The weekly rewind

Mirror Mirror on the wall

2012-01-11T18:19:00.000-08:00

Who's the fairest of them all?

A man adjusts his built, as he recently lost weight (Bark/Flickr).

Thirty-five percent of the British men who responded to a recent survey said they'd trade a year of their life to achieve that goal weight.

Whoa ... Seriously?

The study — conducted by the Centre for Appearance Research (It's an odd name, I know.) — also found that men were most upset with their "beer bellies" and lack of muscles. About 80 percent regularly discussed this issue with friends.

A radio DJ named Bobby Bones blames the phenomenon on Green Lantern actor Ryan Renolds, but obviously it goes deeper than that.

The average person is exposed to about 5,000 ads each day, according to a CBS report.

That may sound crazy, but think about it. Gone are the days when TV was the American's only source of entertainment.

Companies can't catch us there. We're too busy skyping, Facebooking and listening to Pandora to actually dedicate a time slot for the latest episode of Glee. At least, I am.

In fact, advertising has become so sophisticated (or annoying — however you want to look at it) that people actually pay stars, such as Kim Kardashian, to promote their products via twitter.

Britney Spears has endless (and not so subtle) product placements for her perfumes in every music video she now does.

It's easy to see how a saturation of such media can cause this sort of reaction even in males.

Most people are probably going to say guys should "toughen up," but this post isn't about promoting obesity or saying it's okay to sneak in a twix bar every now and then.

It's about being responsible and knowing that just because we're bombarded with these perfect images doesn't mean they're real or that we should strive to look like them.

Pop queen Madonna is pictured (Blog/The Gadget Help Line).

What are your body issues? What's the most annoying ad you've ever seen?

Collection or curiosity? You decide.

2011-10-05T00:13:00.000-07:00

The Cat in the Hat! Green Eggs and Ham! Horton Hatches the Egg!

All may familiar titles to those who pored over Dr. Seuss books as a child.

But none may be more familiar with the man behind the whimsical tales than Dr. Charles Cohen, a dentist based out of Massachusetts who has transformed his small three-day practice into a Seuss database of sorts.

In a video shot by Christopher Ming Ryan, of Wheelhouse Communications, for the the Daily, Cohen explains how his obsessive need for random knowledge led him into the Seuss world.

"At one time, I wanted to learn who the worst baseball players of all time were, which led to the next obsession, which was can you get baseball cards of baseball players like that in the early 1900s? I went around for six months tasting all the different scotches I could find. After six months, I fulfilled whatever it is that I thought I needed to know."

Cohen further explained that he did not collect all the items seen in the video, but rather needed them to further his research on the author, who it turns out did a lot more than write books.

This got me thinking about people who collect things. I personally grew up surrounded by the phenomenon and I myself believe I have a somewhat obsessive personality. My mother for all of my life has collected papers. She used to collect barbie dolls and beanie babies - as well as precious moment figurines. Does anyone remember the beanie baby craze?!

One of my fondest memories as a child (hah - not!) is having my mother hand me a present Christmas morning with my name name on it. I tore up the wrapper to find a beautiful blonde Barbie doll in a sparkly, puffy red dress festive of the season. My mother quickly snatched the doll from my little fingers.

"Let mommy hold on to this!"

Needless to say, she never let me take it out of the box.

What's the weirdest thing you've ever found yourself collecting or watched others collect? I don't collect anything myself. I just obsessively watch TV shows for about a week or two...then move onto the next. Much like Mr. Cohen. I wonder if he'll start his own Seuss museum!

Free speech organization FIRES back at SHSU, calls police action 'unconstitutional'

2011-09-23T15:03:00.000-07:00

Courtesy photo

In what is turning out to be a real news saga, FIRE, or the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, sent Sam Houston State University president Dana Gibson, Ph.D., a letter today denouncing a university police officer's actions yesterday in the campus' free speech zone.

(The letter is below jump)

Four student organizations set up Thusrday a free speech wall in accordance with university policy, but a protest against the college's proposed social media policy soon turned sour.

A professor who was offended by the inscription "Fuck Obama" cut the expletive out of the wall with a box cutter after students refused to take it down or cover it up. University police were then called to the scene and apparently sided with the professor, insisting students take down all of what they deemed was "offensive" language or be issued a citation.

Here's what FIRE had to say about that:

Let us be clear: While the content in question-various uses of an expletive to make political and other points-might offend members of the campus community, it is unquestionably protected expression under the First Amendment. The principle of freedom of speech does not exist to protect only non-controversial speech; indeed, it exists precisely to protect speech that some members of a community may find controversial or "offensive." The Supreme Court stated in Texas v. Johnson, 491 U.S. 397, 414 (1989) that "[i]f there is a bedrock principle underlying the First Amendment, it is that the government may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because society finds the idea itself offensive or disagreeable." Similarly, the Court wrote in Papish v. Board of Curators of the University of Missouri, 410 U.S. 667, 670 (1973) that "the mere dissemination of ideas-no matter how offensive to good taste-on a state university campus may not be shut off in the name alone of ‘conventions of decency.'"

As a public university, SHSU cannot lawfully ban "four-letter words," no matter how offensive some may find them. The landmark Supreme Court case Cohen v. California, 403 U.S. 15 (1971) made clear that the First Amendment protects shocking or offensive expression, including the use of expletives in the communication of core political speech. In Cohen, the Supreme Court overturned the conviction of a man for wearing a jacket emblazoned with the words "Fuck the Draft" in a county courthouse. The Court held that the message on Cohen's jacket, however vulgar, was protected speech, writing that "one man's vulgarity is another's lyric." Similarly, in Papish, the Court determined that a student newspaper article entitled "Motherfucker Acquitted" was constitutionally protected speech. Indeed, the Supreme Court has held that the Constitution protects many kinds of expression arguably much more offensive than what was printed on the free speech wall.
Further, editorial comments about political figures such as President Obama or President Bush-even when they include "offensive" language-are a mainstay of America's long tradition of impassioned political dialogue. In New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, 376 U.S. 254, 270 (1964), the Supreme Court made clear that honoring the First Amendment requires that "[d]ebate on public issues should be uninhibited, robust, and wide-open, and ... may well include vehement, caustic, and sometimes unpleasantly sharp attacks on government and public officials." Similarly, in Rankin v. McPherson, 483 U.S. 378 (1987), the Court found that the First Amendment protected a deputy county constable's expressed hope that if another attempt were to be made on President Reagan's life, that it be successful. If such a statement constitutes protected speech, surely, then, the speech at issue on SHSU's campus does as well.

No campus that claims to take seriously the free speech rights of students may censor them or their display because others on campus felt offended by fully protected speech. The fact that a single professor chose to respond with vandalism does not cause the speech to be unprotected as either "fighting words" or "disorderly conduct." Such a standard would enact an impermissible "heckler's veto" on SHSU's campus, in which all a person need do to silence someone else's speech is to act destructively or violently. The faculty vandal committed an offense, and the police officer should have acted to protect the First Amendment rights of SHSU's own students, not to make unconstitutional demands because of one unreasonable person's act.

To view the full pdf document letter, click here.

My fabulous fashion picks for this year's Emmy Awards

2011-09-20T01:50:00.000-07:00

I'll be honest. Something about celebrity award ceremonies seems slightly pretentious to me. Don't stars get enough of a reward for starring in the latest blockbuster or having a chart-topping hit single with their enormous pay checks? Why do we have to fawn over them publicly once more?

I believe my Dad said it best when he wrote.

I find award shows boring and pompous. Can you imagine a world where normal people give each other awards and tell each other how great they are? On second thought, that might actually make the world a better place.

