disappointed beyond belief, but they knew that was a better deal than they could get most places and went for it. We also had a few counterfeits come in, which was pretty amusing. We could always successfully detect them but they were pretty good mimics. The denial of their lack of present value was so great for a few customers they almost got a coronary and refused to sell them to us, only to come back within a few days looking defeated. I felt bad, but then again, what did you expect buying these mass-produced plain jane wannabes? They are so small, you can't even cuddle with them! If this was your nest egg, this is what marketing brainwashing will get you!

So, I ask you again, why did you buy these again??!!

We just don't get it, y'all.

MTV Video Music Awards Wrap-Up

2009-09-14T01:00:00.002-04:00

It's been YEARS since I've seen the VMA's. Then again, my generation of artists was far cooler (sorry, kids). MTV 80s was the best. You can't compete with Weird Al and weird hair or the slew of genius and artists and videos. 90s MTV was a bit of a downgrade but still cool, and modern MTV is... NOT music television. Where are the music videos? Where's Beavis? Hehehhe. Yeah.

I remember the classic MTV VMA moments. Even the pre-show was interesting and unpredictable, I very vividly recall Madonna doing an interview and Courtney Love tossing her compact at her in a desperate bid of attention. Though I will say this year's bid of desperation came from Kanye West, who seems to think any of us actually care what he has to say when he's not singing (I THINK HE BURNED THAT BRIDGE A LONG TIME AGO, CAPS INTENDED). Kanye is plain retarded. Yes, he makes good music. I think the praise ends there. Since when is his opinion worth more than a teenage dream? What a jerk. I'm not a big Taylor Swift fan but every winner deserves their moment. The MTV Awards has a huge demographic and clearly Kanye West wasn't the only artist they loved by a long shot. It doesn't matter how good he is, nothing will sink a career faster than a crap attitude, so keep it up. I was touched by the little boy presenter (whoever he was) that gave Taylor her props, it's pretty crazy that a kid has more class than a grown man. I will say, her performance had a fun feel. It must be hard to perform after something like that, but her ability to keep it fun really just made her come out that much better. I'm sure Kanye will apologize now that he has the world's attention, he's like a broken record. How many times does he do this? Yawn.

I can't reflect on the VMAs without my Jackson comments. I highly applaud Madonna for giving one of the best speeches I've heard in a damn long time, makes me proud I wasn't a hater. I think what she said was as on the mark as any comment anyone has made since Michael's passing, and I'm glad she spoke some words people needed to hear, as one of the only other people on the planet who had the experience to say it. I thought the tribute performances were nice and I found it appropriate that Janet only made a momentary appearance as not to make it seem like she was capitalizing on her brother's death (though I have massively mixed feelings about her doing interviews and getting magazine covers suddenly when she refused to talk about her brother during an interview while he was alive). Clearly she is getting a second chance at her career which is certainly deserved, just not in this manner. The 'This Is It' clips were great, I can't wait to watch MJ's final concert. The footage proves that not only was he still a top performer (he was 50, not 80, people) but he also wasn't a drug addict, no matter what the media perpetuates. No one can be addicted to serious anesthetics and be a perfectionistic dancer at the same time. Clearly he battled painkiller problems over the years and bouts of insomnia in the end but a lot of the media reporting is clearly false as usual, as further proven by the people around him who didn't notice anything off. You can't take those types of drugs and not be falling all over the place like a zombie. I think the final show will be great. I always knew he wouldn't do the shows, but I didn't think it would be because of all this. I do think he has been introduced to an all new generation which I am so happy about and I will always remain respectful of this person and committed to my decision to have been a fan for so long. I do still think MTV is totally lame for banning him and his videos off the channel for years and then suddenly acting like they cared, but I guess that's most people. I remember the year Janet Jackson won the first ever MTV Icon award, which was such a slap in the face and MTV basically doing what was socially cool over what was the right choice. MTV has a sad history with Michael Jackson given he basically built the channel into what it became, but it was nice to see them make a momentary ammends. It was also nice to see DJ AM get some respect, we've lost too many artists this summer way too soon.

Pink gave a very acrobatic performance, I had no idea she did that kind of stuff. There was an LA band, 'Powder' that was great and their lead singer does that kind of performance art while rocking out, it's really random and a great visual combination.

Mad props to Lady Gaga, I'd heard a lot about her but never actually watched her in action and now feel I missed out. Dance music isn't necessarily my forte but I love her presentation as an artist, I respect anyone who creates a visual feast that seems to defy comprehension and her performance was definitely madly unique.

Muse was cool, I know they have a huge US following so hopefully they will play more shows out here.

I thought Alicia Keys and Beyonce were elegant and classy as usual, and I can't give enough of a shout out to Beyonce for being so gracious and giving poor Taylor Swift the moment she deserved. Empathy goes a long way and it's clearly not dead. I was proud of the audience for their reaction to the whole crazy situation, people really shouldn't support disrespect.

It was odd seeing Green Day performing, not looking a day older than they did when I was in high school.

Russell Brand was his usual peculiar self, which I personally appreciated. The night certainly needed his energy.

I actually liked the New Moon trailer, even though I have no real love for the Twilight films (though R-Patz does make me a tad giddy, I'll admit). I like a trailer that looks far better than the film will probably be. My inner child wanted to indulge in anything VMAs tonight, so I gave New Moon the benefit of the doubt.

Eminem really has mellowed out in his older age, I guess he's leaving all the madness for Kanye.

I was super surprised Britney won an award. I am really out of touch with the current music scene (mostly for a reason) but I sort of momentarily forgot about her. Lots of old familiar faces at the VMAs that seem rather timeless and there's a lot more cursing in the show among everyone involved than there ever was when I was growing up. Censor timing certainly has improved!

It was a pretty decent show, I've seen more boring award shows as of recent. The performances were all decent and it was nice to relive an old pasttime.

9/11

2009-09-11T01:42:00.006-04:00

I remember the first time I saw the Twin Towers, in 1998. My mother wanted to go inside and climb up to the top floor, and I refused to even step into them. They were so tall and intimidating to me, I got a bad feeling around them. However, I did take a cool artsy shot from underneath of them, looking at them from an angle. I went back to NYC the week of 9/11, for a Michael Jackson concert at Madison Square Garden (the last concert shows he ever performed). I was literally walking around in the financial district two days prior and would have been in town during the actual day were it not for an accident involving the ticket seller making a mistake and switching my tickets for the earlier show date. When I left the city, I remember looking back at the sky line one last time as we drove away. Little did I know how forever changed it would be, as well as the city and country as a whole.

I remember the moment I found out, as does anyone else. One of my college best friends called me on the phone at 8 in the morning to tell me to turn on the television as something had hit the Pentagon. I literally watched the towers fall on live television. It was the most surreal visual and something straight out of a Hollywood special effects studio. It didn't feel real. I was JUST there. How could it be? And how many people did I pass on the street those days that suddenly weren't around to talk about their day? Innocent people just going to work. I was so jarred I didn't want to leave the house but had a chemistry class shortly thereafter. I was somewhat of a zombie walking into that building and I remember the classroom was abuzz. Not everyone knew about it yet, so students were filling eachother in. The teacher proceeded with starting the class, saying that "In times like these, it's best to carry on." A head promptly popped through our door to announce that school was closed. Everyone ran home and stayed glued to their radios and TV sets. So little was known.

The world has changed so much since that day. I remember how patriotic I felt afterwards. Not that I ever wasn't but I remember saying the Pledge of Allegiance as a kid and not really thinking about the meaning of the words (which probably happens when you don't really get much of a choice in saying it at school). The bit about our flag still being there despite the bombs bursting in air really choked me up afterwards. There was a sense of unity that came out of 9/11 (I guess there was another silver lining) that is hard to describe. I remember a commercial that ran on TV at the time that said it all, depicting a neighborhood prior to 9/11 that said something about the terrorists wanting to change the world and then a caption that said 'They did' and the same neighborhood being pictured boasting flags on every lawn. That's basically what happened. If tough New Yorkers could change their attitudes responses towards eachother, so could the rest of us. I think in some ways 9/11 definitely made us stronger in terms of feeling collective and part of something instead of a nation of just individuals, however naturally there were also undesirable consequences. War, the anti-Muslim sentiment some ignorant people expressed (and still do), the fear and paranoia so drilled into our heads, the political nonsense.

I recently went back to NYC last year and indeed it felt different. I remember going to the World Trade Center site to pay my respects. I was surprised to find that there were no reminders there, other than the obvious. I guess there doesn't need to be but I imagined there to be some sort of tribute or flowers or something but there wasn't a trace of it. The holes in the ground (still there years later) were a constant enough reminder and the city wanted to naturally move foward, even though most of the site is obscured by fence as construction efforts remain underway as they will for a long time to build the Freedom Tower. I'm actually glad the public chose to rebuild, I think it's a good idea. Though I would have been just as content with a memorial park, whatever the New Yorkers decided. The designs for the tower look amazing and I hope it does usher in strong feelings of renewed hope and optimism this country badly needs in times of such crippling recession and global change.

Of course our airport experiences are completely changed, an inconvenience I don't mind provided it makes air travel safer - it's a small price to pay. I was in Europe on the 5th anniversary of 9/11 (I can't believe it's been 8 years). While I was there, soldiers with machine guns were guarding Charles de Gaulle airport in France and there was a bomb scare on the plane I was on where we were promptly moved to a remote section of the airport in case we all blew up. There was also a bomb scare in the subway in Paris while we were aboard. When I went to Italy, the Twin Towers were on the covers of the newspapers and all over television. It really does make you realize the global impact of that day as well as the united sense it managed to bring about.

I do think the positive and negative effects are still very much alive and I hope we can all find it within ourselves to keep an open-mind towards one another and continue to seek peace and understanding. The world definitely needs so much more of that and in some ways 9/11 set back that progress. Despite these difficult times, I feel a great deal of hope for this country and for the world at large as long as we keep an eye towards the future and learn from the past.

RIP to all of those lost and condolences and healing to their friends and families.

Where were you on 9/11? What did it mean to you?

Note: PopSpiracy recommends watching "Man on Wire", Oscar winner for Best Documentary last year. An all-time favorite and a great story involving the Towers (not 9/11 related) showcasing the hope and inspiration they inspired in one man to dream big and do the unthinkable. GREAT stuff.

One Last Goodbye...

2009-09-03T14:17:00.007-04:00

PopSpiracy sends condolences to Michael Jackson's friends, family, and fans around the world.

The love we have received from the fan community is heartwarming and to be sent letters from around the world from people who loved Michael and
were affected by his brief but brilliant life were a great comfort and a reminder of how small the world truly is as well as the power and healing of togetherness. Thank you so much for sharing your stories, I was deeply touched by them all.

I want to send a final farewell to Michael today, the day of his burial. I am so grateful for his influence and inspiration, he touched my life as well as millions of others and that legacy lives on and continues to inspire us all.

May Michael rest in peace forever.

On a side note, I'd like to encourage people not to go to Forest Lawn today. The police have already warned that the neighborhood is blocked off so no one will be able to see anything, and having once lived in Los Angeles for several years I can say that the traffic is already horrendous during those evening hours. This is occuring on a weeknight during which countless people are taking to the roads returning from work to be with their families. As strong as the fans desires are to be there, please be respectful of the safety hazards and problems a large tu

rnout will cause. Apparently there will be media there to record some events so people watching TV will end up seeing more than if they went to the actual location. Not to mention, there is a heavy police presence to ensure fans do not sneak in. Also, a few news organizations I shall not name have decided to release the whereabouts of the family tonight, which is horrifying. Such media is contributing to the creation of a society that has an incessant and self-entitled 'need to know' everything at the expense of human dignity and respect. I urge fans to contemplate the implications of such behavior and to be aware of this mourning family's (and friends) needs to mourn together in privacy. A lot of people think celebrities deserve to be hounded and have every private detail of their life be public knowledge. The truth is that celebrities like Michael Jackson, his family, or any other entertainment figure deserve(d) the right to keep something for themselves and to have their own lives away from prying eyes, especially during times of tragedy.

I am sad it has taken so long to actually bury Michael, though none of us know the full reasoning. However, the funeral arrangements and location were just as I would have hoped for and I believe were done as Michael himself would have wanted.

Lastly, the Jackson fam

ily has come under a great deal of ridicule for having Michael's estate pay for the funeral expenses (per Katherine Jackson's request). I hope that people bear in mind that Katherine Jackson never had a career and was a stay at home mother and Michael Jackson paid his parents bills so the Jackson family itself has little money (aside from Janet). Marlon was recently working at a supermarket stocking shelves and the other Jackson members have dwindled in bankruptcy many times. The family still doesn't have complete access to its inheritance as such things take time, hence a motion was made in court. The funeral expenses are outrageous and Katherine Jackson suddenly has three young children to support, hence her request for finances to help raise them as well.

I can only hope that people try their hand at being compassionate instead of judgmental when it comes to this family's every action as well as tragedy or celebrity life in general.

Forever Young.

RIP, MJ.

1958-2009

Summer of Silence

2009-08-29T13:28:00.006-04:00

As summer is nearing a close, I can't help but reflect on the greatness lost this summer:

Oscar Mayer

Farrah Fawcett

Don Hewitt

Ted & Eunice Kennedy

Dominick Dunne

DJ AM

Billy Mays

David Carradine

Ed McMahon

Karl Malden

Michael Jackson

These people entertained us, inspired us, and let us know what was possible. In remembrance of them and all of the people in our lives lost within the past few months, we miss you.

Rest in Peace.

(Happy birthday, Michael).

Shark Week on Discovery: A Help or Hindrance?

2009-08-19T01:18:00.013-04:00

Ah, Shark Week. For years, Discovery Channel has unleashed this panic-inducing gem, ensuring that everyone thinks twice before stepping into the water over summer. Remember the year it was in 3-D?

Growing up, I enjoyed Shark Week. As a young person, I didn't read into it much and was hypnotized by these sleek powerful survival machines.
This year, I indulged in "Blood in the Water", which recounted the bloody summer of 1916 that inspired "Jaws", i.e. "The Massacre at Matawan Creek" and the attacks on the Jersey shoreline. In all honesty, I found the true story to be far more disturbing than Jaws - not just because it was real but because humans were so out of their element that summer. When you put it into perspective, there's a difference between having Quint the shark hunter onboard (one of my favorite movie characters of all time) and living in a time when nothing was understood about these creatures, including the idea that they could actually

kill a man.

Like any kid growing up in the 80s (especially in Florida where my mot

her took us out every weekend on the boat), one couldn't help but think Jaws was going to come right up and steal you in the blink of an eye. Hell, even when I was in the swimming pool, I was convinced he would make an appearance (a la Jaws 3 when he broke into Sea World's Shark Encounter). All these years later, I still think about it every time I go through that tunnel. Between Jaws and the Ghoulies, toilet bowls were even off-limits to kids after midnight.

As a massive fan of the movie theater experience, I must say of all my hundreds of unique cinematic experiences, watching Jaws with a live audience is still my favorite. I used to sit in the back of the theater at revival screenings in Los Angeles and watch the crowd move in sync and terror. All these years later, Jaws remains one of the most perfected films of all time per audience reaction. Every single note or beat Stephen Spielberg and John Williams created sent shockwaves through viewe

rs, who responded with frequent gasps and synchronized seat-jumping. This film evoked such an extreme reaction after the film's release that sharks were slaughtered in mass numbers and the population is far from safe about them, not us).

A demand for shark fin soup is also on the increase as is shark cartilage for medicinal purposes, especially in Asian countries. The popular belief is that

since sharks are relatively healthy and rarely get sick, ingesting shark must have health benefits. There is no medical proof to back this claim. Sharks are caught by boats, their tails and fins severed, and their bodies thrown back into the ocean to sink and die. The image of sharks around the w

orld has severely suffered due to the role of the media and Shark Week is certainly a large contributor to arguments against sharks, not pro-species. One walks away from watching Shark Week with a sense of fear and terror and not a deep understanding of this mysterious creature. While there were a few shows dedicated to learning about the habits of sharks, the majority were exploitative features on shark attacks, which seemed non-stop. From watching the week, one would think sharks were out for our blood attacking us every chance they get. The sheer panic of the programming and the constant floodgate of dramatic recreations and gore were sure to bring in ratings, the desired effect. I was disappointed by the hypocrisy of the occasional shark commercial randomly thrown in to r

emind us all about shark conservation while the programming largely incited an opposite reaction.

Let's get our facts straight about sharks.

They are a vital part of our ecosystem and as the ocean's top hunter, a necessary part of the food chain. Shark decimation affects every creature in the ocean and affects the natural order and balance of the undersea world.

A few shark facts we can sink our teeth into:

You are 1,000 times more likely to drown in the sea than you are to be bitten by a shark.

About 100 people in the world are bitten by sharks each year. Of these, five to ten die.

The chance of being killed by a shark is one in 300 million. The chance of being killed by airplane parts falling from the sky is one in 10 million.

(sharkfacts.org)

"Great white sharks kill and inju

re fewer people each year than other types of shark."

(sharkinformation.org)

In fact, hundreds of thousands of people die a year from dog bites (No one ever thinks twice about letting a dog into their home) yet you can count the number of shark-related human deaths a year on one hand. More people are killed by vending machines a year than by Jaws!

It's important for people to let go of their superficial tendencies and quickness to believe what they hear relating to these creatures that really aren't all that interested in human flesh. (Clearly, the human fear is mostly psychological, sharks embodyin

g many physical attributes and traits we have grown to associate with monsters.) In a time when we are armed with education at our side and doctors that actually know how to do blood transfusions and the common man knowing how to make a tourniquet, should you happen to get a shark bite, your chances aren't too bad nowadays. Sharks mistake humans for other food sources such as seals (especially when they are on surfboards and can look like seals from below) and unless a shark is protecting it's territory or has made an error in judgment, you probably aren't going to be killed. A shark might take an inquisitive bite, but once it realizes you aren't preferred food you have a good chance of survival. The majority of shark-related deaths are the result of massive blood loss, which can occur depending on the bite and certainly if an artery is severed. However, us modern day folk have a lot more medical training and shark education than we did in 1916. While the real life events were indeed terrifying, it's been nearly 100 years and we haven't seen such a string of occurences again. There is always an exception to everything.