Nevertheless, the day after any award ceremony is always fun one. It's time for the claws to come out and the fashion police to frisk actors who at one time seemed invincible.

Going against the grain, I'd like to take a moment to in this blog identify those celebrities who in my eyes emerged fashionably victorious last night.

Here they are (in no particular order):

Christina Hendricks, star of Emmy winner "Mad Men", put the vavavoom into the red carpet this year.

Julia Stiles, who recently starred in the fifth season of Showtime's hit "Dexter," kept it classy on the red carpet in sparkly periwinkle.

Emmy host Jane Lynch traded in the track suit she normally dons for her gig on glee for a deep plum color that suited her well for this year's Primetime Emmys.

Glee phenomenon Lea Michele was a show stopper in what seemed to be the most popular color of the night. Red.

Nina Dobrev, who plays Elena Gilbert on CW's "The Vampire Diaries," turned heads Sunday night in a red floor-length gown.

All photos are courtesy of Emmys.

Do you agree with my picks? Who would you add to this list of fashionably fabulous? Who wouldn't make the cut? Also, if you could have an award show for anything in the world, what would it be? Leave a comment or tweet me your thoughts @ jessica_priest.

Toddlers, tiaras and tattoos ... oh my!

2011-08-24T15:31:00.000-07:00

Photo courtesy of Babble Blog

Most people would agree that something about TLC's show Toddlers and Tiaras is just fundamentally wrong.

Three-year-old girls strut down a runway wearing caked on make up and bikinis. Their mothers live vicariously through them, and contestants often feel pressured to succumb to society's ideals of beauty (See a girl about 4-years-old forced to wax her eyebrows below).

But the show's a hit. Why? Well, it's like that bad traffic accident on the interstate. Nobody can look away, and often times I think we can relate.

As a girl, I was no beauty queen, but I was often pushed into girl scout meetings and fundraisers. Camping out with troop 5109 (Wow, I can't believe I remember the number) will always serve as some of my best childhood memories, but I wasn't always so gung-ho about participating. I hated doing crafts so much so that I would beg my mother, then a troop leader, to permit me to do something else or at least complete the task for me. Hey, being the troop leader's daughter had it's perks!

One year, I remember rolling around a red wagon full of more than 400 girl scout cookies to deliver across my neighborhood. I was the overachiever who tried, with the encouragement of my mother, to out sell all the other girls in my district. Yeah, I don't remember that being very much fun either.

To be clear, I'm in no way comparing Girl Scouts, which undoubtedly instills good values and leadership in youth, to Toddlers and Tiaras, but rather using it as an example to illustrate sometimes parents may be guilty of using their child's extra curricular activities as a means to further their own agenda -- whether it be reliving the glory days of high school or achieving a goal they wish they had when they were young.

The whole Toddlers and Tiara's debate is kind of stale, but it reignited a couple weeks ago (for me at least) when Houston Chronicle Joy Sewing posted this photo in her Shop Girl blog.

Thylane Loubry Blondeau, 10, strikes a pose for a high fashion ad.

The girl, a product of fashion designer parents, appears highly sexualized in her posture in the photograph. Many parents are outraged with the photo, and the girl's mother had to shut down her daughter's facebook page because of the backlash.

"Thylane doesn't know about the buzz, and I want to protect her," said her mother Veronika Loubry on the child's Facebook wall.

Later, she was quoted in a French magazine.

"[Thylane] leads a very normal life ... we've turned down a Ralph Lauren campaign!"

Oh the horror!

While surfing the internet yesterday I found other child portraits that kind of gave me the creeps. (Something about having a tattoo on a little baby just doesn't feel right -- no matter how "alternative" your burgeoning family may be.)

Photo by Brittany Bentine of Locked Illusions Photography

The Houston Chronicle describes the Clear Lake-based photographer's work as "haunting" and reminiscent of the Brothers Grimm stories though.

She said she finds her inspiration in historical figures like Marie Antoinette, fashion, movies and even her own dreams. She then works with local makeup artists and costume designers to make that vision come to life. A lot of her work touches on themes of death, alternative lifestyles and the childhood toys that when seen in a certain light are more terrifying than delightful. The photos capture an aspect of childhood fantasies not often brought to light: sometimes kids can be strange too ...

While some of her themes may seem taboo for children, there are some lines she won’t cross. She does not, she pointed out, actually tattoo the children. Not everyone realizes it at first glance, but the “ink” is definitely fake. She also does not believe in exploiting children or making children appear sexualized, she said.

And people seem to like it. Bentine's photography company boasts nearly 4,000 fans on Facebook, all of which offer encouraging words.

My question for you is ... is this latter photography art? (Personally, I've always thought art was whatever anyone wanted it to be, whether scribbling on a paper or painting the Mona Lisa. We don't necessarily have to like it.) Also, when does a photographer cross the line when capturing children on camera? How can we prevent people from exploiting children - other than choosing not to tune into Toddlers and Tiaras?

Thanks for reading and if you're interested in contributing to this blog, please e-mail jessica.priest89@gmail.com.

Hilton storms out of interview after barrage of tricky questions

2011-07-20T18:00:00.000-07:00

Good Morning America has struck again.

This time reality star Paris Hilton was its victim. The hotel chain heiress sat down in late July with GMA’s Don Harris to discuss her television series “The World According to Paris.”
Bruised Ego

But when Harris brought up the show’s floundering ratings and asked whether Hilton, who is now 30-years old, was worried Kim Kardashian may be stealing her spotlight, the interview turned sour, Business Insider reports.

Normally described by media as bubbly and carefree, the video below shows Hilton freeze up and walk off camera, clearly embarrassed with the reporter’s line of questioning.

Hilton’s new reality show premiered June 1 on the Oxygen cable television network to a dismal 400,000 viewers. “The Simple Life,” which chronicled the pranks of Hilton and her cohort Nicole Richie, however garnered 13 million viewers in Fox in 2003.

An Oxygen spokesman told ABC news though the network is not concerned with the ratings, adding that new episodes have more relatable drama in store for its viewers.

Hilton’s reaction comes just one month after her outburst on ABC’s “The View.” Barbara Walters, who interviewed Hilton during her troubled days in Los Angeles lock up, asked Hilton why she decided to remain frivolous after vowing to change her ways in their previous interview.

The New York Post reported that Hilton and her father, Rick Hilton, screamed at an ABC producer after the show.

Befuddled Stars

GMA has a track record now when it comes to pushing celebrities’ buttons. In March, I blogged about how Chris Brown was grilled by GMA’s Robin Roberts regarding his alleged domestic dispute with S&M starlet Rihanna.

Pop and R&B Artist Chris Brown’s recent appearance on Good Morning America suggests it won’t be easy for him to “chuck up the deuce” to his 2009 drama.

Brown, who was on the show on March 22, as reported by AceShowbiz, was there to promote his new album, FAME.

The host, Robin Roberts, as a journalist in her position would do, asked Brown about his alleged assault on the ‘S&M’ starlet Rihanna, as well as whether or not the now relaxed restraining order would affect his life.

Brown, uncomfortable with the interview’s impending direction, moved to steer the conversation to better, more productive topics, but Roberts would not let up.

After the show, Brown allegedly stormed off the set, went ‘ballistic’ and broke a window. He even tweeted (then deleted), “I’m so over people bringing this past shit up!! Yet we praise Charlie Sheen and others for their bullshit.”