So, what do you d

o if you happen to bump into a shark in the ocean that appears to be in attack mode? They used to say punching a shark in the nose worked, because it temporarily blinded them. Not that sharks use their eyes anyway when they bite (their eyes roll backwards to protect them), not to mention you run the risk of miscalculating and shoving your fist in its mouth. Some people try to poke them in the eyes to escape. Supposedly (and I don't know who the rocket scientist is that actually tried this), since the shark is the ocean's top expert it is unaccustomed to a challenge. If you swim away from an animal in predatory mode, it will swim after you. If you duck underwater and stare it right in the face, it is used to everything in the ocean swimming away from it and becomes confused and figuratively shrugs its fins and wanders away. Good luck with that, I'll leave that one up to you. Report back and let us know what happens >:p Though I can confirm that there was a dog that tried to maul me as a child and as I ran it came after me but when I slowed down and walked and didn't look back at it, it turned around and walked away. Predators do like a good chase and there's no point trying to outswim the Michael Phelps of the sea.

While you should

be fine swimming in the ocean and humans unknowingly swim alongside sharks frequently without any mishaps, you should exercise common sense and keep a few things in mind if it's a concern. While they have poor eyesite and mostly rely on smell, they are attracted to contrasts in color so you should probably pick bathing suits that more closely resemble the colors of the ocean and avoid yellow and orange which might create a strong color contrast with your environment. Don't go swimming alone or in any way injured and definitely not bleeding (that includes you, ladies) and avoid swimming in the middle of the ocean or any unguarded location. Overall, you should be pretty safe from shark attacks and we are a far greater threat to them than the reverse. A jellyfish sting is probably a more realistic concern (I can vouch for this, they hurt!).

I grew up in the Shark Tooth Capital of the World so it's not a surprise that I realize their importance (Kudos to anyone bored enough to look it up). Every year, the Sharktooth Festival is celebrated in my hometown and there's no shortage of teeth and souvenirs. However, the shark is quite revered in town as it should be across the globe where they make important contributi

ons to our ecosystem.

A great documentary to watch is Sharkwater: The Truth Will Surface, the 2006 documentary release that goes into great detail about the shark fin industry and the perils all sharks in our oceans face and the horrid statistics on the decimation of the shark population, particularly since the film Jaws was released as well as the implications of these actions. Also, the filmmaker challenges us to rethink our preconceived notions of sharks by putting himself at the helm and swimming in shark-infested waters just to prove his point that they aren't anywhere near the monsters of public perception (the footage of him swimming and petting wild sharks is pretty awe-inspiring). This film rips Shark Week in half while providing you with beautiful photography and a new found appreciation for these increasingly rare populations.

I encourage Shark Week to be consistent in its message and to vote in favor of shark conservation and run more specials and programming in defense of sharks instead of dramatic accounts of rare events. I'd love to see a documentary like Sharkwater make it's way onto next year's lineu

p. If anyone has suggestions for Shark Week or would like to voice their concerns about the mixed messages the channel has sent, visit Discovery Channel's website and voice your opinions. Never underestimate the power of expressing your views and inciting change.

FYI: While it wasn't common knowledge in 1916 in America that sharks could kill a human (even the foremost 'shark experts' in the country were in denial), a few images made their way right along with mythological monsters in books, art, and tales to demonize the creatures, before the advent of modern media, such as the famous painting "Watson & The Shark" (1778), based on

the first full report of a shark attack (the victim survived). I first saw this painting at the Louvre and was intrigued. Notice the shark has fictionalized features as the painter had clearly never seen a shark firsthand. The modern conveniences we take for granted!

SAVE FIGMENT

2009-08-15T17:33:00.013-04:00

"Two tiny wings

Eyes big and yellow

Horns of a steer, but a lovable fellow

From head to tail, he's royal purple pigment..

and there, voila, you've got a Figment..."

Since my first trip to Disney's Epcot Center in 1984 when I first glanced at His Purple Badness for the first time, I have never quite been able to get over him. Figment, otherwise known as the purple dragon that is the literal embodiment of the 'figment' of your imagination, has captivated generations with his charming laugh, catchy songs, mischievious nature, and adorable features. Figment was the first Disney character not designed by Walt himself. Disney Imagineers thought him up while they were planning Epcot (Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow), the first Disney park designed in a different vein altogether from Disneyland or Magic Kingdom. Initial drawings revealed Figment to be a strange green concoction, but fortunately he was redrawn to look... well, I imagine what the figment of one's imagination must look like – random and surreal. With his orange horns and wings, purple body, pink belly, and yellow t-shirt, Figment was unmistakeably original.

Figment and his side-kick Dreamfinder were the animatronic hosts of the fantastic Journey into Imagination ride (1983-1998), where they traveled through the mystical land of human imagination (from dreams to nightmares and everything in between) all the while collecting ideas and daring us to dream up the impossible.

In one of the biggest blunders in Disney history (yes, those are my words), Imagineers decided to tear down the original ride (and the accompanying ImageWorks) as the ride's track was encountering problems. The ride was completely rebuilt as something altogether different and public reaction to the renovation was excessively negative. Disney employees wore black and sulked outside of the attraction and even a Disney stockholder demanded a CEO's explanation as to why Figment was not prominently featured in the ride. Two years later, the ride underwent another extensive renovation to become Journey into Imagination with Figment, a ride which saw more Figment but continuing public dissatisfaction. If you go to Epcot today, you will notice it is the emptiest ride in the park. Upon a trip to Epcot this year, I expressed to an employee my love of Figment to which he sadly responded “It's not what it used to be.” Given the sad state of the attraction and the empty omnimovers, it's a safe bet that the current attraction's days are numbered.

The original Figment was voiced by brilliant character actor and dwarf Billy Blarty, who sadly passed away and took with him that enthusiastic voice that breathed incomparable life and energy into Figment, and who gave him the greatest laugh I've ever heard. Dave Goelz voices the current Figment, which is but a shadow of its former self. During the 1980s, Figment was to Epcot what Mickey was to Magic Kingdom. Figment merchandise abounded and Epcot took a brave unique stance at keeping other Disney characters separate from the Epcot theme park. In other words, Figment owned. The original ride was comprised of every essential element for a classic Disney attraction: the theme, strong visuals and endearing animatronics, a great song... Having taken away the ride was the Epcot equivalent of Pirates of the Caribbean being removed from Disneyland. (Can you imagine the reaction?!) I'm still trying to fathom how such a thing could have happened. Heaven forbid they just replace the troublesome track instead of rebuilding the entire ride.

Yes, that is Michael Jackson at the original ImageWorks Rainbow Tunnel in the amazing first Journey Into Imagination ride, just in case you needed proof that this thing was that cool...

I imagine (pun intend) that one of the great dilemma's facing Disney Imagineers is guest division: half of the guests are traditionalists and want their favorite nostalgic rides to be kept intact while others expect to see constantly revamped attractions and new rides. However, when something works that well it shouldn't be tampered with much (such as Magic Kingdom's Haunted Mansion which goes through the occasional small update but overall remains the same).

Figment is my all-time favorite character. His lessons are universal – belief, imagination, and creativity should be boundless and take us to the places in life we want to go. His message is as relevant today as it's always been, only hardly no one can hear it anymore. The modern ride features a largely computer-animated figment, which very much detracts from the magic of Disney animatronics previously in place (sometimes, older is actually better). The theme isn't very strong, the “One Little Spark” song spans a few lines for the audience to sing along with (which they never do), and overall the ride is as bland as last night's meatloaf. The original ImageWorks featured technologies the public had never seen (early versions of virtual reality exhibits and odd technological spectacles) while the current version gives us little to dream about. Figment's pal Dreamfinder is nowhere to be seen and Figment merchandise is generally yawn-worthy and only sold in a few locations at the park. The last time I went to Epcot, I stopped by Guest Relations to ask them when the costumed Figment mascot would be out and about so I could get a birthday photo with him (Hey, I had to!) and the woman looked at me as if I was insane. Apparently, even the Figment-costumed Epcot cast member is no more, either. They didn't even know he had existed recently! My inner child was completely crushed by everything at Journey into Imagination and the Imagination Institute. What a sorry ending for such a fabulous creature.

Poor decision making = poor audience attendance. The public's love and interest in Figment has not dissipated. Upon speaking with fellow Florida residents and Epcot attendees, I find that they fondly remember Figment and bring their children to experience him as well (the current generation got jipped). Disney honchos must know that Figment is not as of yet altogether through as they have released countless Figment pins and yearly release a limited edition Figment statue, while Figment merchandise on eBay continues to escalate in price and desire. Hopefully these signs will point Disney in the obvious direction and allow them to finally give Figment the updates he deserves instead of sending him into retirement. I believe Figment has generations left to entertain while old generations will fall in love with him all over again. Long live Fig.

To learn all about Figment (and why we should save him from extinction), check out an Figment's amazing unofficial page at figmentsimagination.com.

Favorite Pop Culture Invention O' The Day

2009-08-09T16:11:00.003-04:00

Wonderbread sandwich container wins!!!

In the pace of our hectic lives, we often forget the joy a simple little invention can bring us. And, in that haze of busy, we don't stop to fathom how we didn't think of it sooner, lest invent it ourselves and be zillionaires.

For years, we've been hassling ourselves zip-locking every sandwich. Who can even make an educated guess on how many baggies we've gone through in a single lifetime? And for one-time use only! The amount of money the American family spends on such bags a year all seems completely laughable when you see this simple little invention it took us a century to finally think up. It seems like such a no-brainer...

Tupperwear fit for a sandwich! Practical and stylish too (well, as sexy as Tupperwear gets).

*heavenly trumpets resound*

"It's a Wonder we haven't thought of it sooner." Should no doubt be the motto of this nifty critter.

(For the record, I have no idea if Wonderbread was the brainchild behind this as other brands have caught wind of it, including Crayola which now makes their own version among others.)

I'll admit, I'm not the most eco-conscious person in the world, but I do try to recycle and pick up trash and do little things that hopefully add up to making some sort of dent in the grand scheme of Planet Earth. Eating healthier for me means eating at home more often, and the number of paper bags and plastic baggies an individual can go through is astounding. (Have you ever noticed how fast trash piles up at your house?!) It occured to me that I should invest in re-usable products, so I bought a cloth lunchbag (again, why did it take so long to invent this?!), plastic re-usable drink boxes, and - low and behold - I found the amazing sandwich container miracle sitting on the shelf. Life as I know it will never be the same.

Viva la Sandwich!

FYI: You can get these just about everywhere now apparently (I'm a bit slow), they are usually in with the tupperwear products or hanging off a shelf somewhere. They cost less than $2 and totally rock! Do the environment a favor and stock up on re-usable lunch items.

The short life and tragic death of Jonathan Brandis

2009-08-08T14:08:00.012-04:00

Once upon a time in Connecticut, there lived a charming little boy wonder named Jonathan Brandis. Jon expressed an interest in the arts from a very early age, and had a strong desire to be an actor. In seemingly no time at all, Jonathan found himself in countless commercials. His parents supported his ambitions and the family moved to Los Angeles, where Jonathan made his mark performing several television guest spots and made his entry into the movie world in films such as Stephen King's "It" and "The Neverending Story 2".

It was Jonathan's role in the 1992 teen comedy "Ladybugs" with Rodney Dangerfield that brought him to the attention of screaming teen girls everywhere, and when Stephen Spielberg cast him in the sci-fi TV series "SeaQuest DSV", the rest was history.

During the early 90s, there was not a teen rag that didn't have Jonathan on the cover, where he dominated the scene as the top ranking teen idol of that time, a position reinforced by the fact that every teen idol magazine in which he appeared not only featured multiple pinups, but the centerfold and a non-stop slew of articles chronicling all aspects of Jonathan's life - from his close relationship to his parents as an only child to his prom night, which he attended with Brittany Murphy.

Jonathan wasn't your typical teen idol. Sure, he had the dazzling blue eyes and the ever-present charisma, but he was clearly a deep thinker and a man who had his own way of doing things. During the 90s, his longterm girlfriend at the time was Tatyana Ali from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and he was proud of his interracial romance (Unfortunately, even by today's standards you don't see that often). Jonathan was one of the most prolific autograph signers and letter writers. Despite receiving 4,000 pieces of fan mail a week from around the world, he took every opportunity to return a letter to fans or sign a photo wherever possible. He even had his own advice column in teen magazines and enjoyed a tremendously positive reputation. Jonathan was not part of the wild teen star scene and was a low key character who stayed away from the party and drug scene while trying to remain as accessible as possible to his adoring public. The possibilities for his future seemed endless.

Fast forward to 1997. Jonathan's run as the boy genius with the pet dolphin aboard SeaQuest ended, and Jonathan found himself struggling for parts. Much of the mainstream public wasn't aware, but he was still actively working. He continued acting via made-for-TV movies and independent films and bit parts in larger films including Hart's War (starring Colin Farrell and Bruce Willis, which Jonathan had high hopes for resuscitating his career). Sadly and through no fault of his own, that role ended up on the cutting room floor. George Lucas auditioned him for the role of young adult Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars Episode 2: Attack of the Clones. The part eventually went to Hayden Christensen.

I vividly remember sitting at my computer in 2004 digging for entertainment updates. This was in the days before blogging had become all the rage, and while reading news on the E! news website, I saw a single line "Jonathan Brandis, star of SeaQuest DSV, committed suicide by hanging at the age of 27." At first I thought it was a rumor, so I Googled it only to find one other location reporting it, a small newspaper based in Middle America. Eventually the news would be confirmed as true.

I remembered Jonathan well, like any other girl growing up during that era, I thought I would end up marrying him. I couldn't believe that someone with such astronomical fame had been reduced to not being worth more than a few words in a sentence on E!, without a picture or any other mention. To put it into perspective, if Zac Efron died in 15 years, would he have this to look forward to? Seeing Zac, one can't help but think of the similarities. Both were a little too pretty, multi-talented and underestimated, proud of their girlfriends, bore big flashy grins, positive attitudes and endless charm, and were squeaky clean compared to their counterparts.

If you ever see the last known photograph of Jonathan, he was stopped by a fan a few days prior to his death where he posed for a photograph. Looking at the picture, I can honestly say as big a fan as my teenage self had been, I would have never recognized him. He didn't look like the Jonathan I had remembered - his face had filled out, he wore scruffy facial hair, and frankly looked a bit out of sorts. I probably did pass him numerous times on the street, unbeknownst to me he lived a few blocks away from my then West Hollywood apartment and in my favorite neighborhood.

No matter how much one tries, they can never understand what it is to go from thousands of pieces of fan mail a week to walking down a street unrecognizable and forgotten. Apparently, Jonathan's suicide came with a few friends in another room. He had come back from an outing flustered, and threw a rope over the rafters of the hallway in his apartment complex completely sober. By the time his friends found him, he was unconscious, and died from his injuries the following day.

The only magazine that took the time to remember his life in any way was People magazine, who wrote a half-page article on him. Apparently, he wasn't important enough to make it on mainstream entertainment news programs, even though he once ruled the world for an era of teen girls everywhere. Are teen idols really a dime a dozen? How can anyone be on top of the world one day and forgotten the next and maintain the sanity to live a quality life afterwards? I am reminded of one of my all-time favorite films, 1950's "Sunset Boulevard", which gave us the iconic character of Norma Desmond - the aging film star forgotten by the world who mentally unwinds in her Sunset Blvd mansion after discovering the extent of her public neglect. Clearly, here-on-day-gone-tomorrow in Tinseltown is nothing new.

Suicide can touch the lives of just about anyone. Upon researching, I found a few old advice columns Jonathan Brandis wrote in teen magazines. A few people wrote in about contemplating suicide, and he claimed such topics were among the hardest he could ever read. He advised that they call the suicide prevention hotline, something he sadly didn't choose in the end. By all accounts, Jonathan was a good kid from a loving home, not the typical child star with the forceful stage parents and didn't have a long history of addiction, and took his life free of any drug or alcohol impairment. He also had aspirations as a writer and director which we will never see fully realized. In an uncharacteristic move, I wrote a letter to his parents. I remembered he was an only child and couldn't imagine how anyone could make that choice without taking that into account, not to mention the many good friends Jonathan seemed surrounded by who would ultimately be so profoundly affected. His mother wrote me back (in true Brandis fashion) and seemed touched her son was remembered and that the time was taken to write. She said Jonathan was the light of her life and would be, and sent a laminated card of Jonathan in his later years, smiling, with the dates of his birth and death. Above his picture, the card was titled "Fade to Black: Gone but far from forgotten".

To this day, many people don't even know he passed, despite it having been five years. However, several fans picked up the torch and created online website memorials, and JonathanBrandis.org became a suicide prevention site as well as an online testamonial to a beautiful life. We are all left to wonder what could have been, and fated to contemplate how something so awful could have happened to such a once-hopeful and optimistic young man. Jonathan made tremendous contributions to the film and television industry with his enormous talent and will be sorely missed and indeed remembered by those whose lives he touched. He is forever chrystallized on film as the young boy with the bluest of eyes and the biggest of dreams.

RIP.

To those contemplating suicide - Please take the advice Jon didn't and call 1-800-273-TALK (8255), a free 24-hour suicide prevention hotline. No matter how much you think people won't notice or care, they will. It's never too late.

"There's something wrong with (fill in the blank and leave Esther out of it)"

2009-08-05T21:49:00.005-04:00

Adoption advocacy groups are in an uproar over the release of the thriller "Orphan", claiming it deters people from wanting to adopt.

Any person who would halt adopting due to a Hollywood blockbuster clearly has no business adopting in the first place.

I guess this means we shouldn't swim in the ocean, never feed our pets after midnight, and stick to hanging garlic outside our bedrooms. While we're at it, we might as well not watch TV, we might get sucked into a vortex and be stuck in TV Land for eternity.

Any time some advocate group pipes up with this kind of nonsense because of a film, I just want to say "Congratulations! You must made this movie a guaranteed hit!"