In a country that glorifies Teen Mom’s, it comes as no surprise to me that celebrities think they’re above the law when it comes interviews. Note to Hilton and Brown: It’s not a good journalistic practice to treat you as if you deserve to walk down the red carpet. Hard-hitting questions allow our readers and viewers the chance to understand controversial issues in which you are embroiled. You’re in the public eye, so you should expect these things. Cliché, but true – if you can’t handle the heat, get out of the kitchen.

I think given the amount of public relation firms tasked with training elected officials on how to deal with difficult inquiries, Brown and Hilton can afford to hire one. I'd prefer they didn't though.

What other awkward interviews have you witnessed? Do you think the subjects deserved the reporter’s probing questions?

Writers blazed through True Blood episode with vamp speed

2011-07-18T16:53:00.000-07:00

I’ll just go ahead and say it.

Last night’s True Blood was too damn short! Houston Chronicle’s Nathan Venz hit the nail on the head in his review. Perhaps, he said, the reason each episode seems so short this season is because Alan Ball has created far too many storylines for viewers to keep track of.

I agree. While the 5 billion (I exaggerate) plots may morph into one, something is seriously wrong if the show’s main character (telepath Sookie Stackhouse) has only 10 minutes of screen time throughout the 45-minute show.

Here’s all you need to know about “I'm Alive and on Fire.”

The Good

I thoroughly enjoyed faerie blood drunk Eric. It is still weird to see Alexander Skarsgaard play the amnesia version of his Viking character, but I am enjoying every minute of it. He’s really proven his versatility as an actor.

The sexual tension between Sookie and Alcide is tangible. And although he swears his girlfriend Debbie Pelt has changed, fans got a glimpse of the old, were-fox last night when a glimmer of jealousy ran across her face after she learned her werewolf came (and will likely always come) to Sookie’s aide. Just remember Deb that your actions last season forced the two together! I will admit though that a V addicted Pelt is far more interesting than one that serves finger foods. Wonder when she’ll show her “true colors.”

I LOVED how Bill reacted to the fact that he just had incestuous sex with his great, great, great granddaughter. Really LOL-worthy. Guess that’s the end of Portia Bellfleur storyline?

Is it just me or is True Blood a lot funnier this season? Seems like Sookie gets some really great one liners. “Get out of there before a gator chomps your you-know-what off!”

The Bad

I really, really want to know whether Arlene’s creepy baby wrote “Not Your Baby” on the wall with the blood red marker or if it was the even creepier baby doll Jessica and Hoyt gave to the couple.

The mystery surrounding this doll reminds me a lot of little quirks LOST writers used to insert into the ABC primetime show. I can’t help but think that Arlene is just perpetuating her fear about the Mikey, and if she just pushes all that aside, he’ll seem more and more normal to her. Sometimes when you think a shadow is a ghost, it becomes a ghost. You know what I’m sayin’? If it grows up constantly berated by its mother for being the creepy son of a serial killer, he’ll become the creepy son of a serial killer. (Yes, I know I used the word creepy far too much in this paragraph.) Nature v. Nurture, everyone.

Tara and Jesus annoy me for some reason. As does the witch who for whatever reason Alan Ball chose not to imitate after the one Charlaine Harris created. Harris had V-addicted, shifter witches in the fourth book. I feel like they would be more interesting and this witch is honestly kind of pathetic.

Where was Jessica this episode?! This is one storyline that Ball didn’t tackle, but should’ve. He dropped a bomb last episode when he revealed the Jessica has a tendency to use her vampy powers in order to get Hoyt to stay with her after she confessed she cheated on him by drinking from a fang banger. A slippery slop anyone? All is not well in casa de Hamby and Fortenberry. Tell us about it!

The Ugly

If the above mentioned witch does not fix Pam’s beautiful face soon there will be hell to pay! That is all.

I hate, hate, HATE Sam’s storyline. His baggage with Tommy and the Mickens has just gone on way too long and frankly it’s quite boring.

I’m glad Jason escaped all the snu snu going on in Hot Shot. It’s interesting to see how something he once prided himself on (his sexuality) is now being exploited. Will Jason change his player ways now?

Crystal Norris’ delusional behavior is somewhat unbelievable though. How can she not see that Jason hates her now? Then again that may be explained if she’s hopped up on V.

Also, why has no one been looking for the poor kid? Jason’s been missing for two or three days now! And he’s a cop!

It’s also interesting to note that True Blood’s writers were once daring enough to show a semi-rape between two vampires (Bill twists the head of Lorena making for one of the most gory sex scenes in TV history) but shy away from what is at first perceived in the show’s preview to be forced pedophilia on Jason’s part. Hotshot Grandpa Uncle wants him to have sex with an impregnate a tween, who ultimately lets him escape instead of deflower her.

I’m not complaining about this turn of events either. If Jason were to have sex with the young panther it would have disgusted me, and I think viewers agree it would’ve alienated everyone. Plus. Just. Ew.

What did you think about last night's episode? Sound off in the comments below and take a look at what Ball has in store for next week.

Ep. 41 - Preview

Youtube, Twitter continue to blur lines between celebrities and citizens

2011-07-17T16:01:00.001-07:00

Three marines in recent weeks have posted YouTube videos demanding Hollywood's hottest back up their patriotic claims by sacrificing a night of walking the red carpet to accompany them to the marine Corps Ball.

I sense a trend here.

Cpl. Kelsey de Santis extended an invitation to the Nov. 12 Washington D.C. event to NSYNC star Justin Timberlake in late July. Flanked by fellow Marines who appear cross-armed and stony-faced throughout the 15-second blip, de Santis told the star if he was too busy to come he should just “Cry [her] a river,” a clever reference to an infamous song from the singer-turned-actor’s solo career.

And it seems the intimidation worked. A humbled Timberlake on Saturday accepted the one time cage fighter’s invitation.

Timberlake told CNN that he was not going “because she shouted one of my songs, which I love” but because “I don’t ever get asked out ever, so I was a very flattered by that.”

I find that hard to believe.

The Huffington Post reported Sunday that Sgt. Ray Lewis has also used a video camera to set up a date with Oscar’s Betty White. It is not known whether she has accepted his invite.

This comes just days after Timberlake’s “Friends with Benefits” co-star Mila Kunis announced she would attend the Marine Corps Ball in Greenville, North Carolina with Sgt. Scott Moore, after his invitation to her was broadcast across one of the most visited sites on the net.

All I have to say is this: Why haven’t more people thought to do this before?

While I admit those serving our country have a bit of an advantage when it comes to asking out their favorite star (guilt trip, much?), web sites and devices like YouTube and Twitter have for a long time been identified as a platform on which regular citizens could connect with the country’s elite.

Just the other day, distraught that my early morning routine of listening to the Roula and Ryan show was interrupted while the radio stars went to a convention, I tweeted them demanding answers.

I was surprised when I got a response.

And that’s just the beginning. The following is just a small collection of ordinary people just like you and I who rocketed (literally) to fame (and fortune) after their activities on Twitter and YouTube were picked up by the mainstream media. (In no particular order…)

1. Justin Beiber look alike Greyson Chance was first discovered by the comedian Ellen Degeneres when she featured a video his classmates filmed of him singing Lady Gaga’s hit “ Paparazzi.”

The video received more than 40 million views, and Chance went on to score a record contract. His first single “Waiting Outside the Lines” has sold more than 160,000 copies to date. He will also turn 14-years old soon.

2. When Stefanie Gordon boarded a plane in New York City to visit her parents she never expected she’d field calls from news outlets from around the world as soon as her plane touched down in Palm Beach, Florida.

Gordon’s claim to fame is how she snapped and shot a short video of the space shuttle Endeavour’s last launch. She then tweeted it to her 1,800 Twitter followers.

“I don’t have that many Twitter followers, and I basically tweet about sports,” Gordon told Mashable. “I really didn’t expect it to go as viral as it did.”

An optimistic Gordon then provided her LinkedIn profile to her many followers in the hopes of landing a job. There is currently no word on whether luck struck the same person twice.

3. Sohaib Athar was the first person to report the U.S. Navy Seal’s raid against Osama Bin Laden’s compound in the Middle East. And he wasn’t a journalist. The regular Joe beat the Associated Press, CNN and many others when he used Twitter to complain about helicopters hovering above him in the city of Abbottabad at 1 a.m. May 5.

Question: If you could call out any celebrity or public figure, who would it be? Do you think they would reply? Me? I'm still waiting on a response from you, Joe Manganiello!

"Heads will roll" if Bill angst doesn't end, True Blood fans say

2011-06-29T19:18:00.000-07:00

Remember that infamous scene on HBO's break out hit show Game of Thrones where Jeoffrey threatens his betrothed Sansa with the spiked head of her father? Of course you do. First off, it wasn't too long ago. Secondly, it was epic.

Now, fans of director Alan Ball's series True Blood are joining Jeoffrey in his menacing. They say they'll be unhappy if season four doesn't deliver the show's main character, telepath Sookie Stackhouse, out from under her angst-filled relationship with vampire Bill, which has dominated the past three 12-episode seasons.

WARNING: The following post may contain spoilers for those who have yet to watch the first two episodes of True Blood's fourth season.

In particular, there was an outcry after TV Line's Michael Astellio interview with Ball. Ball says the shower scene between Sookie and Eric, a Viking vampire long lusted after by many Charlaine Harris enthusiasts, is still on but will have some tweaks.

In particular, a blogger at SookieVerse laments Ball's creative revisions to Harris' original True Blood story.

Memo to Ball – I haven’t been waiting for an Eric/Sookie “hook up” – I’ve been patiently waiting for this show to shift its focus to Sookie and Eric as a going concern. That’s not to say I want to watch them play happy couples for the next two seasons; I don’t even expect them to be “together”. But a little less Bill angst would be MORE THAN WELCOME. I’m being upfront and honest here – that’s all I’m interested in as far as triangles and Sookie’s love life is concerned. If it doesn’t happen – and if this ridiculous propping of Bill continues and Sookie and Eric are reduced to a fling – you’ve lost me. Me, and much of your audience. Just saying.

Few new True Blood fans realize that Harris essentially wrote Bill out of many of the series' books. After Eric reveals to Sookie that Bill only came to Bon Temps to spy on her for the vampire queen of Louisiana, Sophie Ann, Sookie feels betrayed and rarely ever speaks to him. And, while her fall out with Bill does inevitably throw her into the arms of Eric, the latter relationship dominates much of what is to be a 13-book series.

Essentially, what I'm trying to say is I understand where the above blogger is coming from. I too have been faithfully counting down the days until Bill would become a mere blip on Sookie's radar, but I would say my appetite for revenge was sufficiently quenched when Sookie ruthlessly vanquished him from her house before he could even explain his predicament.

On the other hand, I think viewers need to except the fact that this show is merely an loose adaptation of the books. That's why Tara is now randomly a lesbian. Besides, Bon Temps and Sookie's life will ever be as readers pictured it in their minds while they flipped Harris' pages. It's just not plausible. Also, this television show explores the different facets of the characters' lives, a subject untouched by Harris, who mainly relies on the narration of Sookie.

So, I applaud Ball for continuing to surprise us - even when it comes to the hated Bill. Who would've thought Bill, a vampire portrayed as computer-loving, rule-following geek in Harris' series, would be the mastermind backstabber working with the VRA? What does it mean now that he's king?

Ball has opened the door now for so many possibilities and hopefully many more seasons.

What do you think about Bill's storyline for this summer? Are you disappointed he simply didn't vanish from the show? Share your thoughts below or tweet me @jessica_priest.

The next fourth episode of True Blood will premiere on July 10. Here's a preview of what's to come:

Actor Sam Trammell charms Houston truebies at Comicpalooza

2011-05-29T00:57:00.000-07:00

Supernatural freaks and comic books geeks gathered one and all for Houston's annual ComicPalooza this weekend, but Truebies, or fans of the HBO series "True Blood," perhaps got the most bang for their buck - a visit from Sam Merlotte himself.

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Actor Sam Trammell, who plays Merlotte, a Southern bartender moonlighting as a shape shifter in the supernatural television series, was running on only two hours of sleep when he greeted fans Saturday morning as he had just hopped on a plane from Los Angeles to Houston directly after wrapping up filming for season four's episode 11. But his exhaustion didn't show. He excitedly visited with fans, signed autographs and posed for pictures.

And, although he was unable to give fans spoilers to quench there True Blood withdrawal, he did express his thoughts on why vampire stories have captivated the American public so much in the past three to four years.

"It seems like with vampires there have been waves where every 10 years they get popular, but it has never been like this," Trammell said. "It feels to me like it's also hand-in-hand with the popularity of comic books and movies in general and kind of a revival of fantasy ...

"Intellectually, maybe, you could say or argue that a recession brings on people wanting to escape from reality ... It's kind of baffling, but I'm really happy about it though. We're right in the middle of it. We're a vampire show."

The fourth season of True Blood will begin on June 26. ComicPalooza continues today from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the George R. Brown Convention Center located at 1001 Avenida de las Americas.

Girl Power - Queen B is back and better than ever

2011-05-24T11:29:00.000-07:00

Picture (via)

Girl power. You either got it or you don't.

The term, made popular by the Spice Girls in the mid to late 90's, is defined as a third-wave of feminism. It's essentially a self-reliant attitude among girls and young women manifested in ambition, assertiveness and individualism, according to the Oxford English Dictionary.

Often, the Spice Girls were a young girl's first exposure to feminist ideals. This is certainly true in my case. As I flung my Barbies around in first grade, I couldn't help but notice Barbie and I looked very different from one another. The Spice Girls came in all shapes and sizes. Former America's Next Top Model contestant Britto agrees, aligning herself with Scary Spice. (I was Sporty Spice myself.)

"This was my first glimpse of GIRL POWA. There was Sporty, Baby, Ginger, Posh, and my favorite: SCARY! And in some way or another, we had a little bit of each of those five in us, although we often readily identified with one."

Today's post marks the first in a series of blogs about women in the Art and entertainment field who empower their female fans to dominate their femininity through their work. This week, we'll examine one of my favorite hometown artists, Beyoncé .

Beyoncé made her rise to fame in a group very similar to the famed Spice Girls, Destiny's Child. Formed in Houston, Texas under the name Girl's Tyme, it was originally composed of five members, Beyoncé Knowles
Kelly Rowland, Michelle Williams, LeToya Luckett, LaTavia Roberson and Farrah Franklin, but it eventually was forcibly whittled down to three: Williams, Rowland and Knowles.

Plagued with an internal power struggle (supposedly most of the girls in the band resented Knowles' position as lead singer) and legal troubles, the band's success peaked with their album entitled, "Survivor," which was released in 2001 to much fan fare, according to the group's web site.

To get an idea, here's some of the record's stats:

Survivor entered Billboard 200 at number one, selling over 663,000 copies in its first week sales
The CD's first two singles "Independent Woman Part 1" and "Survivor" were consecutive number one singles in the United Kingdom
The album itself was certified as a four-time platinum album in the United States
In Australia, it earned the title of a double platinum album
To date, it's sold more than 12 million copies

"Independent Woman Part 1" was originally created as a musical number for the movie Charlie's Angels, which starred Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore and Demi Moore. It spent 11 consecutive weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 list and boosted the soundtrack's sales by 1.5 million.