A Tribute to John Williams

2009-08-03T20:00:00.004-04:00

No, he's not dead (thankfully). However, John Williams is one of my all-time favorite artists and someone I believe had he been born any other time would be considered one of the great composers of all time. Because we are living in a modern age and movie composers don't quite get their due or rightful appreciation: John - this one's for you.

John Williams is my musical god. Some of you may not know him by name but you would certainly know him by ear. He is the composer of some of the greatest movie scores of all time and is to blame for bringing us the music to Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Jaws, Home Alone, Schindler’s List, Empire of the Sun, Hook, Jurassic Park, Harry Potter, and countless other masterpieces – including the theme of the Olympic games and NBC Nightly News. John Williams also wrote a composition specifically for President Obama’s inauguration which was played right before he took the presidential oath.

I wanted to pay tribute to this man, who I consider the Beethoven of our time. If he had been born 400 years ago, we’d still be listening to his music today. While I am glad he was born in present day, it saddens me to think that when we lose this genius, his work will be lost to time and his resounding themes will probably not be played several centuries from now. I consider him one of the great musical masters and I wish his work could live on in infamy. John Williams themes aren't just vital to film history, they stand alone as prodigious pieces of triumph, terror, joy, and heartbreak on your radio or iPod just the same.

What would these great movies be without John William’s music, which perfectly captures and evokes the feelings and emotions of these cinematic gems? I don’t think any of these movies would be what they are without his contributions. E.T. was actually written as a completely different film until John Williams wrote the captivating soundtrack which caused a complete rewrite of the film and an entirely different change of direction. Our images of Jaws, the beastly man eater, wouldn’t be complete without his haunting theme. Visions of Jedi and Sith wielding light sabers to any other music would be a travesty. “Duel of the Fates” made Phantom Menace worth it.

No doubt, I was familiar with John Williams themes as a child growing up in the 80’s. However, my first specific recollection of his music and it’s effect on me was when I saw Empire of the Sun in school in fifth grade. I was too young to understand the movie (and am a bit shocked such a violent film was played in class, at a Catholic school no less) but I remember being completely floored by the soundtrack, particularly “Toy Planes, Home, and Hearth” which I thought was the most beautiful tragic piece of music I’d ever heard. I went out and bought the soundtrack and used to listen to it on my headphones, tears flowing every time. That probably wasn’t normal, haha, but I couldn’t help it. I was so moved by the piece and the power of the composition.

I began collecting John Williams soundtracks and soon amassed quite a collection. John kept giving me so much to work with. Home Alone was one of my favorite childhood films. I absolutely loved the soundtrack, which I considered heavily influenced by my all time favorite song – The Nutcracker Suite. Such songs are in the tradition of 'neoromanticism', which I can never quite get enough of. There is a beautiful haunting melody on the Home Alone soundtrack CD that doesn’t completely make it’s way to the film that is mind boggling.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEy1bSfOcQ4

Hook and Jurassic Park also took my breath away.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWIdO9DidqU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ip-ubq5HwpY

I had the opportunity to see John Williams perform some of his classic film scores at the Hollywood Bowl and never made it out. It’s one of the few regrets I have in life. For those fortunate enough to have an opportunity to see John perform live, I urge you to go - I’ve seen performance clips of the show on YouTube and it’s awe-inspiring. He also plays from time to time in other major cities, please check him out of he comes to your area, I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

As some of you know, The Legend of Zelda is one of my favorite theme songs of all time. There is an orchestral version that exists and is available for download on file-sharing sites or can be viewed on YouTube. It is mistakenly attributed to John Williams, but is actually played by the amazing Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra which redid several classic video game themes into sweeping soundtracks available on a rare multi-disc set. However, it’s easy to see the similarities between the Zelda theme and classic John Williams compositions, especially when you hear the orchestral version which is so epic. The composer of the Zelda music, Koji Kondo, unsurprisingly lists John Williams as his main influence musically. John Williams has involved himself in some surprising projects in the past so I suppose it isn’t completely unrealistic to assume how this rumor may have been started.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDlDV_vn8qU

The hallmark of a John Williams soundtrack is that one feels completely overwhelmed and invincible after hearing it. It will make you cry, get chills all over your body, or send your heart racing even when you are in your car listening to a soundtrack CD. There is truly no other individual I would rather listen to. I credit Steven Spielberg for hearing one of John’s early soundtracks and recognizing his potential, wanting him to be the person to compose for his films. It takes a great to know a great.

A few fun John Williams facts:

One of John William’s sons replaced the lead singer of Toto.

John Williams has been nominated for 45 Oscars for his soundtracks, and only won 5 (He is the only living individual to receive that many nominations).

As John gets older, I shudder to think of a world without him. His impact on my life has been beyond measure. I’m sure my love affair with the movies was in part due to those very compositions that changed me profoundly. While he clearly isn’t reading this, I just want to send some great karmic vibes into the universe for him and let him know how much he is appreciated and that he is singular. No one can replace him. To me, his name is right up there with the all time greats where he belongs. None of those movies would be the same without him.

Many orchestras, bands, symphonies, and artists have been inspired by John Williams and have countless performances on YouTube, including compositions conducted by John himself. I am adding a few links of some incredible performances for your viewing pleasure, I encourage you to check them out – they are well worth it.

Thanks, John. You are truly and simply, THE MAN.

Additional links to amazing John Williams compositions. (Must click!)
Watch these and imagine what those films would be without the amazing scores they were blessed with:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sE_vbrj0MqU (Jaws, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, E.T. orchestral)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mr1jHBd5upo (Phantom Menace Soundtrack orchestral)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qv-Z-nSipJY (for the Harry Potter fans)

Even Puerto Rico gives mad love to John Williams:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRiW0j6ATx4 (Jurassic Park Boricua Style!)

And, if you really want to dork out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lk5_OSsawz4

Unicru and Standardized Tests

2009-07-30T14:51:00.007-04:00

I am at a loss to explain standardized testing in schools and the work place. Research has shown that standardized testing is pretty pointless. Take the GRE for example (entrance exam for Grad school). All of the study books flat out tell you that the test has no relevance to life in graduate school whatsoever, yet students have to shell out close to $150 to take it and to buy all the preparation materials and put their lives on hold for months to get a desired score on it (because 4 years at university isn't enough to prove you are ready for college). Researchers at BGSU proved the ineffectiveness of this system by showing that those who scored high on the GRE actually took LONGER to complete graduate school.

Much in the same vein of rediculous is Unicru (now Kronos Hiring Solutions), otherwise known as the standardized "personality" test used by several large corporations (Walmart, Blockbuster, etc) to hire new employees. Anyone who has been in the job market the past several years has probably run across this monstrosity. Filling out applications online is supposed to make the process run faster, until you get those near-100 Unicru questions after-the-fact and one application takes you an hour to complete. For those who haven't been tormented enough to witness this for yourself, there are a series of seemingly endless questions one has to answer that are supposed to determine your potential as an employee, you can't even get a call back if you don't pass it. Apparently, chosing any answer other than 'Strongly Disagree' or 'Strongly Agree' i.e. answers in the middle is wrong (because real life never exists in shades of grey). I've thought for so long this test is a huge waste of anyone's time and talent that I've done a great deal of research myself on this phenomenon. The mere idea that a generic bogus personality indicator can predict success in employment is outlandish. Every employee has something different to contribute, and no two people will see and experience the world the same way, not to mention like scholastic standardized tests there are many potential strengths and abilities such a test doesn't account for that are simply disguarded in the face of a test that has no relevance either way.

Many of the questions are flat out stupid. Case in point: "Corporations lie to get ahead." (Strongly agree, agree, neutral, disagree, strongly disagree). The answer is supposed to be 'strongly disagree', because corporations don't want to hire people who don't worship the ground they walk on. It's not even an opinion but rather a fact that corporations have lied to become multi-billion dollar enterprises. Knowing this doesn't mean you are going to be a bad employee or, heaven forbid, steal from the company. A fact is a fact. Except with Unicru where you aren't allowed to have an opinion they don't want and still be considered desirable for hire. Isn't that rather totalitarian? So yes, I'll say it loud and proud to the world, I strongly believe corporations lie their tailbone off to get to the top. I, as an employee, however, never have, and never once stole or committed any crime against any workplace and never would.

A lot of the questions border on 'none of your business' personal territory and you shouldn't be forced to answer such questions to get a job nonetheless be rated and judged and have assumptions made qualifying you or disqualifying you for any position based on those answers.

For example:

'You look back and feel bad about the things you've done'.

Part of the problem with this question and countless others is that answers need to be taken in context, and these tests don't give any. The correct example for the above is supposedly 'strongly disagree', which frankly makes a person sound more like a sociopath than a desirable employee to me, or an infallible human, whichever comes first. No one is without imperfection and certainly there are things in all our lives we would probably do a different way at some point. To not feel regret or negativity about some action at some point in your past is completely inhuman. If anyone puts an affirmative answer on this one, it apparently means that you buried a body in someone's backyard and it's still weighing on you.

'You do some things that upset people'.
'People's feelings are sometimes hurt by what you say.'
How generic is this?! I'm sure even E.T. could lay claim to this one. Again, refer to the above paragraph. No matter how saintly a figure you are, everyone has upset someone at one time or another, intentional or not, and I can't fathom why you are expected to deny human frailty when it is a fact. I honestly believe I go out of my way to avoid hurting people's feelings more than the average person, but I am shocked to know there is supposed to be a 'right' or 'wrong' answer to this, even if you go out of your way more than the average person to not upset people or hurt their feelings.

'You have friends but don't like them to be too close'.
'You are a fairly private person.'

I guess anti-social people aren't allowed to have jobs. I'm not one, but I would say I can be fairly private, which I consider to be a strength. Despite being a private person, I have no trouble mingling with the public and being a very outgoing individual when the situation requires, so I'm still trying to see why this is such a bad thing. Especially with what I see everytime I walk into a store (i.e. employees that are more concerned with their cell phones than customers and can't stop talking to anyone and anything within a ten mile radius while ignoring their jobs. Makes me feel that more private people might actually be able to focus more on customers and the job at hand if they kept their private business their own).

'Your moods are steady from day to day.'
'You change from happy to sad for no reason.'
These questions make me sad, because they are so clearly biased against people who have any sort of social or mental disability or problem, and this is actually illegal (institutionalized discrimination). In defending the tests, a Unicru creator said that anyone who has a 'normal' personality shouldn't have any trouble passing the test and getting a job. Am I to understand that only 'normal' people have a right to jobs? And last time I checked, there's no such thing as 'normal' in the firstplace. I am appalled that these tests haven't been outlawed and that so many corporations actually see validity in such a superificial system.

'You get mad at yourself when you make mistakes.'
'You are unsure of yourself with new people.'
No insecurities or perfectionism allowed, mortals.

'You are a friendly person.'
OF COURSE you are! Mean people aren't allowed to be employed. Hey, I don't like dealing with mean-spirited people, but the frank reality is that they have as much a right to live, breathe, and work as I do in a free country.

'Any trouble you have is your own fault'.
Yes. If I get plowed by a semi tomorrow, that's my bad.

'You do not like small talk.'
'You love to listen to people talk about themselves.'
Apparently, answering 'yes' on these makes you a bad person. If you are a deep thinker that appreciates conversations of substance, you're pretty much out of luck getting a job. And not liking small talk or listening to people endlessly talk about themselves doesn't mean you aren't willing to engage in it with a customer when necessary, by the way.

'You don't believe what most people say.' (Eek! PopSpiracy is screwed).

I could go on and on, but you get the point.

Passing the test isn't the problem, it's the principal behind the test that is and the ethics of such a system that is. I stand by my position that no one should be subjected to generic standardized tests. Everyone has something different to offer the workplace and scholastic environment and I wouldn't want to work or study at a place that didn't place value on individual strengths and talents beyond what could ever be measured. That and, how lazy do you have to be to have a computer screen candidates for you? I'm see some corporations doubt the natural talents of their HR departments as well... The bottom line is that standardized tests don't work and never have. Not in the school system and not in employment. Notice that Unicru nor the companies who use it don't release statistics on employee turnovers at that company, because they would no doubt reveal that the test doesn't work. Anytime I go into a company that screens with Unicru, I see different faces on a weekly basis. Does that tell you anything? Strongly agree.

How to see all four Walt Disney World Parks in four days (and see most everything)

2009-07-22T22:47:00.014-04:00

PopSpiracy is back from the most amazing Disney birthday celebration humanly possible, and I’m going to share the ins and outs and how-to’s with all of you. I have always had the good fortune of living within an hour and a half of both Walt Disney World (Florida) and Disneyland (California) all my life. I’ve been more times than I can count, having been an annual passholder multiple times over. During my many trips, I’ve learned quite a bit, but I’ve also found that with Disney, there is always more to see and know than you ever thought possible. The following applies specifically to Walt Disney World in Florida as it is much larger, but much of it can be applied to Disneyland or major theme parks in general.

Recessions are tough and scrounging up the amount of money necessary for a Disney vacation might seem very difficult, but now is actually the best time to go. There are plenty of deals (package promotions and otherwise) trying to lure people to the parks during this dwindling season, and if you are lucky enough to be a Florida or California resident, more options are available to you. Even if you are from the UK or abroad, you might find special deals specifically for you. While Disney will probably say their park attendance hasn’t dropped that much, I can tell you that I just went during peak season, and the crowds literally seeemed about 30% lighter. Not to mention, low season is coming up in August and no doubt more deals are on their way (though there are rumors of a price increase next month, which given the timing, seems hideous).

Less people means shorter lines and more time to see what you want to in a shorter period of time. Disney package deals are set up so that the more time you spend at the parks, the cheaper it is. However, I suggest that four days is about the right amount to see the parks if you plan it appropriately (a day and a half for Epcot and Magic Kingdom, and Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios in ½ days.) I also had a fairly relaxed trip, believe it or not, and still managed to see all I wanted to. Tricks of the trade below.

(This mentions tons of very affordable tips. Understand that I am fairly young and as economically challenged as most young people, so in order for me to make the trip, I had to find the best bargains possible and I did. And, it turns out I had the best trip I ever had! So bear in mind, this schedule and advice is especially for those looking for the best experience possible at the best value, which is easy to do if you do your homework).

The affordable path to the House of Mouse:

1) Plan, plan, and plan. I’ll admit, I’ve never been into intense planning, and the idea of mapping everything out before going to a theme park seemed somehow like it would detract from the spontaneity and magic of it all. However, trying it this time, I found the opposite to be true - and I saw things I’d never seen in all my travels!

There are plenty of books and websites that can help you find deals, tips, hidden mickeys (i.e. hidden Mickey Mouse silhouettes hidden around the parks), etc., if you want more than my article and it certainly doesn’t help to have more than one source. I will try to cover a lot of the basics. Good websites to check out are www.mousesavers.com and www.allears.net. Touringplans.com (and/or it’s accompanying book “The Unofficial Guide To Walt Disney World”) or tourguidemike.com will also help you plan your vacation, you can even print out customizable travel plans and "cheat sheets" at Touringplans.com. If you have the book, Touringplans.com special features are free, otherwise you pay a small fee. I used the 2009 edition (Amazon.com is a beautiful thing).

Many Disney restaurants take reservations, and the recommended time to make them is anywhere from 3-6 months in advance, particularly if you are going during peak season. If you call the Disney reservation line and can’t find an open reservation for your desired time, call back as the days get closer (visitors at times cancel) or, if absolutely desperate, increase the number of your party. For example, if you are a party of two, make reservations for a party of four and see if you have better luck. The way the Disney system is set up, it only takes into account the number of people in your party when connecting you to a specific time. When at the restaurant, they can make the change and accommodate the number of your party on the spot, though you may have to wait an additional few minutes.

2) Obviously your length of stay is up to you, and with Disney offering enticing deals for you to stay longer, you can draw out the ocassion to your liking. I found four days to be sufficient, any more might have been overkill, and I’m a HUGE Disney park fan. Your body can only take so much, and in the four days if you plan properly, you can get sufficient R&R. This plan includes the four main WDW parks (not the water parks). Your body does acclimate to the intensive workout (the first day will be rough and you’ll probably wake up sore if you aren’t accustomed to it). If you want to throw in a fifth day you can though you can still do all of this and get rest, in four days. If you want to visit the water parks, you can add in additional time. Though again, a Disney trip is exhausting as an adult, and even kids are falling asleep all over the parks.

3) Take advantage of the 2009 birthday special! If you haven’t celebrated your birthday yet this year and have one prior to the beginning of the new year (or someone in your party does), Disney has a promotion for the birthday folk that enable them to come to the park for free on their birthday. They can upgrade that ticket to multiple days for a smaller fee or you can exchange it the day of your birthday for a $75 gift card to use in the Disney shops or for Fastpasses (more on them later). You can sign up for the promotion online, and submitting your e-mail address to Disney sites can enable them to send you other discounts that can save you money on accomodations. If you don’t have a birthday, submit your e-mail address with the official Disney site for updates regardless.

4) There are three types of Disney resorts: Value, Moderate, and Deluxe (varied by price). Don’t mistake value resorts for being unfit to stay in, if you look at pictures of the rooms for all three resorts, there often isn’t a large difference. It’s mostly the décor of the buildings, fancy lobbies and possible views you might be paying more for, and ultimately even the value resorts offer some pretty amazing sights. I haven’t stayed in them all as I am a Florida resident at present and often don’t need the accommodations, but I can vouch for the Pop Century Resort which I have stayed in, and it was an amazing experience. The Pop Century can be compared to a Best Western with fancy flair, only the additions are so fun it makes a sincere difference. Pop Century is themed in pop culture (of course I would stay there), and you can request stays in buildings themed for the 50s-90s. The pools are shaped like a giant bowling pin, flower, and computer screen, and 24/7 they will be occupied. I heard not to get a room by the pool for noise (preferred rooms are located by the pool, standard rooms aren’t and are generally cheaper), however for my birthday I was upgraded to a preferred room on the first floor right next to the pool and found the sound proofing to be impressive in the room and barely heard the commotion outside. The beds and pillows were super comfortable and it was so fun exploring all the hidden knick-knacks all over the property (aside from the pop culture resort, there are value resorts themed for sports, music, and movie fans as well).