"Always 50/50 in relationships..."

Throughout the song, Knowles often croons to her fans that in order to retain independence as a woman in a relationship one mustn't be afraid to go out and take whatever you want. In other words, don't wait for man to buy you that purse at the Coach store. Buy it yourself, she says. The purchase will feel all the more sweeter.

"Independent Woman" isn't the only one of Destiny's Child's songs that echo this theme. Even before the release of the acclaimed "Survivor" album, the girls released the single entitled "Bills, Bills, Bills" in 1999 as part of their album Writing on the Wall.

In this song, Knowles' boyfriend is a dead beat and only with her for a paycheck and a ride. Set in a salon, the girls and the salon's clients all identity with Knowles problem and collectively decide that a man who cannot take care of himself certainly isn't capable of taking care of her.

Personally, I think "Independent Woman" exudes more confidence and maturity than "Bills, Bills, Bills" as the later song encourages women to take control of their own purchases and therefore their life (instead of waiting around for Mr. Perfect) while "Bills, Bills, Bills" simply advocates that women find a man who treats them right.

Both songs embody the ideals of feminism, but to different degrees.

Destiny's Child disbanded in 2006 so each member could pursue a solo career. Needless to say, Knowles was the most successful in this aspect. She's not only gone on to make three smashing albums (there's a fourth one in the making), but she's also pioneered her family's fashion line House of Deréon and even earned her acting chops in movies such as Dream Girls, The Pink Panther, and Obsessed.

With the debut of her hit single "Crazy in Love" with her then-boyfriend Jay-Z in 2003, Knowles created an alter ego named Sasha Fierce. Fierce, Knowles said, was a character that had all the feminist ideals wrapped up into one. She helped provide Knowles with the power to become a strong female role model.

Knowles has since been quoted by news organizations as describing the alter ego in this way:

"[She is] too aggressive, too strong, too sassy [and] too sexy ... I'm not like her in real life at all ... I'm not flirtatious and super-confident and fearless like her. What I feel onstage I don't feel anywhere else. It's an out-of-body experience. I created my stage persona to protect myself so that when I go home I don't have to think about what it is I do. Sasha isn't me. The people around me know who I really am."

Knowles has since retired the character. Citing in Allure Magazine that she no longer needs Fierce to help her find her way, as she's managed to merge the two personalities into one.

"Sasha Fierce is done. I killed her ..."

And, while Sasha Fierce may be dead, Knowles' fans can still find traces of her in her work. Most notably is in Knowles' recent music video for the song on her fourth album, "Run the World (Girls)," an anthem that not only congratulates women who've furthered their educational career by graduating from college but also asserts women as strong beings in comparison to women.

Here's an interesting lyric:

"We're strong enough to bear our children, then get back to business."

The song has received varied reactions.

Malcolm Harris, a columnist for the Huffington Post, likes that Knowles' work is encouraging insightful discussion among music lovers, but isn't entirely convinced women "run the world."

"As a volunteer and supporter of the CARE organization that works tirelessly on behalf of empowering women and girls around the globe, I know firsthand these lyrics simply are not based on fact. Without getting on my soap box, it is a fact that if we don't collectively do more to assist organizations like CARE, these young girls may never have an opportunity to contribute to society, let alone run the world. We must assist in preventing young girls from being married off at the tender ages of 12 to 16 in developing countries, as well as assure they are afforded the benefits of proper education, health care and basic human rights. It is also a fact that if we do not serve in breaking this cycle of inequality, these under-served girls will be doomed to a life of poverty, illiteracy, torture and rape. And for me, I think this is way too large of an obligation to place at the doorstep of any one pop singer or catchy song."

But whatever happened to "if you can imagine it, you can achieve it; if you can dream it, you can become it"? Maybe if we all put our heads together, start fist pumping to this song and "get back to business" as Knowles' so astutely puts it, we can end the poverty many women suffer from across the globe.

I'd like to be a little optomistic and frankly Beyoncé gives me hope.

Who do you think should be the next artist featured in my Girl Power blog series? Sound off in the comments below!

Blast from the past: Skarsgard is Gaga's bad romance in "Paparazzi" video

2011-05-23T15:17:00.000-07:00

Photo courtesy of I Am A TV Junkie dot com

Pop and fashion icon Lady Gaga not only has a knack for producing chart-topping hits, but also for casting heartthrobs in her bazaar music videos.

One such heartthrob is Swedish babe Alexander Skarsgård, famously known for his role as the brooding Viking vampire Eric Northman in HBO's hit drama True Blood.

Gaga's "Paparazzi," deals with a lot of hot button issues. First and foremost is obviously domestic violence.

No stranger to playing the villian, Skarsgård's character spends a brief moment canoodling with Gaga in bed before plunging her to her death. Towards the end of the video, Gaga reclaims her dominance and enacts vengence upon her abusive boyfriend by poisioning him to death. (Strangely, she seems to like the idea of poisioning people, as she used the same method to assassinate Beyonce's bad lover in her "Telephone" video.)

I'll admit that a lot of what Gaga does everyday often confuses me (she recently banned the sale of ice at her concerts), but in this decision she was spot on.

MTV agrees.

"We have to give Lady Gaga props for always picking unexpected actors as her leading music video men. Of course, everything Lady Gaga does is unexpected, but her quirky casting doesn't so much leave us scratching our heads, as it does us drooling."

Liz, of True-Blood.net, also spotted Joe Manganiello, who stars as the buff werewolf Alcide in the Southern vampire series, in a scene of Spiderman.

Manganiello plays the bully who challenges Peter Parker as Parker is just coming into his Spidey skills.

Check it out.

Where else have you spotted the True Blood cast?

Skarsgard to appear in classic thriller

2011-05-19T22:33:00.000-07:00

One of the leading men of True Blood will grace the silver screen this September in the re-make of a 1970's classic Straw Dogs.

The spooky trailer, which was released by Sony Pictures earlier this month, shows Alexander Skarsgard, who stars as Eric Northman on the HBO series, play very much the same character. He's a foreboding, mysterious and intimidating figure named Charlie who haunts an LA couple, Amy Sumner (Kate Bosworth, of Blue Crush) and her husband David (James Marsden, of 27 Dresses), with bone-chilling glances when they relocate to a Southern town.

It appears Charlie is often challenging David's manhood.

Director Rob Laurie released this synopsis of the film:

"L.A. screenwriter David Sumner relocates with his wife to her hometown in the deep South. There, while tensions build between them, a brewing conflict with locals becomes a threat to them both."

The original Straw Dogs debuted in 1971, and it was directed by Sam Peckinpah.

The official synopsis states:

"Dustin Hoffman plays a regular American mathematician, who gets into some trouble with local bullies. He is made fun of and then his wife is raped. When they attack his home, he fights back. His outbreak of violence is extreme."

Described as both a domestic drama and psychological thriller, the film received heavy criticism for its violence against women. Supposedly (I haven't seen the first film), there's a really terrible rape scene not unlike the one seen in both the 1970's version of Last House on the Left and its 21st century counterpart.

The film was so controversial in fact that when it was released in the UK in 1971 it was rated X. It then gained even more notoriety in 1984 when it was banned by the British Board of Film Classification. The members of the board said that Amy's rape in the film was prohibited by the newly-created Video Recording Act.

Some Skarsgard fans think this version of Straw Dogs won't be very different from the one of years past. With this in mind, they've proclaimed the movie is simply not for them, but wish Skarsgard all the best.