There are obviously other options besides staying on Disney property, however there are advantages to staying at Disney resorts. Chief among them are transportation to the parks (I believe they can pick you up at the airport, too) as well as not having to pay for parking at the theme parks if you have a car (each park racks up $12 per car so right there you save almost fifty bucks, and you have access to Extra Magic Hours (hours before and after the parks open and close reserved solely for resort guests - a great way to see all the parks in a shorter period of time).

5) If staying on Disney property, make sure to check out the Extra Magic Hours of the park for the dates you are thinking about going if they are already available (each park has different extra magic hours and the hours do change depending on the date). I wouldn’t recommend jumping to use extra magic hours in the morning as whatever park is offering that option tends to be busier, however take advantage of the nighttime extra magic hours - many more people are willing to get up an hour earlier than stay up until 3am at the Magic Kingdom). If you can schedule a vacation that includes a day when Magic Kingdom is open from midnight to 3am, I would advise you plan around that (more on this later).

6) Have an itinerary printed out of any reservations you’ve made (you will receive reservation numbers though you most likely won’t need them when at the particular location) as well as any notes for yourself, including weather forecasts for each day. Make sure you have with you a list of which parks are open at what times and what the magic hours are for those parks. I would recommend adding the park hopper option, which gives you increased flexibility and allows you to go from park to park in any given day. There is an extra fee for this, however it’s nice to have an option (or a few) at your disposal. You can still alter a good plan and be successful. When you get to the park, make sure you get a map and a Times Guide for all the showtimes. Bring a pen with you, don’t be afraid to scratch up and mark your itinerary and map, when jumbled together it can get confusing to remember what you went on already and what you can get to next the fastest.

7) There are values at Disney if you look, and this can apply to meals. While most Disney food is standard (and somewhat bland fare), there are some notable exceptions. When talking about Disney dining, it doesn’t get better than dining in the countries at Epcot (Epcot is divided into two sections: Future World (dedicated to technological innovation) and World Showcase (featuring 11 countries built around the World Showcase Lagoon). If you don’t dine in the countries, you are missing out on a big part of what Epcot has to offer. And you can dine at great restaurants for good value here if you know how to do it. My two best value suggestions are lunch at the Akershus in Norway and the Biergarten in Germany. Akershus provides guests with professional photo prints with a character Princess (you get an 8x10 plus four smaller copies of the same photo, included in the package) plus opportunities to meet other princess characters. They have an incredible buffet (above average), then a fixed course meal you can choose, then multiple deserts per table, all for about thirty dollars a person. I’m not into the princesses, but even I have to admit the whole thing was fun, and the food was great. In Germany’s Biergarten, you can have an above average buffet with great live entertainment (you share tables with other guests as this is part of the German tradition, and if you get stuck next to cool people, this can be an amazing experience) for about twenty dollars a person. I had more fun in these two restaurants than I can tell you, and if it’s your birthday, even better. You will receive a birthday button pin if you are staying at a resort, I recommend you wear it as it is the only way anyone knows it is your birthday and the restaurants and other spots at the resorts might throw in a cool treat for you or give you preference with accommodations. By the way, don’t fake any of this birthday stuff. It’s not kosher!

At Epcot, Le Cellier (the steakhouse in Canada) is a hard restaurant to get reservations to, so plan in advance if you’d like to eat there. The Garden Grill revolves and features character dinners as well as a revolving floor and features some items grown at the nearby greenhouse. In Magic Kingdom, eating at Cinderella’s castle is also difficult to get reservations at so do so in advance if desired. Cosmic Ray’s is a fun inexpensive cafeteria at Magic Kingdom. Get there the first or last hour they are open and listen to the amazing Sonny Eclipse (whose name I mistakenly first saw as ‘Sonny Oedipus’ - let’s not read into that one too much). Sonny is an alien animatronic on a keyboard who provides lounge entertainment, and he is absolutely mesmerizing and far more entertaining than the majority of lounge performers I’ve seen. It’s fun things like Sonny that you randomly stumble upon at Disney that make it so surprising.

Hollywood Studios has the 50s café and Sci Fi Diner feature average food but fun themes, and the Brown Derby is very tasty. Downtown Disney (outside the parks) also offers great food selections and, naturally, a McDonalds.

Like most things on Disney property, even the McDonalds has loads of little details that provide pointless amusement, like the Happy Meals traveling on conveyer belts.

If your food bill starts racking up, you can always leave the park and get a bite to eat or chose to eat before or after park hopping. Pastries at the Patisserie in France are great and you can find some great shopping deals in the gift shops of Italy, China, and others if you browse. Shop smart, it adds up fast.

Food tip:
Avoid any buffet or place that has toppings or salad bars out in the open during the last hour(s) of park operation. I got sick after my Disney trip, and I have suspicions it was from using the Toppings bar prior to park closing, though in all honesty, there are germs a-plenty at Disney. Bring hand sanitizer and use it (I wish I'd done this more). If you feel sick any day of the park, stay at the hotel. Trust me, going to a park when you feel sick is the last thing you can do with all the energy and lights and motion constantly prevalent.

8) There are many tours you can take, often quite pricey and mostly very time consuming. An inexpensive tour is the ‘Behind The Seeds’ tour at Epcot, located at The Land which takes you through the Epcot greenhouse (which produces 30 tons of food for Epcot a year). The greenhouse is actually a fascinating place which has always utilized advanced growing technologies and has many solutions for the future of our food. I’ve never been a green thumb or interested in agriculture, but I found the tour to be really interesting and educational (it’s about $15 a person). However, our tour lasted a half hour longer than expected, so go in there knowing that they might go overboard with time. Even so, it didn’t set back the schedule much, but it was toasty in the greenhouse and thus somewhat exhausting to stand there when the tour went on overdrive. I had a great time though and proceeds go to further research at the greenhouse which is always a good thing.

9) Be aware of the weather. In Florida, it tends to rain during the summer often. Usually the storms pass fairly quickly and you can always duck into a pavilion or shop to kill some time. Bring an umbrella or a poncho and you’ll be fine. Make sure to check out weather forecasts for the time you will be in town so you can dress appropriately.

10) Be in shape. Disney parks take about 11-13 miles a day to travel. If you aren’t accustomed to exercising, this is not the place you want to be. Work up to it and hit the gym leading up to your trip and build up your muscles. Using my four day schedule, I still had time to take it easy when I needed to and head back to the hotel and rest for an hour or two and then return to the parks when necessary. I highly recommend you take a break when you need it. Bring a cooling fan (O2 Cool blue misting fans are great - you can get these at WalMart and they are stronger and more inexpensive than what you could find at Disney. They are often in the sporting section though they may be sprinkled about the store. They require two AA batteries and are AMAZING, especially in Florida heat.)

11) No matter how planned your itinerary is, don’t be afraid to take breaks when you need to and to EXPLORE. There are so many details all over Disney that you never know what you’ll find, and despite the countless times I have been there, I take a wrong turn and find something magical (such as the wishing well near Cinderella’s Castle at the Magic Kingdom). Exercise caution, if you are a single female I wouldn’t recommend disappearing into dark paths or crevices at night, no matter how safe Disney claims to be.

12) Check out live shows. Particularly those in the countries at Epcot, they are lots of fun (Can you guess which park is my favorite?). A Beatles cover band appears in the Gazebo in the United Kingdom and you can always stop for a drink at the Rose and Crown UK pub. Voices of Liberty in America give tear-inducing patriotic acapella, and the film presentations the countries host are absolutely beautiful, especially the circle vision films of China and Canada. France's presentation is also gorgeous.

13) Recommended items to bring: poncho or umbrella, sandals (to change into in case it rains), extra socks - get socks that mention ‘dry’ on the packaging or that say ‘moisture-wick’. These will absorb sweat or rain and help prevent any blisters. Buy moleskin (not made from real moles!!!) in the foot section of the pharmacy at Walmart or elsewhere and a pair of scissors so you can cut it to your specifications - if you have any blister forming, slap this stuff on and keep on walking. Buy a box of Hefty OneZip jumbo multi-purpose bags (2 ½ gallon), I can’t tell you the number of uses these things have. Stuff several of them in your light backpack (travel as light as possible - a small locker costs $10!). You can use these bags for everything from sitting on the ground to an instant ice pack to - heaven forbid - the dreaded barfbag - to storing candies to your itinerary to storing your other bags in the event of rain and half a billion other things you can use them for. They are relatively large but perfect for any unexpected scenario and completely lightweight. I recommend you find the lightest backpack possible and stick to the bear minimum. Also, bring a portable water bottle (with a clip) as park bottled water will add up quickly and on a really hot day you can go through several of these. Fill up with ice and bottled water before you arrive at a park and fill it up at fountains throughout the day (which may not taste the greatest so if there’s some sort of flavoring you’d like to add, feel free to bring it). You are allowed to bring water bottles and snacks to the park. Wear comfortable sneakers (make sure you’ve tried and tested these as much as possible). Bring spray-on sunscreen, it’s so much easier to deal with than lotion.

14) Do what the Disney folks tell you to do! I can’t believe the number of people who get ancy if a ride temporarily breaks down for a minute or two. It’s always the folks who try to step out when they aren’t supposed to or stand up on a rollercoaster or swim across the lagoon that end up becoming true urban legends. The rules are there for a reason - and you can't find a more organized place than Walt Disney World. Given some of the things I've seen, that's a good thing.

15) Listen to your body. If you are sick or in pain, go to the hotel and heal. And, for the sake of all that is dear in the world, listen to your kids! I can’t tell you how many parents I saw literally forcing their children onto rides they were terrified of. The whole objective of going to Disney is to have fun. If you are going to pay that kind of money, you might as well have as much fun as possible where and when possible. Not everyone has the same idea of a good time, and I am still at a loss to explain the parents and their terrified children. If a kid is obviously rattled, don’t force them. There are plenty of rides at all the parks for every age group. I think some parents feel that the rides are somehow symbolic of life, that if you make your kids face your fears at a theme park, you’ll build stronger children. I don’t believe that AT ALL, even if the ride is less scary than your kid thinks it is, and all the crying and screaming isn’t fun for them and it certainly ruins the ‘magic’ for those people around you. Take it from someone that used to be one of those kids. As a general rule of thumb, don't go to Disney if you are not the type of person who can take it for what it is and have a good time. Grouchy and rude adults abound at the park. If you'd rather be chilling in a vineyard or exploring the polar ice caps, spare us all and do so. Disney is about imagination, fun, creativity, and exploration. If you can't get into that mind frame, don't make the trek.

16) Tips to see as much as possible in four days:

FASTPASS, fastpass, and more fastpass. Every park has a select number of rides (usually the most popular) that offer the Fastpass option. Know which rides offer Fastpass in advance and plan accordingly. Next to each Fastpass ride, you will find a set of kiosks. Insert your ticket into one and it will pop out a Fastpass for you, which indicates the time you can return to that ride without having to wait in a line (or at least a long one). In all my days at Disney, I barely waited in lines at all, and the longest one I waited in was less than half an hour. Compare that to the two hours it takes to ride some attractions during this peak season. Planning literally pays, and if you plan appropriately, you can save about four hours each day.

Arrive at the parks 30-40 minutes before they open. Sometimes they open earlier on peak season, and if not, you’ll be one of the first people in the park (most folks arrive towards the afternoon). I’m not a morning person AT ALL, but it is absolutely pivotal for a wait-free Disney experience. The lines are generally super short. The idea of doing as much as possible in four days can only be achieved if you arrive to the park early, fastpass wisely, plan carefully, and take advantage of Extra Magic Hours. Again, this will all save you time and allow you to be mellow at the parks, take breaks when necessary, and even return to your hotel room for an hour or two to rest and still keep with the schedule.

The parks are huge, but most of the time spent there can easily be spent standing in long lines. During the opening of the park or when using and obtaining Fastpasses, the idea is to knock out the most popular rides first and as fast as possible. Then you can break and take it easy. You can pick up a Fastpass in one spot then go to another popular ride and so on and use your Fastpass when the time is indicated later. Each person in the group will need their own Fastpass. Don’t use it if the line is less than half an hour or if it’s a theater show, those can usually hold large amounts of people and you can only get one Fastpass at a time. Also, go on rides during parades as the rides tend to empty out. If you have Extra Magic Hours at night, be sure to locate which rides are open for those parks during those extra hours and go on all the popular attractions then. For example, using the park hopper pass addition, I was able to spend the day at Epcot, go back to the hotel and rest for a few hours, then use my ticket to hop over to the Magic Kingdom from 12-3am and go on all the major rides during Extra Magic Hours. The next day I slept in and woke up when my body was ready to, went to the Magic Kingdom, and finished out all the rides and explored the park in a day. Bear in mind that all the walking will tire you out so be sure to get in some naps when attempting this schedule. Again, to see all you want to, Epcot and Magic Kindom generally take a day and a half (possible through early rises, fast passes, and extra magic hours) and then Animal Kingdom can generally be seen rather quickly if you get there when the park opens and stay until about 3pm (the animals end up being fed around 4pm and tend to disappear so it’s more of a daytime park) and then you can go to MGM and see as many rides and attractions as possible. You night not be able to see everything there depending on crowds and how well you've planned or at what time you arrive, so know what it is you want to see in advance and go on that first. If you get there in good time, you should see quite a bit. Eating out of the parks or bringing food will save you good time as will bringing a car and avoiding other transportation. Don’t park hop to more than two parks in a day as that can be time consuming.

17) Brief park crowd descriptions: Epcot is personally my favorite (!!!), but I’m biased. I lovingly call it “The PBS of theme parks”. If you love Discovery, History, and PBS channels, this is your park. Walt Disney believed education could be fun, and the park was built in this spirit, along with his visions of future communities (EPCOT stands for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. It isn’t exactly note for note Walt’s vision as it was originally intended to be living community - but he would have been proud. Probably not of the prices though, I’m sure Disney originally envisioned his parks to be a place for everyone, not those who had wads of dough. If you want to see more of a realistic version of Walt’s community vision, drive through Celebration - the living community near Disney World). Epcot is less about rides and more about learning. Some may find it a tad boring, I think it's exceptional.

I recommend you buy some books on the parks so you can get an idea of the history and ideas surrounding these parks and attractions, it will give you a greater appreciation for them. Epcot tends to be more of an adult park, but I was always fascinated by it as a child. Though a brief rant - Epcot Center (the earlier version) was far better, and avoided the kind of product placement now found throughout the park. Poor Figment (from Journey Into Imagination) has been relegated to a run-down attraction not befitting of his awesomeness, and I remember when the Mexican boat ride used to be about Mexico, not Donald Duck… I digress. If you go to the Living Seas, check out the dolphin training exhibit and experience Turtle Talk with Crush theater experience. I don't have any children, but I found it to be true magic to see the technology at work here in providing kids with an experience to actually talk to an animated screen character (This secret technology is also visible at the Monsters Inc. comedy club at Magic Kingdom.)

Magic Kingdom is definitely the park for little kids, so beware and watch where you are stepping! Hollywood Studios is more of a teen crowd and Animal Kingdom which is basically a zoo with Disney flair is more for everyone.

18) Extra tips:

Disney rides love to smartly empty out into themed gift shops. After that kind of product placement, your kids will be dying to buy one of everything. A fun affordable souvenir for them is to bring quarters and pennies. Many sections of the parks (such as Epcot’s countries and attractions) include booths that allow for pressed pennies highlighting the attraction or section. (Each costs $50 cents plus a penny). It’s a fun distraction and neat collectible.

Again, feel free to explore. See if you can find the water fountain that shoots in reverse, the talking trashcan, or the talking water fountain (Take a wild guess which park these are in!).

There are tons of photo opportunities available, including inside the gift shops. They are incredibly understanding about posing with the merchandise. Why do I have the distinct feeling I just made a Disney employee's life hell?! Be respectful and put everything back!

On a final note, I will say that Disney is indeed “magic”. The park means something different for everyone. I was truly touched by the couple I sat at the table with at the Biergarten who talked about how they worked in hospice care and the parks offered them an opportunity to see people LIVE and love and had a beautiful time. This escape was so necessary for them they literally went every week. For me, the place brings back fond memories and childhood experiences, but also the opportunity to create new memories, and ones that were just as magical if not better than the ones I’d had before. As a non-planner, I can verify to you that the preparation involved in planning my trip was a thousand percent worth it. If you get to go, best of luck and enjoy! And, do send us an e-mail and let us know how we did.

P.S. The only thing I went on that I hated at Disney was Country Bear Jamboree at Magic Kingdom. I could stand the Enchanted Tiki Room just fine next to that thing. If you want to see bears older than I am that look like they are about to keel over and go to animatronic hell and horrid southern stereotypes, look no further.
P.P.S. Sit in the back of the theater so you can run right out without disturbing everyone if you insist on taking a peek just to prove me right.

Beware of fake interviews...

2009-07-15T15:24:00.002-04:00

Since the death of Michael Jackson, there have been several fake interviews published supposedly from those closest to him. Debbie Rowe and his children's nanny Grace Rwaramba have confirmed that their 'interviews' were fake. I urge readers to be vigilant of such attempts and to exercise common sense prior to making judgments or assumptions. None of these 'interviews' have been officially confirmed and are all coming from British tabloids with reputations for creating falsehoods just as US tabloids do.

The likelihood of these being real are slim, The Jacksons hate the tabloids and always have, of all the news sources they could interview with (and they all want them right now), why would they chose tabloids, nonetheless ones with zero credibility or foreign press when they could just jump right on headline news and do it?

Everyone is printing anything they can for money and ratings to momentarily cash in. No one is denying that there are indeed several people, celebrities, and media all cashing in on Michael Jackson after his death which is sad, but the credibility of many of these individuals is seriously lacking and many have suspect motivations if they are chosing to speak and come out now after this tragedy. There was a former Jackson employee who worked at Neverland Ranch that made claims about seeing Michael taking heavy drugs. If there was any credibility to this story at all, this woman should have reported this to the authorities then, and not talked about it for her 15 seconds now. Personal responsibility and accountability are a reality to media and consumers alike. I remember when people just accepted tabloids as a joke, now they are being printed as a fact. Sad and the implications are disturbing. This is why PopSpiracy was created, to continue inform the public about discrepancies of fact and fiction. This blog is not a Michael Jackson blog, it addresses numerous media inaccuracies on various topics and new articles are to come on countless topics as has occured in the past. The current media fixation and a large number of lies have been printed the past few weeks so we are keeping track of them and reporting back and clearing the air where possible.

Interviews that are confirmed with the Jackson family include Joe Jackson who did indeed do an interview with ABC released this week. He has continued to do smaller interviews since Michael's death, including the repeated attempts at promoting his new record company. Jermaine Jackson also did interviews with Larry King prior to the memorial service.

ABC News photos

2009-07-15T12:38:00.006-04:00

ABC News released photos of Michael's legs that supposedly show 'fresh needle marks' as well as well as an injury caused by a 'caustic fluid'. These pictures are not new (check out photos in my Vitiligo post from two years ago and you will see the photo of Michael lifting up his leg and revealing it). These photos are old and this injury did not result from from a caustic acid and wasn't necrosis, it was attributed to a spider bite which caused Michael to miss a court appearance that day. The photos were taken to prove to the judge that the excuse was valid. As for needle marks, none of that is confirmed yet and could just be bug bites or any number of things. We will not replicate those photos beyond the information and photos already presented out of respect. Our job is to debunk pop culture rumors, not add to them.

The 1980s!

2009-07-13T13:44:00.000-04:00

Today, I was reminiscing about growing up in the 80s and how lucky I was to be a child during that amazing period of time. I decided to put together a time capsule post of life as a child and early teen (there's a bit of 90s in there, too). For many, it will bring back tons of memories and for a few, a little more of an introduction. Alas, the 80s and what made it so great, i.e. my childhood in a nutshell!

The fact that I grew up to be such a lover of pop culture is probably not uncommon having been a child in such a mind-blowing time. The 80s were marked by originality, a strange thing by today's standards.

While times have changed in some positive ways, it's interesting the double-standards the decades held. I'm sure gay rights are far more progressive these days, yet there seems to be a real public backlash towards androgyny which was VERY cool and acceptable in the 80s. Guys could wear eyeliner, and entertainers that blurred gender lines were way cool. Movies frequently starred kids who were androgynous. Kids in 80s movies were cool, they always had neat bedrooms in attics (I always wanted one). Entertainers were so cool. No one could get enough Prince, Madonna, Michael Jackson, and Cindy Lauper. I remember when all the girls made it a goal to look just like Madonna.

This is what life looked like for me as a kid.

TV:

MTV (1980s version)

MTV was a HUGE deal in the 1980s, when it first appeared on the entertainment landscape. I can't remember the last time I watched MTV, it's simply too painful these days. What was once a celebration of music and videos has turned into cheap crap that has nothing to do with music, not to mention a lot of music and videos on MTV now suck. 1980s MTV had amazing videos, awesome artists, strange shows, and all the news anchors had crazy hair.

One of the coolest videos of the 80s (still cool by today's standards but mind-boggling back then):

Take On Me (A-Ha)

Nowadays, people take special effects for granted. But back then, no one could figure out how the hell this video was made, and it was rad.

Nickelodeon

Nickelodeon played a predominant role in the lives of kids and young adults in the 1980s. It also had super cool programming, from You Can't Do That on Television to The Adventures of Pete & Pete.

My personal favorite shows were:

Double Dare:

You needed to pop a Xanax while watching this show. The final challenge used to stress me out so bad I'd practically be pulling my hair out. It was a family trivia game, and the winning family had to go through a 60 second obstacle course at the end. They had to go through tons of slimy bizarre obstacles trying to find hidden flags. I always wanted to go through it myself but given that I could hardly cope with it watching it on television, I can't imagine how I would have done. PRESSURE, PRESSURE, PRESSURE!

David The Gnome:

The David the Gnome theme song used to put me in the best mood (when I was a toddler, so did Dynasty).

Saturdays were the best TV days you could ask for. In the morning you had the Saturday morning cartoon lineup (more on that later) and of course, at night, you had - SNICK!!!

Snick was the Saturday night Nickelodeon line-up. I remember turning off all the lights and watching the ultra-spooky Are You Afraid of the Dark?

On the other days of the week, there was Nick at Nite, which introduced me to a lot of classic TV programming like I Love Lucy, Mr. Ed, Dobie Gillis, and the fantabulous Alfred Hitchcock Presents (enter theme music):

It was really neat that they played these shows on a kids channel, I doubt kids today would watch any of this.

The best show lineup for TV on Friday nights was TGIF, which included Step By Step and Family Matters.

Steve Urkel was THE 1980s nerd. I always loved the episodes where he would turn into his alter-ego. Since Steve never could get his crush, Laura Winslow, to give him any romantic attention, he invented a booth he could step into. He would come out as Stephan Urkelle, this smooth talking hottie. Score!

80s TV shows were pretty strange. I remember vividly:

Max Headroom:

ALF (who lived on Melmac - why I remember this eludes me):

I remember watching Perfect Strangers, Who's the Boss? (loved it when the story line between Tony and Angela got romantic), Growing Pains (remember Leonardo DiCaprio?), and Full House religiously. America's Funniest Home Videos was also a must-see.

I remember watching Dr. Paul Bearer hosting Creature Feature, preparing us all for the weekend scare flick:

See creeptacular Dr. Paul Bearer here (click).

I loved Archie Comics and had an affinity for Jughead Jones, who like me couldn't stop consuming hamburgers:

80s commercials were pretty memorable. Wendy's "Where's the Beef" ads, the amazing California Rasins, and McDonalds had a flurry of cool McDonaldland characters. I personally think kids today are getting jipped without them!

My favorites were Grimace, the Fry Guys, and Mac Tonite. (Remember the singing nuggets?)

Morris the cat and Spuds Mackenzie were all the rage.

For some inexplicable reason, this Rolo commercial blew my mind as a kid:

See it here (click).

FYI: Clancy Brown plays 'The Thinking Man' statue. He of course went on to star in one of my favorite TV shows, Carnivale.

I also loved the Tootsie Pop owl and was lame enough to actually count the number of licks it took to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop (I can't recall).

My favorite 80s Toys and Must-haves:

While we didn't have the variety of gaming kids today do (more on video games later!) we had tons of puzzles and substitutes, as well as rad toys. Among them:

The Rubik's cube (I don't think I ever did manage to solve it:)

I also had a Rubik's cube toy box and a giant Crayola crayon piggy bank. The Magic 8-ball was also a necessary item in any 80s kid's toolbox, it knew all...

Speak N Spell!

Yes, E.T. did incorporate this in creating the signal that would ultimately send him home.

Simon Says:

The classic memory game we all used to train our brain!

Slip N Slide:

Every backyard needed this. It's amazing how fun and easy it was to slide around. I tried this like ten years ago and it was painful as hell. Apparently, I no longer have any traction, not to mention the experience is quite different when you are a flimsy little kid than when you have some real weight on you.

The Pogo ball (pal of the pogo stick):

I still have a picture of my granpda jumping around the house on this.

Lazer Tag!

In the 80s, nothing said cool quite like a robot. That said, I had a few:

This is Crackbot. Considering his name, he really wasn't terribly active...

My favorite weapon, the Sword of Thundera (Thundercats!):

Yes, the 'eye' did light up.

As a spoiled kid and Thundercat lover, I did have the castle, figures, and even tank:

I wish I still had it, it's worth a pretty penny now ;p

Teddy Ruxbin:

Only the cool kids had one of these. You put a tape in his back and he would talk to you and tell you stories.

Collecting and trading Garbage Pail Kids was essential:

CLOTHING:

Must have Carla pieces:

Reebok Pumps:

You pumped up the little red ball and your shoes would tighten around your feet. Very Back To The Future 2. Sort of.

Generra Hypercolor shirt:

You should look up the history of these bad boys and why they disappeared, it's pretty hilarious. These flashy little numbers changed color when exposed to heat. Handprints and the blowdryer could create wearable art!

MOVIES:

My favorite childhood movie was Ewoks: Battle for Endor (I loved Wicket!):

The 80s was an amazing time for filmmaking (go Spielberg!). Here are a few favorite films/folks:

The Goonies (this tends to be an 80s favorite, newer generations don't seem to like it much):

Adventures in Babysitting ("Don't f!ck with the Babysitter!):

Gremlins:

The Neverending Story:

Karate Kid: Who didn't love Mr. Miyagi?

Scariest flick:

Poltergeist

While Freddy Kreuger and his nails terrorized every 80s kid's nightmares, Poltergeist was my poison. This 'PG' Spielberg movie was the most traumatic thing I laid eyes on and is responsible for my lifelong fear of clowns. (I'm still trying to figure out how a movie featuring spirits, a man ripping his face off, a toy that strangles children, profanity, and pot-smoking parents got a PG rating. Granted, they were just figuring out the ratings system, but I am clearly not the only one permanently messed up because of this film as I've met others. I'm sure Spielberg's influence went a long way...)

The Wizard:

In the 80s, Fred Savage could do no wrong. The Wonder Years, The Princess Bride... we watched it all. By today's standards this movie is hideous, but as a Nintendo-obsessed child, I was blown away at a sneak peak of...gasp... Super Mario 3! This movie goes down as one of the greatest product promotion films known to man. (I'll always remember Lucas, the villain, acting tough discussing what made him so cool "It's the power glove. It's SO bad.")

And one of the all-time faves:

Sixteen Candles:

Who didn't love Molly Ringwald in the 80s?! She was to our time period what Claire Danes was to the 90s, i.e. the girl next door type we couldn't get enough of. This was certainly not the most politically correct film of its time, but rememinded us why we loved (and feared) our grandparents, were amused by the school nerd, were annoyed by our siblings, and frankly, what the most romantic 80s movie ending could be.

Moonwalker:

Talking 80s movies, we could be here all day. I still can't stop watching Purple Rain.

And a few 90s gems:

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles:

Who didn't love their TMNT?!

Free Willy (one of the most heart-breaking kids movies - and powerful enough to spawn a world-wide movement!):

Home Alone (Macaulay Culkin = my childhood dream!)

As much as I loved Mac, I wanted to marry Jonathan Brandis when I grew up:

What girl in the early 90s didn't?! RIP, Jon.

I also wanted to marry George Michael. 'Faith' was the first tape I ever purchased, 'Father Figure' was my favorite childhood song. Kind of deep for a kid, really.

Michael Jackson's 'Dangerous' changed my life:

Michael was awesome, as always. RIP.

And the first CD I ever purchased was:

Boys II Men: Cooleyhighharmony

As a very small child, we owned an Atari 2600, which introduced me to Pac Man, Qbert, and other classic games. (Remember E.T.?)

Pac Man is still one of my all-time favorite games:

The coolest Christmas gift I recall getting as a child was the much-hyped Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). It spawned obsessive all-day gaming. Ours came with the Power Pad (a precursor to the Dance Dance Revolution games).

My all-time video game character and theme song:

The Legend of Zelda

I never did figure out how to play it, but I don't want to. I love wandering around the forest tossing boomerangs and rocking out to the song.

T&C Surf Designs:

Super Mario 2:

I was a Mario Bros whiz kid and dreamed of going to the Nintendo Championships like in The Wizard (turns out they didn't even exist. What a rip-off!). I could beat all the Mario games, but I must say I have a soft spot for the second, simply because it is so off-the-wall. I wonder what the creators were smoking that day...

The original Super Mario goombas were my favorite:

I was always a Nintendo gal, and never went the Sega way. My next game system purchase was the Turbo Grafx 16. It was a really impressive game system with awesome graphics for the time, however it wasn't a huge success due to the fact that it was a single player system.

It did give us the amazing Bonk's Revenge, one of the neatest video games ever!

Afterwards, I went back to the Super Nintendo 2 where I indulged in Yoshi and more:

Act Raiser:

Super Castlevania IV:

And lastly, my favorite place to go in the 1980s was Epcot Center (now known as Epcot). The current incarnation doesn't hold a candle to it's retro version.

Epcot Center had amazing symbols denoting different rides and portions of the Disney park. Who could forget The Living Seas, Communicore, Horizons, and best of all... the original Journey Into Imagination ride with Dreamfinder and Figment?!

Figment remains my all-time charicature, Disney or otherwise.

All in all, I couldn't have asked for a better time period to grow up in. I hope future generations will live in a time remotely as radical ;p

Paris Jackson = Our favorite.

2009-07-08T23:43:00.003-04:00

Wow.

When I think of moments during the Michael Jackson memorial that truly stood out, Paris Jackson took the cake.

I was personally really proud of this little girl for showing to the world that her daddy really was a great father. I always hated reading blogs where people bashed Michael as a dad. Ok, so he dangled Blanket out a window for all of .02 seconds while he had his arm tightly around him. Name me one parent who hasn't tossed their kid up in the air and caught them or done any number of things that could have easily ended in disaster. The fact that his children frequently wore masks in public with him (as unconventional as it was) suggested to me what a great father he must have been as most of the public and media couldn't identify those children by sight. I'm sure they didn't wear masks at home or out in public with their nanny or anyone else besides Michael. Gloria Allred and a number of other people called for someone to take those children away from Michael Jackson. Paris proved to everyone in one swift speech that all the nay-sayers had misjudged his abilities, a frequent theme in Jackson's life. He obviously raised three loving beautiful children and while I knew it all along, I'm glad to see a few others picked up on it as well.

Little Paris and her speech reminded many of us of our own experiences that certainly connected us to a man and not an image. I lost my father this year and I could absolutely relate to the pain Paris felt. I'm frankly tired of the judgments and questions about who fathered them and alternate parenting styles. I don't think it's anyone's business, they are fabulous kids grieving right now who deserve privacy and respect who were clearly raised with a tremendous amount of love and tenderness. Where they go from here remains to be seen, I was just watching an interview with Michael's former dermatologist Dr. Klein (who is NOT the biological father) who was voicing his concerns about the children staying with the Jacksons because they might turn them into 'The Jackson 3'. That's completely preposterous, none of the Jacksons ever turned their 30+ nieces and nephews into stars, nor did Michael. They all placed an emphasis on their family having childhoods and all went to great lengths to give them as normal lives as possible. A few have ventured into the business as adults, which the family supported given they were grown enough to make those decisions. Dr. Klein and Debbie Rowe not only have a working relationship but it's pretty clear he is her most outspoken defender (and one of the few) as to wanting her parental rights restored. There was footage of Debbie Rowe watching the ceremony in public and crying at the sight of Paris's speech. I couldn't help but think the moment was completely staged, why would she chose to watch it in full view of the public and paparazzi? You'd think that moment would be reserved for her to mourn in private.

I definitely feel an agenda brewing and I'm hoping it won't turn into an ugly battle in public. As posted previously on PopSpiracy, Debbie has made some pretty incriminating public statements regarding her views on motherhood that I believe would certainly be harmful to her chances at sole custody. I'm hoping that Debbie and the Jackson family can come to an agreement where they can all take part in the children's lives, and I believe the kids would certainly benefit from having access to as much of their family as possible, though the Jacksons have played a far larger role in raising her and were certainly there for her to hold Paris during her momentous speech, while Debbie was at some bar in Palm Springs posing for cameras.

Confirmed: Official Michael Jackson Memorial Service at Staples Center

2009-07-02T22:43:00.003-04:00

Representatives for the Jackson Family as well as AEG (the company behind the "This Is It" tour have confirmed that Michael Jackson's memorial service will take place at 10am Tuesday morning at the Staples Center (where Michael was rehearsing for his final tour).

Despite rumors of the Jacksons charging for admission, 11,ooo tickets will be distributed free to the public. Additional information will be arriving via press conference tomorrow.

On a personal note, I'd like to urge everyone to be vigilant of what they read and hear the next week. As you know, there's no shortage of stale attempts at attention and ratings. Our rule of thumb is, "Just because it's on CNN doesn't mean it's true." More to come next week. Until then, peace, love, and everything in between.

Rest in peace, King of Pop, and healing to the Jackson family, their many friends, and adoring public. We've all lost a hero, and I'm grateful for such amazing inspiration and influence and strongly feel the work of Michael Jackson will live on in our minds and hearts forever.

I'd like to bid Michael my own farewell by posting a few of his lyrics, which sadly ring true this week:

"Born to amuse, to inspire, to delight...

Here one day, Gone one night.

Gone too soon..."

RIP Michael Jackson

(1958-2009)

Additional Debbie Rowe commentary on motherhood.

2009-07-02T16:57:00.003-04:00

Further excerpts from 2003 Debbie Rowe interview (see previous post with transcripts). Debbie claims that just because she is the biological mother doesn't mean she earned the title and that her kids don't call her 'Mom' because she doesn't want them to. (Starts at 1:13).

Notable quote:

"Parenting is an art. You earn the title 'parent'. Because you give birth, because you impregnate someone, doesn't automatically give you that title of mother or father. You earn that title. My kids don't call me 'Mom' because I don't want them to. They're Michael's children. It's not that they're not my children, but I had them because I wanted him to be a father...I could do something for him and this is what I wanted to do."

These interviews will come back to haunt Debbie Rowe and would be devastating in court if she pursues this matter legally.

(FYI: For anyone understandably concerned about the children being around Joseph Jackson, he does not live with Katherine - she lives in Encino and he lives in Las Vegas).

Michael Jackson funeral arrangements still up in the air.

2009-07-01T16:31:00.003-04:00

It seems the Jackson family has not yet shared funeral plans with the public. There were rumors circulating around the internet that the family planned a public viewing at Neverland Ranch. This was not confirmed by the family at the time, yet the media continued to advertise this, resulting in sold out hotels all over Santa Barbara, CA. During interviews with family lawyers to the media this week, the lawyers had said no plans were set in stone. I'd like to urge people to question the information they receive and to be vigilant against media inaccuracies (the reason I created this blog - to present fact from fiction). If anyone made plans for this occasion, they should have waited until the family themselves issued a statement.

Today, the media are reporting that a Jackson family "spokesperson" has issued the following statement, supposedly from the Jackson family:

"Contrary to previous news reports, the Jackson family is officially stating that there will be no public or private viewing at Neverland. Plans are underway regarding a public memorial for Michael Jackson, and we will announce those plans shortly."