Mel, a co-owner of the fan site True-Blood.net, is one such fan. She used the site's weekly podcast to express her feeling about the upcoming film.

"[This is] probably not a movie that I'm going to see. The subject matter is really dark," she said.

Liz, another co-owner of the site, agreed.

"From what I understand, they didn't change that much from the original. But it's a different age...it might not be that controversial. But for me, yeah, I think I'll take a pass. Sorry."

Others think that the violence make the film art.

"It is a terrific piece of film-making backed up with highly textured acting from the two principals. But there are layers and layers and layers in this film, and that is what makes it art, and a masterpiece," a reviewer dubbed stpetebeach said on the Internet Movie Database web site.

What do you think? Will you see the movie even though there might be a lot of violence?

Do you think this film will help or hurt Skarsgard's career?

Nevertheless, he seems to be well on his way and all over Hollywood lately. He's is featured in this month's issue of GQ, will play a more significant role in the fourth season of True Blood and is schedule to start filming the movie What Maisie Knew, a drama directed by Scott McGehee and David Siegel, alongside Julianne Moore in August.

Personally, I'm really excited to see Skarsgard in this film. I know he's a seasoned actor, but I've only ever seen him in his True Blood capacity. This will be interesting.

"I listened to X band before they were ever born!"

2011-05-18T00:24:00.000-07:00

Today, I have a simple question. Why are people so stuck up when it comes to good music? Somehow, someway you are less of a fan if you discovered the musician through a television show rather than a trip to the music store.

In addition to finding the awesome indie band Massive Attack on True Blood, I've also made some more discoveries.

Barbara Streisand by Duck Sauce

While I admit the song is no masterpiece, it nevertheless stole my heart when the kids on Glee did a flash mob to the tune in a small town mall to convince Rachel Berry her large Striesand-like nose wouldn't hold her back from stardom. It's a fun, upbeat, nonsensical tune.

Wait by Get Set Go (Performed here by the cast of Grey's Anatomy)

Get Set Go is unique because provides its fans with down to earth and sometimes downright depressing lyrics and sets it to upbeat music. This is not the case for "Wait" however, an honest ballad that premiered on ABC's hit show in one of its earlier seasons. When I first heard the song as a junior at Taylor, I got lucky. After all, its songs like "Die Motherfucker Die" and "I Hate Everyone" that provided me just enough musical fuel to get through my angsty teenage years.

A Movie Script Ending by Death Cab for Cutie

Speaking of honesty, I have a confession to make. I used to watch the O.C. on Fox religiously throughout high school. I'm sure I wasted many hours of my life filling my brain with never-ending, soap opera-like drama, but I guess it was worth it. I found Death Cab.

What's a band you've discovered through a T.V. show or movie? Share your story with me.

Can Chris Brown really 'move on to something better'?

2011-03-20T22:52:00.000-07:00

Pop and R&B Artist Chris Brown’s recent appearance on Good Morning America suggests it won’t be easy for him to “chuck up the deuce” to his 2009 drama.

Brown, who was on the show on March 22, as reported by AceShowbiz, was there to promote his new album, FAME.

The host, Robin Roberts, as a journalist in her position would do, asked Brown about his alleged assault on the ‘S&M’ starlet Rihanna, as well as whether or not the now relaxed restraining order would affect his life.

Brown, uncomfortable with the interview’s impending direction, moved to steer the conversation to better, more productive topics, but Roberts would not let up.

After the show, Brown allegedly stormed off the set, went ‘ballistic’ and broke a window. He even tweeted (then deleted), “I’m so over people bringing this past shit up!! Yet we praise Charlie Sheen and others for their bullshit.”

While it’s understandable that Brown would not want to derail his new project by bringing up his questionable past, he can’t honestly expect any self-respecting journalist not to ‘go there’ during an interview.

In fact, as journalist myself, I don’t see why Roberts should’ve ever briefed him on what kinds of questions would be asked. Celebrities, while worshipped as gods in American culture, should not be above every other source.

Brown’s ‘people,’ or public relations officers, should’ve prepared him for that situation. After all, any good publicist can coach their star to talk their way out of questions meant to touch a nerve.

Either way, whether Brown likes it or not, most people today will always associate him with the assault of Rihanna. Such actions can taint a person’s career forever. See Charlie Sheen, as Brown’s tweet so keenly referenced. See Michael Jackson.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. And, for the most part, Brown is on the right track by with the promotion of his new album … with one exception.

What’s up with his song “Deuces?”

The song, which depicts a curvaceous black woman walking seductively towards Brown and his cohort, harkens back again to his relationship with the “S&M” starlet, and, while he insists in the song’s lyrics that he’s “movin’ on to something better,” I can’t help but believe that’s not true.

If he was moving on, why write a song about it? Furthermore, why release it as one of the first singles in 2011? Aren’t you just re-opening an old wound?

All I’m saying is … if he didn’t want people to bring up ‘this past shit,’ he shouldn’t have put that song on his latest album.

Also, Brown, if you do read this, just know that most of us aren’t ‘praising’ Sheen’s behavior, we’re laughing at him.

-----------------------------------------------------------

In many ways, Hollywood is like high school. The tabloids, the magazines are all just a convenient way to spread gossip, lies and scandal.

While everyday folks use their Facebook profiles to both lament their woes worldwide and sit idly by to watch the glorious downfall of others, artists sometimes mimic this behavior.

They put other stars, most of whom they have serious beef with, on blast in their songs and music videos.

This causes both spectacle and speculation. It also, unfortunately, provides Americans with endless entertainment. Here’s a look at today’s best break-up, gotcha back songs:

1. “Cry Me A River” by Justin Timberlake

The NSYNC-star shed his nice guy persona and displayed his acting chops (a foreshadow I presume of his roles yet to come, ie. The Social Network) in 2002 with the debut of “Cry Me A River,” which was nominated for a Video Music Award, or VMA, in 2003.

But the video, although acclaimed for both its visual and dramatic prowess, was not without its own set of real-life drama.

In fact, many, to this day, believe that was its initial premise.

In 2002, Timberlake famously split with his Disney co-star girlfriend, pop princess Britney Spears. Tweens across the world mourned the duo’s split.

“Cry Me A River,” critics say, was a product of Timberlake’s heartache. Not only is her alleged infidelity outlined in the song’s lyrics, but other, more visual cues suggest Spears’ presence. For example, the fairy doorstep might refer to Spears’ tattoo.

At one point, an aloof Spears’ look-alike, a blonde girl clad in a newsboy cap and pink sunglasses, enters the scene to be followed by Timberlake, who enacts his revenge upon her.

Despite this evidence, Timberlake insists that his Spears saga did not inspire the bittersweet, break-up video. His director, Francis Lawrence, backed up his claims in the a 2003 article with MTV.

“Honestly, he and I never spoke of any specific names in the process,” Lawrence said. “We literally never talked about his real break-up.”

Spears herself also believes the supposed look-alike must’ve been a coincidence.

“The last time I looked in the mirror, I didn’t really think I looked like her,” Spears told Total Request Live, or TLR.

2. “Obsessed” by Mariah Carey
The alleged fling between pop musician Mariah Carey and rapper Eminem, or Marshall Mathers, has been described by fans as a meteor. It burned bright, then quickly fizzled.

But one can’t seem to let go or so Carey’s song “Obsessed,” which debuted in June of 2009, suggests.

The video, which features Carey dressed up in an “8-mile”-esque costume, critics believe, is a response to Eminem’s song, “Bagpipes from Baghdad,” which was on his most recent album, Relapse.

And, although Carey hasn’t formally admitted the song is about Mathers, she isn’t too quiet either.

At one point, she even cooes the following lines: “’It must be the weed, it must be the E/ ‘cause you be poppin’, you get it poppin’,” a stab at Eminem’s very public battle with substance abuse.

She also calls the person ‘obsessed’ with her ‘delusional’ through the entire 4-minute song.

3. “Play with Fire” by Hilary Duff

The Lizzie McGuire singer may have never been the best actress, but she certainly doesn’t hold back on her song “Play With Fire,” which many believe she utilized to come to terms with her break-up from Good Charlotte singer Joel Madden.

The song, which bouts lyrics like: “I can't believe it's really you/Been so long, you look good/I hear you're doing really well/Don't ask me, let me tell you/How I've been since when you left/Since you left me for dead,” is relatable to anyone who has been dumped. That’s why it’s probably one of Generation X’s best break up songs.

Madden may be with Nicole Richie now, but things ended well for Duff too. She’s married to hockey player Mike Cromie now. There’s no hard feelings. I think.

Can you think of any celebrity feuds I've missed?

Related Articles:

Is Mariah Carey's 'Obsessed' directed at Eminem?
Justin and Britney at war, magazine says
Chris Brown all smiles after 'GMA' outburst

Drama series may produce ‘Werther Effect’ 2.0

2011-02-16T01:26:00.000-08:00

Television phenomenon, “Teen Mom,” is banking high ratings for media mammoth, MTV. But this may come with a price: harsh criticism.

The show, which was first aired in June of 2009, depicts the lives of four teenagers struggling to maintain their finances, relationships and school work with babies in tow. Needless to say, the going gets tough.

The girls, often caught on camera at their most vulnerable and terrifying of moments, have recently been glamorized in magazines, effectively raising their plighted circumstances to that of celebrity.

Because of this, critics of the show assert that its premise of spreading awareness about teen pregnancy is merely a façade. Some go as far to say it actually encourages sexual promiscuity.

In fact, the Daily Mail reported in January that, at a Memphis high school, approximately 90 students have become pregnant or recently given birth in the past year.

Kim Kardashian, a reality star herself, is also offended by the show.

“Does the show Teen Mom disturb anyone else?” She tweeted on Jan. 19. “I can’t get this Memphis Story out of my head. This should not be trendy!”

But fans of the show won’t budge or change the channel. In fact, they defended it, pointing out the Kardashian, once the star of her own sex tape, is no angel herself.

“How many times have we seen Kim Kardashian naked? Is that a good influence on teens?” said Facebook user, Brittany, on an MTV forum.

Cheesesticks, another MTV forum member, agreed.

“I understand what she is trying to say, but she is the last person who should be making that point. She became famous for less than modest reasons, and that’s an understatement,” Cheesesticks said. “Do you think that young girls don’t look at how famous Kim is and think, ‘Wow! Maybe I should make a sex tape too!’?”

Others believed the Memphis students were just looking for someone to blame.

“Those girls in Memphis didn’t get pregnant just because of ‘Teen Mom’,” ilikehoney said. “Seeing the show [has] helped me realize that I don’t want to have a baby till I [have] some money.”

So, are people responsible for their own actions?

Your mother would tell you, “Yes, of course they are,” but she’d be wrong, according to David P. Phillips, a professor at the State University of New York at Stoney Brook.

Phillips published a article that proves the more publicity devoted to a suicide story, the larger the rise of suicides in a community thereafter. This, he says, is called the “Werther Effect.”

He created his theory’s name by looking extensively at Wolfgang von Geothe’s The Sorrows of Young Werther.

Written nearly 200 years ago, the romantic novel depicts Werther, the hero of the narrative, experience the pain that is unrequited love. Overcome with grief, Werther commits suicide at the novel’s finale.

Sorrow’s controversial ending suggested to critics of that time period that Geothe himself promoted suicide, a topic as controversial back then as it is today.

Perhaps they reached this conclusion after witnessing the suicide rate reportedly skyrocket after the novel’s publication and popularity.

Needless to say, the book was promptly banned in several areas, including Italy (no surprise there with the Vatican), Leipzig and Copenhagen, according to Phillips’ report.

Its prohibition also raised the question as to whether other literary works and even works of art should be banned in an effort to shield society from supposedly harmful ideas, like suicide or, in “Teen Mom”’s case, like teen pregnancy.

What do you think?

Personally, as a journalist, I’m quite fond of the first amendment, our inherent right to express our feelings in just about anyway we please.

I hate to cry, “It’s a free country, and I’ll do what I want to!” at the cost of possibly raising the teen pregnancy rate in the U.S. But I have to.

It’s not that I don’t doubt that a young girl’s viewing of the drama that is teen pregnancy every Tuesday night at 9 p.m. normalizes the phenomenon and even numbs her to it.

(I think "Law and Order" and "CSI" have been doing the same thing to their viewers for ages. Where is that outcry?)

I won’t argue that some people who read the Sorrows of Young Werther in the 1700’s read the novel and thought, “You know, ending my life might not be such a bad idea.”

Simply put, people identify with literary characters, people find themselves through the arts. I think that’s why Twilight is apparently so popular.

To limit this freedom of expression simply because some people can’t think critically (or choose not to) or take things with a grain of salt would be detrimental to society as a whole.

The world should be living, breathing plethora of ideas, both good and bad. It’s up to us, as individuals, to decide what clothes we want to buy, what shows we want to watch and what path we want to take.

Related articles:

Tabloids glamorizing teen pregnancy by putting teen moms on cover?

Tuesday Cable Ratings: 'The Game' Down, But Still Leads Night + 'Teen Mom 2,' 'Tosh.0,' 'Southland,' 'White Collar,' 'Lights Out' & More

The influence and suggestion on suicide: substantive and theoretical implications of the Werther effect

‘Teen mom epidemic’: 90 teenage girls pregnant at one Memphis high school

Related videos:

Photo courtesy of U.S. Weekly.

Does "the Buried Life" uncover social activism via social media?

2010-11-09T16:08:00.001-08:00

Can social media be used for good or evil?

I've read many articles that lament the inactivity, the lethargy of my generation, but who hasn't? After all, we'd much rather watch something occur on Youtube, write a strongly-worded comment conveying our disgust, than actually get up out of the computer chair and do something about it.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

Taser Tagged

http://www.thedailyshow.com/

Daily Show Full Episodes

Political Humor

Rally to Restore Sanity

In the video above, an attendee looks on as his classmate gets unjustly tasered at the University of Central Florida. Stewart, known for his comic diatribes against the absurdity of our generation, pokes fun at this particular “douchebaggery” in a later clip; hypothesizing that perhaps this very individual went home to look up the video online, rather than partake in the action as it was playing out.

And while Stewart’s joke may have been in fun, it points to a larger issue at hand: This generation, under the cushion of social media, abhors high-risk social activism. At least, I think so.

A recently published article in the New Yorker confirms this assertion, stating that social media allows users to often disconnect with the issue at hand.

In other words, while it’s certainly strong at raising participation about an issue or a charitable event, it does so at the cost of encouraging little to no sacrifice on part of the user.

“The platforms of social media are built around weak ties. Twitter is a way of following (or being followed by) people you may never have met. Facebook is a tool for efficiently managing your acquaintances, for keeping up with the people you would not otherwise be able to stay in touch with. That’s why you can have a thousand “friends” on Facebook, as you never could in real life.
This is in many ways a wonderful thing. There is strength in weak ties, as the sociologist Mark Granovetter has observed. Our acquaintances—not our friends—are our greatest source of new ideas and information. The Internet lets us exploit the power of these kinds of distant connections with marvellous efficiency. It’s terrific at the diffusion of innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, seamlessly matching up buyers and sellers, and the logistical functions of the dating world. But weak ties seldom lead to high-risk activism…

In other words, Facebook activism succeeds not by motivating people to make a real sacrifice but by motivating them to do the things that people do when they are not motivated enough to make a real sacrifice.”