As this individual was unnamed, and as many fake interviews and statements are circulating, I cannot confirm the accuracy of this report either way, and caution anyone who wanted to make plans to attend to wait for an official statement that can be confirmed (just because it's on CNN doesn't mean it's true. 'America's most trusted news source' has certainly taken many creative liberties in the past to fill in air time, sadly.

At PopSpiracy, we will continue to report the TRUTH as it happens.

On a personal note, I have mixed feelings about a Neverland ceremony or the notion that it might one day turn into a museum like Graceland. First of all, Elvis Presley lived at Graceland during the height of his career and life and lived there until the end. The decor, particularly in the upstairs room, hasn't been altered much at all and was much as he'd left it. Neverland Ranch is a shell of its former self at present. The items have been moved, sold, or are in storage facilities and in the hands of private collector's. To be able to recreate Neverland in it's hey-day (purchased in the late 80s, when Michael's career began a slight decline) would be extremely difficult. I do not believe rumors that he was supposed to be buried there, again, I'm sure the family will release details in due time. Michael apparently didn't leave specific wishes (at least none have yet turned up that were made public) so his family ultimately has the final say. Michael Jackson didn't live in Neverland when he died nor the last few years leading up to his tragic passing. I had the joy to visit Neverland when it was fully operational and Michael was alive and vibrant. It was a gorgeous place, and held a certain magic that simply can't be recreated. Graceland is the real thing, Neverland would be a recreation to try to assemble. Part of the magic of Neverland was Michael's influence and inspiration which could be felt in every corner of the ranch from it's decor and layout (you could see the perfectionism and long range of his genius to be able to create something so astounding). Sadly, Michael is gone, and so too is the spirit of Neverland Ranch, which is simply bare at present. The idea behind J.M. Barrie's Neverland was that it was a magical place where kids never had to grow up. Michael never got that chance, and I shudder to think of Neverland as a place of death. From a logical standpoint, it would be large enough to accomodate hundreds of thousands of people as it is a few thousand acres large. However, it's a long drive to the middle of nowhere, and would thus make a poor location for a museum. I'm sure people would make the trip, and the residents of Santa Barbara County who clearly moved out there for scenic beauty and a rest from the crowds would be might unhappy. I think any idea to create a museum or memorial for Michael Jackson is appropriate, but I don't know that this place would be a good choice. It didn't represent the finest years of his career or the happiest memories in the end, and it seems Michael himself had moved on from it quite some time ago.

Wherever Michael ends up, I hope it's a place where he can finally get the peace he deserves. Some part of me wishes for a burial at an undisclosed location (but I'm sure that would also be a source of rumors for years to come) or possibly an ash spreading at a secret place or ashes kept by the family, to retain the privacy he should have always had. The man is gone and owes the world nothing else, he gave all he had to give. I respect the family's wishes either way. I personally would hate to see his gravesite become a tourist attraction.

The nanny of Michael Jackson's children issues a statement, her 'interview' was fake.

2009-06-30T22:03:00.004-04:00

Today's official statement from MJ's children's nanny, Grace Rwaramba:

“Michael Jackson was an exceptional Human Being. He was gifted, deeply compassionate and brought joy to the lives of so many. He loved his family dearly, and above all, his beautiful children.

In addition to being my employer over the past 17 years and entrusting the care of his beloved children to me, he was my dear friend. While our friendship had challenges, as do all friendships, he was loyal to the end. I cherish and honor his memory.

I am shocked, hurt and deeply saddened by recent statements the press has attributed to me, in particular, the outrageous and patently false claim that I “routinely pumped his stomach after he had ingested a dangerous combination of drugs". I don’t even know how to pump a stomach!! In addition, I have never spoken to the Times Online, the original source of the story that has now been picked up worldwide. The statements attributed to me confirm the worst in human tendencies to sensationalize tragedy and smear reputations for profit.

I convey my heartfelt and deepest condolences to Prince, Paris, Blanket and the entire Jackson family. The pain and sorrow I feel over the loss of Michael pales in comparison to what has been taken from them forever.”

-Grace Rwaramba

This was issued in response to a fake interview circulating in which Grace supposedly admitted she repeatedly pumped Michael Jackson's stomach, not allowing the children to see him on drugs, trying to stage an intervention between Michael and his family, and Michael's mother Katharine demanding the location of Michael's cash.

It's a shame these rumors and fake interviews continue to make rounds, we at PopSpiracy will keep reporting and standing by the FACTS, not rumors.

NOTW interview fake, excerpts from REAL Debbie Rowe interviews.

2009-06-29T19:11:00.002-04:00

Michael Jackson's ex-wife, Debbie Rowe, confirmed that the News of the World interview circulating currently is a fake. Debbie has not yet done an interview that has been released by the public since his death. However, I dug up clips from two Debbie interviews she conducted around the time of the birth of Michael's children. Here are clips of Debbie in her own words, where she claims birthed her children to be raised by Michael Jackson, that having children was her idea, and that she didn't want to be their caretaker. She also states that their divorce was her decision.

From "The Jackson 3" NBC news segment:

Debbie Rowe comments:

On media:
"I didn’t think it was going to be this brutal. It’s very hurtful, even if it’s a lie and I don’t care what the Enquirer says, they’re not truthful. They don’t go for the facts. They go for the sensationalism, they go for the story. They don’t care who they hurt."

On MJ:

"There’s nothing that Michael could do that would humiliate me, nothing. My friendship with him is the most important thing to me and if this marriage gets in the way of that friendship, we’ll put the marriage aside but I want to go on as friends. That’s more important to me than anything else, especially with having kids."

On what kind of dad Michael is:

"The best."

On daughter, Paris, and having children:

"We’re going to name her Paris because that’s where she was conceived. I hope we have a lot of kids together. He’s such a great dad.

From Michael Jackson: The Interview You Never Saw on FOX

Debbie quotes:

On rumors:

"What’s happened in the past is things have been taken out of context, twisted around. If I can help straighten it out, as much as I don’t speak about my family, I will. Right now."

On motherhood:

"My kids don’t call me mom because I don’t want them to. They’re not…They’re Michael’s children. It’s not that they’re not my children but I had them because I wanted him to be a father. I believe that there are people who should be parents, and he’s one of them. And he is such a fabulous man and such a good friend and he’s always been there for me. Always. From the day I met him. I could do something for him, and this is what I wanted to do. I think it was 18 years, 17-18 years that I knew him when I had Prince."

On MJ being fun:

"Yeah, we had a good time. He’s always a lot of fun."

On the decision to have children after his divorce with Lisa Marie:

"No, they had broken up and I was trying to console him because he was really upset and he wanted to be a dad. So I said, be a dad. And I said, let me do this. I want to do this. You’ve been so good to me, you’ve been such a good friend. Please let me do this. You want to be a dad. Please let me do this. And I nabbed him into it, if you will."

On Michael warning her about the perils of fame and her living in the public eye:

"He said, you don’t know what they can do. And I said, come on. We’re having a baby, come on. How can that be weird? We’re having a kid. If anything, that’s beautiful, it’s wonderful, it’s great. Boy was I wrong. I found out a picture of me pregnant was worth half a million dollars.

On childbirth:

And we were very excited. Michael was definitely more excited than I was. He was so excited when I had a contraction and he was there. We had videos, we had music, and it was long. It was 23 hours. And I had very colorful language and everytime I went to say something, Michael would cut me off with ‘shoot’or 'fudge’ (i.e. Debbie's cursing). He didn’t think it was necessary when there were other words to do so. But he was there the whole time to hold my hand, stroke my head, I think I puked once and I was so embarrassed and he was like 'Stop, you’re fine. This is beautiful, this is wonderful.' I said, 'I’m going to die.' 'No your not going to die, this is great. Oh my god, this is so beautiful.' Having come from a medical background, there’s no way blood is beautiful. But he was welling up. And then his son was born. And the look on his face (Debbie begins to cry as she speaks): Talk Amongst yourselves. I’d never seen him that happy. And that’s what made it wonderful for me. Was to see the look on his face.

On the non-traditional circumstance of having your children raised by someone else:

"People don’t understand that and they want a traditional – they think someone has to be traditional and they have this notion of Beaver Cleaver. That wasn’t reality in the 50s and that’s not reality in the 21^st century. We have a non-traditional family and if that makes people uncomfortable, it’s a shame that they’re not more open. We are a family unit. I will always be there for him."

On leaving her kids:

"Left them? I left my children? I did not leave my children. My children are with their father, where they are supposed to be."

On the reason for their divorce:

"We split up because I it got to a point where I couldn’t go to a grocery store. One, I’d get followed. Two, I’d have to look at crap on the newsstands at the registers as you go out that wasn’t true. I wasn’t used to it, I like doing things for myself. I was more than generous. I didn’t have to go to the grocery store but I want to. I want to go back to what I can go back to, that’s what I was used to. It’s what I was comfortable with."

I can't confirm that Michael was or wasn't the biological parent of Debbie's children though he claims he was. I am simply presenting a transcript of Debbie's only known interviews to counter the fake recently released.

Michael Jackson Rumors Debunked

2009-06-28T02:19:00.004-04:00

Michael Jackson was long the target of many rumors during his brief lifetime. If you are looking to hear about the court trials or Michael's skin disease Vitiligo, please refer to earlier posts for detailed information and photographs.

Other rumors will be addressed here.

Q:Did Michael sleep in a hyperbaric chamber to make himself younger?

False. Michael was a frequent guest to many hospital wards over the years where he would stop to visit and cheer up patients or visit terminally ill children. On one visit, he saw a hyperbaric chamber and asked the doctor questions about it. He wanted to know what it felt like to be inside of it, so he climbed in. Someone snapped a shot and it went around the world and the rumor was born.

Q: Did Michael buy the elephant man's bones?
False. When asked this question during an interview, Michael got a hell of a kick out of it. Despite his eccentricities, Michael was intrigued by the rumor but wondered why people thought he would buy them or where he would put them if he had.

Q: Did Michael propose to Elizabeth Taylor?
Possibly. Elizabeth Taylor denied this in a somewhat sarcastic manner when asked, but given Michael's attachment to her, it's not altogether unbelievable.

Q: Was Michael a Jehovah's witness?
True. Not towards the end of his life, but as a child and up until his mid 20s. His mother is a devout Jehovah's witness and Michael himself went door-to-door (in a disguise) at times as a young man. During the Thriller era, Jehovah's Witnesses took issue with his Thriller video and did not want it released as they thought the images were satanic. This is the reason there is a written message at the beginning of the video in which Michael expresses that the video has nothing to do with his personal beliefs in the occult. Michael left the church and by all accounts was a great scholar of religion. He didn't chose a definitive one the rest of his life, but enjoyed learning about all different religions and would attend a Baptist Church one day and a Synagogue the next. There was a picture taken of Michael's bedroom in the 90s. There was a painting of Jesus above his bed.

Q: Was Michael's marriage to Lisa Marie real?
True. Lisa Marie never wavered on this, both in her statement relating to his death as well as through their marriage and the difficult and angry times afterwards. I used to own a wedding card that these two sent to their family and friends after the wedding. It was a secret wedding so the Jacksons weren't present, though secret marriages tend to be common in their family. The world found out through the judge who married them that blurted it out to the world a month after they tied the knot.

Q: Was Michael's father abusive?
True. Michael never went into great detail about the abuse, though he did acknowledge to Oprah Winfrey that his father beat him and he mentioned that his father used to tell him he was ugly. He also confided that he would become physically ill at the sight of his father even as an adult and used to throw up upon hearing that his dad was coming to visit him.

Q: Did Michael own a chimpanzee?
True. Bubbles the chimp was one of countless exotic animals Michael owned (others included giraffes, elephants, panthers, a crocodile, peacocks, rams, etc, though Michael oddly enough had a fear of dogs. This wasn't always true as he had guard dogs as a child). Bubbles was raised with Michael until he grew too big and became dangerous. He is still alive and being cared for outside the family. Michael was a huge animal-lover and among those who funded the release of Keiko, the whale from Free Willy. He was vegetarian most of his life, at 16 vowing not to eat meat. He cheated from time to time over the years.

Q: Did Michael have a flesh-eating disease?
False. This peculiar rumor appeared and vanished in the last months of Michael's life. Michael did have Vitiligo and Lupus.

Q: Did Michael have plastic surgery?
True. This one is sort of a no-brainer. Michael had multiple surgeries, the first on his nose which was practical and a medical procedure as he broke his nose upon falling on stage when he was 20. He had numerous nose jobs and a cleft put into his chin. Michael's siblings greatly teased him about his big nose as a child, probably adding to his insecurities physically. He also didn't want to see his father Joseph in the mirror.

Q: Did Michael invent the moonwalk?
Partly. According to Michael, the inspiration from the Moonwalk came from kids he saw in the ghetto, who did a certain version of it. He took their steps and added changes and developed the Moonwalk.

Q: Was Michael gay?
Michael never directly addressed this question, and it was never directly asked on an interview. Both of his ex-wives claim they had sexual relations with him. When Oprah asked him if he was a virgin, he laughed and blushed, claiming that he was a gentleman and didn't believe such things should be spoken about openly. Michael was known to have crushes on girls as a boy and growing up. Despite his androgenous look, no evidence ever came to light that he was gay. In fact, some friends and even fans claimed that Michael was quite fond of flirting and hitting on women, which can also be evidenced in clips of "Living With Michael Jackson" the documentary.

Q: Are Michael's kids really his?
You got me. Michael's father Joseph had red hair and green eyes as a young man. LaToya also has green eyes. Michael's daughter Paris and oldest son, Prince, definitely are at least partially Debbie Rowe's which can very easily be visually identified. Michael never revealed the source of who Prince Michael II (Blanket)'s mother was, though he does bear a slight resemblance to Michael by coincidence or truth. Michael never revealed any donor information. I imagine only a handful of people know the answer to this question.

Q: Why did Michael's kids wear masks?
Michael knew what it was to live life in the spotlight with a camera shoved in your face since he was a child. He never wanted his children to share that fate but always wanted to be a dad, even as a teenager. The masks served to shield his children from prying cameras. The media did not have an accurate idea of his children's faces so they were able to go out in public without masks and live more normal lives without being followed when not with their father. They didn't wear masks at home.

Q: Who was the female voice on 'In The Closet'?
Most people think it was Naomi Campbell as she was the girl in the video. It was actually Princess Stephanie of Monaco, who supposedly briefly dated Michael. Food for thought, you can also here Notorious B.I.G. rap with Michael on his song 'This Time Around' on the HIStory album and the girl having a steamy phone conversation with Janet Jackson on her Velvet Rope album is actually Lisa Marie Presley.

Q: Did Michael ever want to act?
Michael starred in many films, not only his own videos. He was in 'The Wiz', 'Captain Eo', 'Ghosts', 'Men In Black II', and 'Miss Castaway'. He was in talks to play Edgar Allan Poe in a film that never materialized and had a desire for parts that eventually went to Johnny Depp, including Edward Scissorhands and Charlie & The Chocolate Factory. Marlon Brando gave him a few acting lessons.

Q: Did Michael do any other types of art?
Michael did the storyboard illustrations for the movie 'Mars Attacks'. He also did some sketches for Walt Disney World. Michael also did voiceover work under a pseudonym for certain episodes of the Simpsons. He was an artist of all trades.

Feel free to add or send in more questions or rumors, we will dig up the answer.

A long, necessary, heart-felt tribute to the King of Pop

2009-06-26T11:24:00.004-04:00

A lot of people in my life have wondered over the years what it was about Michael Jackson that I loved so much. What they didn’t know was that I wasn’t unique. The media lived to say that Michael was a has-been that no one cared about anymore post-Bad era. Having been part of the fan community for nearly 2/3rds of my life, I can say this was categorically untrue, as clearly evidenced by Michael recently selling out 50 concerts (750,000) tickets in five minutes flat. While it is true that he had a more favorable reputation overseas, his USA fan base was quite extensive.

I remember the things most people do about Michael Jackson in the 80s… I remember listening to the Thriller album and jumping on the bed to the tracks with my babysitter. I remember a friend of ours who had ‘The Making of Thriller’ on VHS. I used to hide my five-year old face behind the pillow. That video is damn scary at that age. I don’t recall anything about the Bad era at the time oddly enough. My re-introduction to Michael Jackson (and ultimate fandom) resulted from “Dangerous”. I was a strong advocate against racism and frequently wrote pieces about the topic. I remember hearing ‘Black or White’, the only song on the radio at that time professing the same ideals I believed in. That’s what initially got me started. I bought the album and every track blew my mind. It was the premiere of the ‘Black or White’ video that first caught my eye. Michael literally bought a prime-time slot on FOX (right after the Simpsons) just to premiere the long version of his first video off the album. I admit I initially tuned in largely because of Macaulay Culkin who I thought was the cat’s meow. Every 11 year old did! The second I saw Michael, poor Macaulay was but a distant memory. I was transfixed. I’d never seen anything like him. Visually, musically, artistically, in any format. But what truly cemented me as fan extraordinaire was the Oprah Winfrey interview in 1993. I have seen just about every recorded interview of Michael since day one, as I own one of the largest private collections of Michael Jackson footage in the country (I’m willing to bet money on it). Of all the interviews I’ve seen, this was by far the best. They say a great interview is supposed to show you what it’s like to be that person. I have never seen Michael Jackson in rawer form. This is a testament to Oprah. Every other interviewer since (Diane Sawyer, Barbara Walters, Martin Bashir, etc) treated Michael like a freakish animal they despised. They had a judgment and it clearly showed. Who wouldn’t be terribly uncomfortable and not able to be themselves? Oprah approached Michael as the human being he ultimately was. And naturally, she was delivered gold. There was so much about that interview that stung me a certain way. I guess we chose to appreciate people we can relate to. While 99% of people didn’t seem to get Michael, for whatever reason, I did. When I heard him talk about the alienation that was part of his life, the rumors, the judgment, just wanting to do good in the world and being met with so many roadblocks, it paralleled my childhood at the time. It was the first time I realized that I wasn’t alone, odd as that sounds. I was a misunderstood artsy kid. I just wanted to entertain people and make them laugh, but most didn’t understand and the laughs tended to be on me. There was this discrepancy between who I was and who people thought I was, and it seemed there was no way I could shake my label. It was also the first time I realized the power of being different. I’d always viewed it as a negative, as kids never ceased to take every opportunity to point it out. They tried to make me feel bad about it, and overwhelmingly succeeded. But when I saw Michael Jackson that night, the pain in his voice and the conviction in his soul, I suddenly was overwhelmed with strength. I realized that people who were “different” were blessed and had the ability to change the world and shape perception. They are in essence leaders and people who take our species to new and exciting places, testing the boundaries of what was possible. Suddenly my “flaw” had value and was something to be proud of. The effect it had on me was something I can’t put into words. It literally changed everything.

I’m not the first person to hear about Michael’s “healing” effect. I had a good friend in New Jersey, Diana, who was a cancer patient. She was battling a form of rare cancer and survived, crediting Michael’s music and the power of his message with giving her the strength to keep fighting. Countless stories like that have been echoed by fans everywhere and I’m sure that will long continue. Most dancers all site him as their major influence. Many of the biggest artists of our day also claim they wouldn’t be doing what they have were it not for him.

His good deeds also changed countless lives. I’d like to talk about that for a second, because it’s one of the most understated and precious qualities the man had. You never heard about it in the media, and the rare time it emerged, it was usually met with “I’m sure he just did that to promote a concert” or some such refute. It’s not surprising he never publicized his charitable work. He didn’t do it for career advancement, he already had that in abundance. The truth was that Michael Jackson had one of the biggest hearts in the business, in spite of having been the most famous man of his time as well as once being among the wealthiest and certainly most successful. He never forgot his roots as a small town poor boy from Gary, Indiana. Michael made the Guiness Book of World Records many times, not just for his countless musical achievements but for being the world’s most charitable pop star, having donated to over 40 worldwide organizations including his own. There were small stories, not counted by the press but by his fans or anyone lucky enough to bump into him on the street. Here are a few.

-There was a boy from the Middle East that Michael met at an orphanage. He needed a liver transplant which cost $250,000 to save his life. His family couldn’t afford it. Michael footed the bill and supposedly kept in touch with him via letter.
-It is well known that Michael started charity work very early in his life and always used his parents home and Neverland to send busloads of terminally ill children over and frequently visited orphanages and hospitals on every stop of his tours. He particularly took every opportunity to meet with dying children and tried to give them incentives to hold on. Such as, giving a young fan an article of his clothing and telling them he was performing in concert at such and such a time and wanted them to be there wearing that piece. He frequently wore the things they made him in remembrance once they past, such as wrist bracelets. The armband he famously wore around his jackets represented sick and dying children and he wore it as a reminder. At Neverland, he had beds built into the walls of his theater for kids that were so terminally ill they had to lay down and couldn’t sit or stand so they could watch movies. I’ve been inside of one of these there and the room also included volume controls so they could adjust the feature to their liking as well as small details like a jar of potpourri to add a touch of home.

Michael was no stranger for doing nice things for people in any condition, as evidenced by tales of people who met him over the years. I remember a guy named Brian I knew from college. He worked at the Virgin Megastore in Orlando. He claimed that when Michael came through there one night, he bought 20 DVDs for every employee that helped him and hung out in the DJ booth with the employees for hours. When he was walking around Church Street Station, he spent hours on the streets mingling and chatting up passerby’s. While he was known for being shy, he had his moments. Rarely around press, but always around fans and everyday folk. He was also known for renting out huge theater multiplexes and even Disney World (who else can do that?!) for his family and friends. He was on a commercial flight in the 90s and an old woman fell. He was the first person on the plane to rush to her and help her up, came back and checked up on her throughout the flight, and offered to drive her and her husband in his limo to their home upon the plane landing. I was at Michael’s 45th birthday party and I recall an instance where a girl got so excited seeing him she lost her shoe. Michael saw it, picked it up, went over to her and bent down on one knee and slipped it on her foot Cindarella style. The media liked to chalk Michael up as an egotist. This was absolutely untrue. I’ve never seen an artist with more humility towards their fans, he even bowed to them in thanks constantly and invited them to hang out in his hotels and wherever he went when possible. I never heard one single bad story, though I did hear he gave great hugs and squeezed you as tight as you squeezed him.

I saw Michael in person four times. The first was in 2001 the week of September 11th at Madison Square Garden in NYC. I remember seeing the black umbrella surface surrounded by countless bodyguards. He strolled the entire length of the auditorium just to create the kind of mass pandemonium and panic only he could. He always knew audience. The Jackson Five reunited, I never thought I’d ever see that. Not to mention Elizabeth Taylor, Marlon Brando, Macaulay Culkin, and a zillion other legends one would be so lucky to watch. I’ll never forget the show was plagued with technical problems and Michael picked up the long pauses by cracking jokes and being funny. He was actually hilarious and had an amazing sense of humor and was tremendously charming and engaging. Each time I saw him, he was nothing like I’d read about or expected. As previously mentioned, I was at his 45th birthday bash. It was held at the gorgeous Orpheum theater in downtown LA. Crowds blocked off the streets and a live marching band even strolled through illegally just to pay their musical tribute. Inside was a two-hour long fan tribute. It was a Michael Jackson celebration party planned and orchestrated by the fans. A lot of people outside the fan community don’t know, but his fans usually planned big parties in major cities around the world on his birthday. On occasion, he would show up to one and freak everyone out. This was the case that day. I remember the fans screaming and the usual pandemonium, but he quietly sat in the wings and gave his undivided attention to the fans performing. He wasn’t there for an ego trip and made that very clear by focusing on the acts on hand and giving little attention to fanfare. He wanted to support the fans and watch them perform for a change. Eventually he went up at the end of the night and said a few humble words.

The last two times I saw him were court related. I had long been a disbeliever that he was a pedophile. Not because I was a fan and didn’t want to believe it or couldn’t have, but because I actually didn’t get my news from National Enquirer. The facts of the matter were that in both cases, the “accusers” had parents with criminal histories for suing for false claims. They claimed everything from being kidnapped and held against their will to Michael trying to steal the family and jet them off in hot air balloons to South America. It was the most ridiculous thing ever and the court transcripts were readily available everyday. A great experiment was to read what happened in court then read what papers were reporting. It was unbelievable. Very George Orwell 1984. The public ate up every ounce of it and a lot of friends in my life accused me of being stupid or gullible for not believing the same thing they did. I can tell you that I’ve read more on the topic than just about anyone and can absolutely say as a reasonable intelligent person (and objectively) that I in no way believe he was guilty. An odd appearance and a Peter Pan complex do not make anyone necessarily criminal. ::For a full markup of reasons Michael isn’t guilty and for photographic evidence that Michael did indeed suffer from Vitiligo, the rare skin pigmentation disorder, check out previous entries of this blog:: The day of the first arraignment, I was handed a white envelope by the Nation of Islam, who were working as Michael’s bodyguards at the time. It was an invitation to lunch at Neverland that day, one of the most surreal and greatest experiences I ever had. I was able to roam the ranch for hours, going wherever I wanted and doing what I wanted (within reason, haha). The second time I went to see him at the courthouse, he bought us all pizza. My vote for his innocence was not affected by this generosity, though it was a great example of the humanity I’d heard about.

(I will post about my trip to Neverland in a future posting for anyone interested. I can copy-paste the details from my e-Diary).

Overall, being a fan meant for me so many things. I’ve never seen anyone in my life with half as much talent. I’ve never seen anyone who can sing like that, move like that, do anything to that caliber. The thing I admired the most about Michael was his ability to retain humility in the face of everything he experienced, and to continue to believe in himself and in humanity no matter how much they trampled him. He never stopped doing good things and caring about the world, and that made me care about him. I wish the rest of the world had seen what I’d seen and I don’t think people will even begin to fathom what the world has just lost, even in a time of complete unoriginality in entertainment and a lack of basic goodness floating around in the business.

My heart is heavy and my thoughts are profound tonight. I have great sorrow for the Jackson family in particular, many of whom I have met and seen and had varied experiences with, all positive. My thoughts are especially with Michael’s mother Katherine, the heart of the family, who must be taking this the worse of all. At Neverland, the main road within the ranch was called “Katherine St.” I think it said a lot. Also, my heart goes out to Michael’s children, who despite their masks and rumor, are said to be extremely normal well-behaved polite kids who loved their dad. Michael put his life on hold for them since they were born, and I’m sure they were incredibly loved.

And to Michael himself, I’m not sure words really begin to describe how truly awe-inspiring you were and how truly special you were. You were on in a billion, and I will always be grateful to you for the sacrifices you made to entertain the world and the selflessness you held so true. Thank you for being you. If there’s a heaven, I’m sure there’s a giant place for you there, and that you’ve left behind penny-loafers no other entertainer can wear.

Rest in Peace, Michael.

Weeds Season 4 review: I'll pass this weed, FAST.

2009-06-14T03:58:00.001-04:00

The catchy theme song we all loved to sing along with while getting excited for the latest episode is gone, replaced by clever logos and an imaginative script. Too imaginative, to say the least. Remember when Nancy was a bad mother who at least tried to do well by her children? When Doug was always comedy gold, Celia was bitchy but loveable, and Shane was innocent? Sadly, those days are over, folks. Never have I seen a cast once so endearing transform into characters I wouldn’t touch with a ten foot pole. Thank God for El Andy, who at least retains his charm and seems to be the only character winning over more audience love with time.

Nancy Botwin is now officially a horrible person. One of the fascinations of this show was watching her balance that thin line between Suburbia and the Grasslands while juggling single parenthood. She was imperfect; a poor decision maker for sure, but at least she tried to bridge the gap between her growing(ly distant) sons. Her character has now officially all but given up any effort at all at maternal humanity. She goes through so many men that I’ve lost count and didn’t have time to form any sort of attachment with any of those characters except Conrad, who despite all those seasons of subtle romantic build-up, all but disappears from this latest season. Even Guillermo nosedived into awful. And when did Doug become a grouchy demanding irritant? Wasn’t he everyone’s favorite member of Agrestic? By the way, whatever happened to Agrestic? Oh yeah. Up in flames like everything else in the series. Agrestic played such a central role in the series it was a character unto itself. No more. The Botwins now live by the seaside in Ren-Mar where they engage in plenty of acts that are anything but comical. Celia’s character was initially written to be the next-door-neighbor, mother, and wife from hell (and the friend you should never double cross). Over the seasons, her character has melted into sheer terror. There is NOTHING funny about locking your ex-husband in a closet and abusing him. I’m pretty darn liberal when it comes to my sense of humor, but a lot of what is being pawned off as comedy is atrocious and completely amoral beyond belief, even for a TV show. I’m actually insulted that some of this is intended to be funny and frankly, disturbed by the implications. I guess the only realistic aspect of this show is that Shane and Silas would find their way into the drug underworld relatively early in life given their upbringing.

This is certainly NOT the season I’d ever want to watch. The entire thing was blanketed in a darkness so thick and storylines so unpleasant I dare not purchase the season and will gladly forget it ever happened if Season Five can resurrect any shred of credibility to its twisted fate. What was once ground-breaking comedy is more mangled than Celia's pillbox. Again, not funny. Part of what makes a great comedy last is material that actually accomplishes strong laughs and develops characters we can all relate to and love in spite of their flaws. I can't fathom any liking for any of these people this season. After all that viewing, it appears the show is indeed made of ticky-tacky and like everything else on TV, looks just the same.

Timothy Treadwell vs. Steve Irwin

2009-06-03T00:35:00.007-04:00

I clearly remember where I was when I first heard the news. In the terminal of the Atlanta airport about to catch a flight to Paris. "Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin killed by stingray" scrolled across the news screen. Stingrays are oddly my favorite animal and I have pet countless rays and swam alongside thousands. I was in absolute shock to hear of his passing. I had a trip to go on and was rather preoccupied for the next few weeks when I returned home to hear about the tragic loss of a good friend of mine at a young age. Eventually, I did have time to think about Steve Irwin's strange journey and was saddened by the news and mostly for his young children who would grow up without a father.

Steve was one of those guys you felt you knew, he was a father-figure sort to kids around the world with his daring exploits to exotic locales peppered with all sorts of dangerous predators he loved to show you. It was wonderful that Steve cared so much about the conservation of wild life and educating young people. However, there were clearly better ways to have gone about it. Steve didn't just take you into an animal's world and show it to you, he would go up to the creature, pick it up, and many times taunt it, poking it and trying to provoke it to attack. Partly to show off it's defense mechanisms, and partly out of machismo. That aspect didn't seem too congruent with respecting wildlife but Steve was an entertainer. He well knew the risks of such behavior. He was almost a godly figure to his wife who followed him all over and to his friends and team, who all seemed completely baffled when something awful finally happened. Steve supposedly thought he would die young, but not at the hands of an animal. Despite his obvious knowledge on animals, he seemed to perceive himself as invincible when handling animals, exposing himself and his loved ones to constant risks, medic on hand or not. I remember the controversy surrounding Steve when he held his brand new baby Bob Irwin in one hand and fed a giant crock meat with the other. The audience was horrified and his actions met with international outrage. Steve responded by scoffing at his critics and boasting that he knew what he was doing and that he would never expose his child to any real danger. (Because feeding a giant killing machine a few feet away from a newborn is a totally sane harmless choice). Steve clearly thought himself a Crocodile Dundee, some larger-than-life character unbound to the same rules as the rest of us mere mortals in the face of wilderness. Contrary to his own flawed beliefs, NO ONE, no matter how smart, can predict an animal's every move.

Brushes with death were a recurring theme in Steve's life. I recall watching footage Steve and his then-brand wife Terri rock climbing. For some unknown reason, they didn't have much protective gear at all and Terri nearly lost her life that day, slipping to what would have easily been her death if Steve hadn't managed to find strong footing and pull her up with one arm. She seemed visibly pissed afterward, though I have to wonder which genius decided this was a good idea. How many times were Terri and those children constantly exposed to situations that could have easily turned upside down? As strong as Steve was, he couldn't possibly have controlled it all. The footage of the sting ray incident was billed as a freak accident; as a stingray lover, one of the things I love the most about this alien creature is how gentle and majestic they can be. Human deaths caused by sting rays are astoundingly low in recorded history. A stingray rarely attacks unless it is provoked, such as stepped on or caught on a hook. According to Steve's camp, the camera was somewhere in front of the stingray, shooting Steve swimming alongside rays. Steve was swimming above the ray when it was supposedly startled by the camera and thurst its tail upwards, penetrating Steve's heart with its barb. The stingray's thrust didn't kill him (and it's possible he could have survived if the appropriate action was taken; a man who was stung in the heart by a stingray barb was successfully treated). Steve's death was the result of his impulsive decision to pull the barb out which caused instant death. He probably didn't know just how deep in the barb actually was and I'm guessing it was panic as the worse thing you can do in a puncture situation is to rip out the object. (Remember that, folks). It seems a bit suspicious to me that a camera startled the ray. If Steve Irwin handled the stingray as he did every other poisonous animal he encountered on TV, my guess is that it was poked or provoked in some fashion and Steve's team didn't want to release that information. Either way, we'll never know as the tapes were destroyed against Steve's wishes. He once proclaimed on TV that if he ever died while being eaten by a croc or some such scenario, he wanted the camera to keep rolling.

The tragedy was obviously very sad, but I can't say it was altogether unpredictable. Much of Steve's work was educational in nature, but constant provocation was unnecessary and a show of ego. Steve wasn't the king of the jungle or the sea, he was another man trying co-exist with nature. Such an event could have happened at any point in his career and if it didn't happen in the sea that day, there is a big possibility it would have happened in another fashion. You can only luck out so many times. The thing that really gets me is how shocked everyone who knew him the most was. They clearly bought into the myths Steve was bent on perpetuating. Clearly, the family hasn't learned it's lesson. The other day, I saw a picture of Bindi Irwin with a huge snake wrapped around her neck. Not in some loose necklace fashion but literally with it's body completely twisted a few times around her neck in a tight fit. I can't imagine what prompts them to continue to play with fire and have pretty negative feelings about Terri Irwin having Bindi work so much after Steve's death and trying to get little Bob a show of his own. Those two children are beautiful and I'm sure they will continue to preserve wildlife and educate the public. I just hope they find more constructive means of doing so and learn their father's lessons.

Which brings us to yet another example of overly cocky man vs. beast. Timothy Treadwell, otherwise known as the man who lived amongst grizzly bears for 13 summers. I recall his appearance on The David Letterman Show where Dave asked him if he was "one of those guys that's going to end up on TV eaten by bears". Of course it was a joke and he passed it off as such and denied such an event, yet sadly it was a foreshadowing of events to come. Treadwell was certain no harm could come to him at the claws of a Grizzly, he claimed he knew how to assert his dominance in their environment and could peacefully live amongst them. Sadly, while at his campsite with his girlfriend, the two were killed and partially ingested. Recording actually existed (audio, not video, as the cap was still on the camera). Only one copy of the recording exists and it has never been available to the public, though partial transcripts exist. Apparently, Treadwell and the bear struggled. He shouted to his girlfriend that the bear was killing him and to help him. Apparently, they had no appropriate protection with them despite living in the woods and dealing with dangerous animals. He was heard yelling to his girlfriend to "get a frying pan". I was horrified to think that he was getting survival tips from Yogi the Bear cartoons. Thing about the logistics of this. An 800 lb bear is already about four times the weight of a human and is covered with fur and insulation. What on earth is a frying pan going to do, even if you get a good spot?! I am horrified that these two had zero weapons at their disposal despite their lifestyle and location. (PLANNING IS EVERYTHING. No one wants to think the worse is going to happen, but sometimes, it inevitably does. Be prepared.) These two should have known better, and anyone willingly subjecting themselves to these living conditions should absolutely know all of this. It's that same "Nothing will happen...I'm invincible...I know what I'm doing" mentality and naivete that kills. These men were not superheroes. Sometimes I wonder who is more delusional about their reality, the men who do this or the women who blindly follow them. Surely, there must have been SOMETHING of better use lying around. A pole from the tent? At least that could provide some leverage and distance, though I doubt even that would have done much. I'm sure there is little time to make decisions during emergency situations, but that's why it's so important to make a good one prior to acting. I'm sure the emotion involved must have been incredible. No one wants to see their loved one in peril and naturally people will do what they can to change the outcome but they should do so realistically. As romantic as it is that this woman tried to save her boyfriend, the woman was biologically far less equipped to successfully fight that bear off than he must have been unless she had a weapon on hand. There is a documentary available about Treadwell directed by Werner Herzog, "Grizzly Man". RIP.

Naturally, my heart goes out to the people in these tragedies and their families. I hope that the general public learns from these accidents and doesn't watch reruns of the Croc Hunter with ideas that any of this is something they should try while out and about. Just as in the recent story of the woman who had an adult primate at home with her who ripped off her face, people need to be aware that animals are unpredictable, no matter how trained they are. Especially wild animals that humans are thoroughly warned about interacting with in such an intimate manner.
(To that person housing a tiger in their basement - I know you're out there - DON'T DO IT! And if you do, make sure you are prepared for anything.)

Lesson: Ego scores 1000 points. Man scores zero. Komodo dragon takes all. Including Sharon Stone's husband's toe. (By the way, what was up with THAT?! Who told him to get into a cage with a Komodo dragon? My point exactly. Think people. Think!)

The Return of the Jon & Kate Plus 8 Thread

2009-05-20T22:46:00.003-04:00

Yes, you knew a follow-up post was in order. I hope this has proven to all of you that PopSpiracy knows it's shizzle! Prior to any of this Kate-and-the-bodyguard nonsense and tabloid frenzy that has ensued, I warned you about these sneaky devils.

So here is the latest on the ~~Gelflings~~ Gosselins.

Apparently, Kate has sought refuge in the arms of her bodyguard while Jon is allowed to run around town and date women. The two have an open marriage, according to Kate's brother and his wife (Aunt Jodi). Now, in general, I don't believe everything I read. Neither do you, and that's why you're here at PopSpiracy getting your fix. That said...

What on earth does Kate Gosselin need a bodyguard for??? Where is Jon's bodyguard?!

Jon needs more than that. Perhaps one day he'll grow a pair. Until then, I don't know how Kate can continue to claim that they aren't celebrities when they: a) have a hit TV show b) have no anonymity c) have bodyguards d) eat at five star celebrity restaurants when in LA e) Kate can afford hundreds of dollars a haircut and makeover constantly f) Jon bought a new sportscar.

Foolish Kate thinks she can control the world, as brilliantly evidenced when she started hurling insults at tabloids, not knowing that they CONTROL THE UNIVERSE and are now going to go after her with all they've got. Great job stirring up the hornet's nest, Kate. That might be the rule in your house, but your house is now public domain, thanks to the choices you two have made for your family.

Confucius (or whomever) says: NEVER bite the hand that feeds you.

That said... have any of you noticed the timing of all of this? How odd that all of this controversy has to come right before the premiere of the next season of the show. Looks like the ratings of the show are in desperate need and the Gosselins are in hyperdrive trying to make sure the show doesn't get canceled. My guess is that the marriage already ended quite some time ago and they are just staying together to keep the money rolling in. When the show does get the plug pulled (and trust me, it will) there will be 8 multiples running around Pennsylvania with 2 unemployed parents. Brilliant strategy, J & K.

I am stunned by the sheep that continue to be blinded to the truth and defend these two. "You try having 8 kids!" or "They are just trying to provide for college..."

You are right. I don't have 8 kids. But I know people who are part of HUGE families, in which BOTH parents actually have to work and don't have the privilege of having their house and all of their possessions paid for by their own children. There are ways around this, and child exploitation is not it. Just ask OctoMom who is currently being sued by the state of Cali for trying to build a reality TV show around her multiples. The Gosselin kids sadly don't have the legal protection they deserve living out in PA. As for college... don't even kid yourself into thinking that there is going to be a cent left for those kids once they hit college age. Who knows what college in our country will look like 13 years from now anyway. If the landscape looks the same, BOOHOO - the Gosselin kids will have to work and get grants and scholarships or join public service or military life like everyone else in the same position. At the rate those two are spending, that money is going to be gone within five years.

Kate has also been arguing that her children "love" the camera crew and get excited when they come over. I have news for her, camera crews aren't family. She has managed to alienate her own family from her children's lives. Now, she has given them this "surrogate" family that is simply there for the purpose of money. The second that show ends (soon), those crews will be gone in a flash, and if there is any truth to the kids loving them, once again they will be deprived of even more social ties. Ye gads, imagine how traumatized these kids are going to grow up to be having everything of REAL value being ripped away from them and replaced by nonsense that won't bring them happiness or last another five years...

PopSpiracy says:

Jon & Kate = SUCK!

Dr. Drew is a hack.

2009-05-20T22:12:00.004-04:00

I first came across the words of Dr. Drew Pinksy via Loveline, the once-MTV program turned radio show. Callers would phone the show with any number of sexual problems and scenarios for Dr. Drew, co-hosts, and guests to toss in their 2 cents. Most of the "advice" callers received arrived in the form of jokes and a condescending attitude, a fabulous response to people calling with real problems. Well, most of them were real. The ones that weren't deserved everything they got... Within 30 seconds of talking to a caller, Dr. Drew had already given them a diagnosis and the majority were told that they were sexually abused as children, whether they remembered it or not. It is actually completely unethical and incorrect for a doctor to diagnose a patient they haven't even met with based on dialogue that doesn't even last one minute. Dr. Drew is not the all-seeing eye of the universe, which would probably shock the hell out of him. People are complex machines unable to be broken down in a millisecond. I was often taken aback by some of the comments and smugness of Dr. Drew towards people in need.

Now, Dr. Drew is onto reality shows (surprise, surprise). First there was the Celebrity Rehab on VH1, which followed a group of addicts on the road to recovery. Then came Sober House, which chronicled the transition of addicts from a rehab clinic into sober living prior to taking their lives completely back in the real world. Initially I thought the concepts of the show were interesting, then I actually thought about what I was watching from the perspective of the guinea pigs who were a part of it. Whether they signed contracts to be on the show or not, this experiment is highly immoral and bound to lead to failure among the participants. The presence of cameras undoubtedly affects human behavior. The last thing addicts need is extra stimulation and reasons to act out. Suddenly, the patients are more concerned about getting their daily dose of publicity than actually taking their recovery seriously. It's not a surprise most of the individuals on the show are still relapsing constantly. How could they not??? The very idea of bringing cameras into the world of addicts breaks two of the cardinal 12 traditions of AA, NA, and recovery programs (which have 'Anonymous' as part of their title for a reason:

11. ... we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, and films.

12. Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.

(Source: The 12 Traditions of AA)

Nothing can break sobriety like people already obsessed with fame having more opportunities to access the very world that has contributed to the excess that put them at a rehab facility. These patients are going through very private battles which they can only weather under anonymous conditions. Dr. Drew is well-versed in this and doesn't appear to care about the success rate of his patients recoveries but rather getting his own name out in the public eye.

I discussed this matter with a good friend of mine who successfully fought the perils of addiction and turned his life around. He has since been sober for over a decade and is living a very fulfilled life. He can't stand these reality shows, which he finds to be a horrid idea and damaging to not only the participants but the fields of recovery themselves. He is correct to point out that such scenarios including cameras create opportunity for great conflict and drama, the essence of "watchable" TV. He also points out that many of these people are has-beens anyway and their addiction is suddenly affording them the opportunity to get famous again, so what message does that send out?

Clearly, these addicts are not a priority for anything but good ratings. My heart goes out to these people who are obviously under tremendous strain and are poor decision makers, proven by their decision to compromise recovery by signing onto one of these shows. I have no idea how Dr. Drew thinks he can justify such behavior, but I'd like to see him try. He writes extensively about ego, narcissism, and celebrity, three things that seem to describe him to a T.

Jon & Kate + 8 = Bad.

2009-04-20T01:19:00.003-04:00

Like much of America, I was originally transfixed with Jon, Kate, and their 8 rambunctious offspring. The 411 for those folks tuning in who don't know the score on this show: Jon & Kate are a married couple who had two sets of multiples (twins followed by sextuplets). Supposedly, Kate had trouble getting pregnant and turned to fertility treatments. Upon learning how many children were growing in her womb, Kate and John (Christians not keen on abortion) had the babies.

Upon first glance, it seemed like a wholesome show. I found myself oddly drawn to it, partially because it made me appreciate my life so much more knowing I didn't have that level of constant bombardment at home. It was interesting to see these little people trying to discover the world with so many distractions. After watching the show more, I became incredibly disturbed.

While some insist that these two parents are wonderful, Jon & Kate have raised quite an eyebrow with their parenting techniques and personalities. Kate has become one of the most disliked women on television, largely thanks to her overwhelming neurosis and treatment towards Jon and her children, which is unbearable. Overly domineering and controlling, she didn't let her children chew gum or play with markers as she insisted their clothes would all get dirty and she'd have to wash it, as if that's not what would ultimately happen anyway...

There was an odd absence of other family members present in their lives. The only one that seemed to be involved in the rearing of the children from their respective families was Aunt Jodie, who subsequently disappeared off the show. Supposedly, members of her family have spoken out against Jon & Kate and claimed that they were getting upset that Jodie was part of the series and started blaming her for trying to cash in. If that isn't the tea pot calling the kettle black... it seemed that Aunt Jodie gave the children a freedom that Kate couldn't provide and she chucked her as I'm sure kids preferred Auntie time. When Jon & Kate were asked why their parents were more involved, they gave a vague answer - something to the effect of having bad relationships with them. What kind of family has 8 children and no help from their family? But sure, they'll expose them to strangers and camera crews. It seems that Jon & Kate have done a great job alienating the people in their lives from wanting to have anything to do with them. Let's assume that Jon & Kate don't like their parents. Those children have every right to have grandparents and any parent who would deny their children such an experience has every right to be seriously questioned. It's not about them, it's about what's best for their kids.

Kate's unhealthy habit to berate her husband constantly (particularly in front of the children) is annoying and resorts to not just emotional abuse but also physical abuse by smacking Jon when he doesn't do what she wants. Kate's controlling nature and Jon's passive aggressiveness make for a very unhealthy combination.

Part of what upsets people so much about these two is their constant complaints and insistence that they are poor, just to get sponsors to send them free stuff they can publicize on the show and send them on vacations. They make over $70,000 AN EPISODE and are millionaires. Jon & Kate don't do much to hide it anymore, having recently been spotted at a very pricey LA celebrity eatery. Kate complains anytime she does chores and cleans up after her family, meanwhile when the cameras are off they have a personal organic chef who cooks for the family and maid service. (I eat organic and I can tell you it costs about three times as much as the alternative, I can't imagine their food bills. While I'm happy to see anyone convert to organic, no poor family can afford it, nonetheless a large one.) They didn't even have to pay for their house.

The worse part is the exploitation of those innocent kids. Some people argue that they watch the show "for the kids". That's like watching a train wreck and saying it's for the good of the people in the crash. Watching isn't helping and giving this show ratings contributes to an awful cycle these children should be freed of. California and New York, given the entertainment hubs they are, have very strict rules involving children working in the entertainment business, i.e. Coogan Laws, etc. Given that Jon & Kate live in Pennsylvania, their children aren't subject to the types of protection they would have if they lived elsewhere and are taped far more than should be allowed. Yes, that is work, and it does stress them. The show is taped several days a week and the children are constantly filmed. There aren't rooms in the house that are off-limits, the bathroom is fair game. Sadly, these children are even taped using the potty or bathing, NOT the actions of parents that care about the welfare of their children. The exploitation they already receive is bad enough, but exposing them to perverts across the country is unacceptable. The toll on these poor kids must be tremendous, who are all going to need therapy. Imagine their embarrassment growing up knowing that their most private moments were shown to millions of people. Hopefully the Gosselins will invest the money they made off of their children on their psychological well-being one day, but it's doubtful. The stress will inevitably topple these children. Already affected is Maddy Gosselin, i.e. the kid from hell. This poor girl is so constantly negative and miserable it's painful to watch. I don't blame her, I'd be screaming to get outside of there, too, and she's clearly a product of a highly chaotic environment. Being that she's one of the oldest (the twins), the negativity will have a trickle effect on the younger ones who emulate their older siblings. If you think Jon & Kate have it bad now, just wait. And it will be a prison of their own making. I am reminded me of a scene in which Maddy placed a sign on her door with explicit instructions that no cameras enter and a giant frowning drawn face. It was a cry for help if I've ever seen one. All children need privacy to grow into healthy adults, these children don't even have a room in the house they can disappear to if it all becomes too much. That's because they'd spend all day in it.

Unsurprisingly, photos of Jon completely drunk at a party surrounded by women (sans Kate) surfaced. He was uninvited.

According to town locals, Jon makes his way to many of these shindigs and has no shame hitting on the town meat. I don't advocate infidelity, but being married to Kate must be a living nightmare. Not having the balls to stand up for yourself in the world must be pretty bad, too. Nonetheless raising a huge family and being on a show he supposedly doesn't even like. Of course, the Gosselin's came out swinging fists and denying any problems. Even Jon & Kate's renewal of wedding vows sounded like a ploy for a nice free Hawaiian vacation. They didn't look thrilled then either. These two don't seem happy with their lives or children at all. This is typical reality TV fakery at it's best. Someone call Dr. Drew, quick. So that he can exploit them too. Don't worry, I'm doing a story on him ASAP. You knew it was coming...

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, folks, but Jon & Kate are NOT good parents. They are not healthy, they are not happy, and they are destroying their children's lives. So are you if you continue to watch, I change the channel now. Why contribute to that? It is NOT cute. The fact that it got picked up for yet another season despite the public catching on to their inappropriate behavior is sad. Once again, America lowers it's standards. If you really care about the kids, STOP WATCHING.

The Jade Goody Phenomenon

2009-04-04T20:03:00.004-04:00

Jade Goody was one of the biggest media stories of 2009. For those who don't know who she was, Jade was a reality television star that frequented several several reality shows including Big Brother, during which she became a controversial figure in the house for her lack of knowledge and racist comments towards Indian actress Shilpa Shetty which resulted in Jade being kicked off the show and over 50,000 consumer complaints to the networks. Jade continued to be a prominent figure in reality television shows and became a big star in the UK, having been part of numerous books (including a biography) and headlines and sold many products despite many polls suggesting most people had a negative opinion of her. While doing the reality TV gig "Bigg Boss" in India, Jade received the call that she had cervical cancer and left the show. She eventually found out the cancer was terminal and continued to live her life in the spotlight, heavily relying on the media to cover her every move and making a documentary as the disease ravaged her body. Jade gave interviews and allowed the media to tape and photograph her throughout the last months of her life. Jade even sold her wedding photos (marrying long-term reality TV star and criminal Jack Tweed) to the tabloids. Jade justified such behavior by saying that she was saving the money for her children, Bobby and Freddie, despite the huge salary and assets Jade already had as a result of her career choices. The media descended on Jade and public tide for her flipped, resulting in the public fixating on every morbid detail of her last days and elevating her into a somewhat saintly figure. Her husband Jack was able to get a significant portion of time out of jail (for assault) to spend time with her during her final months. Sadly, Jade Goody passed away on March 22, 2009, at age 27 on Mother's Day. Her home was flooded with flowers and cards of sympathy and mass public outcry (somewhat like the events that transpired after Princess Diana's demise, on a smaller scale).

Jade Goody made many enemies during her years for her racist views and comments and aroused antagonism from many in life as well as with the choices she made in handling the last month of her life so publicly. When Jade got cancer, public polls went from strong disagreement to a positive image and even many of Jade's detractors began to think of her as a wonderful person and forgot how much they had disliked her. They watched her deteriorate and die like bloodthirsty hounds, anxious for every new development. Even OK! magazine leaked the cover of their tribute issue with the years of her birth and death before she even died. The British public couldn't seem to get enough of Jade Goody.

I am astounded that the public could change their opinion so widely about someone because they became terminally ill. The truth is that cancer or any terminal illness is a horrible fate not to be wished upon anyone. I am appauled by the hypocrisy of the public for sanctifying Jade Goody after their constantly ridiculing her. I am disturbed that the public salivated for new photos of her and grisly details about her last days and that magazines and newspapers kept feeding the public very private details and fueling an inappropriate fire. I am completely baffled by the fact that Jack Tweed was able to get a get-out-of-jail-free card to be with her. As much as the public romanticized these two, the man committed serious crimes of assault and shouldn't have been given special privilege regardless of the circumstances as other criminals don't receive such treatment. Part of the punishment of being in jail is not being able to be there for milestones. As much as the public sympathized with Jade and wanted Jack by her side, it is unbelievable that he was shown such leniency and exception in the matter when that option is not available to anyone else in any similar situation. I am surprised that a disliked public figure and her criminal husband could be perceived as one of the great romances of the year. There are many wonderful couples who never receive such unprecedented attention who have a far more positive story to tell and many cancer patients and terminally ill stars who deserve to have their stories told as well and never get that chance, even if they were far better an example. I'm am not a fan of Jade's decision to live the end of her life in the public eye to raise money for her sons, but I can see both sides of the argument. I think it's noble to try to ensure her sons have a good life but she already was banking quite a bit of money and her husband was a TV presenter and the children weren't going to live poorly by any means already. Marrying someone guilty of assault and exposing your sons constantly to that person doesn't seem to be an idea of great foresight. Sure, we all make mistakes (though most of us never on that scale). However, Jack Tweed committed assault twice, once against a 16 year old boy. Fortunately, the children will spend most of the time with their father (who is not Jack Tweed). Jade Goody's short life and death is a great example of the media's exploitation of human suffering and the public's incessant and unnecessary "need to know" as well as the concept of elevating someone to a status they don't deserve just to sell papers.

I am glad Jade Goody is no longer suffering and is finally at peace. I may not have been fond of her but I was sad to hear she got cancer and I hoped it would not be fatal. I hope the media and public can finally leave her alone, even though I am aware she invited much of that attention. It just all went too far. My only consolation is that the rates of cervical cancer screenings in the UK went up 40%. Perhaps something good comes out of tragedy after all.