As a student at SHSU, I’ve witnessed first-hand the apathy prevalent across campus. Very few visitors attend the weekly Student Government meetings and this leaves our campus leaders with little to no guidance on how to proceed regarding important legislation, such as the Sam Shuttle, the recycling initiative and more.

Sure, students become outraged when a university injustice is published.

But how many answer the call to attend meetings where officials must answer for their incompetency?

Not many.
Despite the barrage of social media criticism both others and myself have spewed, MTV’s new sensation, The Buried Life, utilizes social media heavily throughout their program, which encourages social activism and it brings to light similar issues.
Designed as a documentary, four young men embark on an ambitious goal to change the world one crazy stunt at a time. Armed with their purple tour bus, Penelope, they travel the country to cross things off their bucket list. The catch? They help the people they meet along the way cross something off their list. Essentially, they ask viewers “What do you want to do before you die?” and they use social media to do it.

How? Well, Facebook of course.

By actively engaging with their audience via a major social media, both the Buried Life cast and viewers at home determine the course of their tour bus and what charitable venture they should dig into next.

And surprisingly, this solution has been successful; often earning the program high regards by the reviewing community.

Farrah Kaye at thetwocents.com writes

"I’ll be the first to admit I love a good reality show trainwreck (The Bachelor anyone?) but this show is far from that. According to their website, www.theburiedlife.com, this project has been going on for four years and their tasks aren’t completed. I like how they refer to it as a project and not a show. The previews alone give me chills ..."

So, what do you think? Can social media be used for good or does it inspire evil apathy amongst youth?

Fans upset with Cristina Yang's seemingly slow recovery sound off

2010-10-28T15:09:00.000-07:00

Grey's Anatomy fans united this past week to send ABC producers a strong message: bring back the old Cristina Yang.

"I love this show and she's always been a part of that, but I cannot deal with her anymore,” said Colleen Melton, a fan of the show, while viewing it online at Hulu.com. “Bring us back the cut-throat, powerful woman she once was!”

Cristina, who experienced a traumatic event last season when she had to perform open-heart surgery on her best friend’s boyfriend and boss, Derek Shepherd, at gunpoint, has obviously not been herself this season.

Suffering from what appears to be Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, she seems unmotivated and apathetic towards all the things she was once so passionate about.

But while she readily declines promising surgeries in favor of reclining back into the arms of her beloved, Owen, this has not always been the case.

Both characters and fans have used a variety of descriptive words to sum up Cristina’s cold nature as a physician, including a “shark” or a “robot.” She is also recognized for her clever maneuvers in the operating room and promise in the cardio surgical specialty.

Ironically, what she is most hated for by the surgeons of Seattle Grace is the exact reason why fans love her so much. She stands as an beacon of what a successful woman should be.

Fans believe that last week’s episode did little to alleviate fan’s woes, as it continued with the same pace as the ones that came before it.

However, I disagree. It’s clear that fourth-year residents, like Meredith and Alex, all stepped up to the plate to become attendings for the day, and Cristina was among them.

While most were conducting their own surgeries and working their own cases (in other words, attempting to impress or become the next big hot shot), Cristina eased into her new found role, and, for the first time in a long time, actively engaged with a patient and formed an educated opinion on his treatment.

Despite these rare glimmers of hope, viewers are demanding that Grey’s pick up the pace.

“The most disappointing aspect of the last episode was the fact that Cristina still has not returned to normal. Not only is she mentally unprepared for surgery, she now seems totally inept when communicating with patients,” said Tanya Lane in a review. “More than fearful, she seems apathetic. That’s not the Cristina we’ve come to know and love, and it’s beginning to frustrate me.”

Will Cristina ever be the same? I don’t think so. She will forever remember how the life of her colleague rested in her hands, and I can’t help but think that ABC’s correct in their thinking. Having a gun pressed against your head changes you.

What do you think? Is Cristina’s recovery too slow?

Watch a sneak peak of tonight's episode!

"Paranormal Activity 2" breaks poorly constructed sequel curse, spooks audiences

2010-10-27T01:24:00.000-07:00

Sometimes there really can be too much of a good thing. This can be seen by the existence of “Saw” 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and now 6. Enough is enough, people. Can’t we just let it go?

My hatred for sequels goes way back, and that’s probably why you won’t see me in line for the Hangover 2. But this past weekend, even I broke my own rule by watching “Paranormal Activity 2.” What’s life without a little risk right?

Jim Schembri, a movie critic from “The Age,” believes that “Paranormal Activity 2” once again, like all sequels, falls victim to what I like to call the bad sequel curse.

“The biggest fear one has heading into this ultra-quickie sequel to last year’s surprise horror hit is whether it could possibly be as bad as the first film,” Schembri said in his review. “Brace yourselves, for ‘Paranormal Activity 2’ achieves something all genuine horror movie buffs thought impossible: it’s worse.”

I disagree. After I watched the film, I was regretfully unable to find solace in my dreams, often succumbing to paranoia and mistaking the hum from my refrigerator as the ominous presence of a supernatural being, and that’s when it hit me: maybe this sequel wasn’t so bad.

Michael Phillips, of the “Chicago Tribune,” echoes this sentiment.

“Demons of mediocrity be gone!” He writes. “Here we have a shrewd sequel a touch better than the original.”

I found that "Paranormal Activity 2" is much of the same. It builds off both the success and storyline of the original film by rewinding to the past, often explaining the demon’s motives and origin during daylight scenes and off-handed banter. A low budget production that is overseen by new director Tod Williams, it still relies on the concept of found footage to illustrate supernatural happenings and instill a sense of dread in its audience by exploiting devices, such as mirrors, shadows and silence, rather than portray pointless gore for shock value, which is something I vehemently prefer.

In the original, viewers met the young, bickering couple Katie (Katie Featherson) and Micah (Micah Sloat), who set up a camera in their bedroom to record the strange doings that are supposedly occurring while they sleep. Convinced that what they are observing through the lens is not normal, Micah pursues what is believed to be a ghost despite the warnings of his girlfriend, and chaos gradually ensues.

This time; however, viewers have a host of characters to surreptitiously watch. The premise of the film focuses on Katie’s sister Kristi (Sprague Grayden), who has just returned home from the hospital with newborn Hunter. We find out through Katie’s frequent visits that the pair has experienced traumatic hauntings throughout their childhood, but this fact is quickly dismissed by Kristi’s skeptical husband (Brian Boland) much to the dismay of the audience.

There is also a likeable nanny, who uses suspicious rituals to ward off evil spirits, the family dog, Abby, and a teenage daughter (Molly Ephraim) from a previous marriage, all of whom fall victim to the demon’s antics throughout the 90-minute film.

Also significantly different, is the amount of vantages in which the family may be viewed. After their California home is supposedly “burglarized” while they are away on vacation, the father decides to invest in video surveillance, installing six cameras around the house. There is also one hand-held camera, which is used effectively during moments of extreme tension.

Furthermore, the characters in "Paranormal Activity 2" don’t fall victim to the clichés of most scary movie cinema, like choosing to investigate a funny thump in the night or venture down a ominous stairway. (Okay, I may have lied about the last part.) Overall, their reactions to the frightening situations in which they find themselves are very realistic. At one point, Kristi, who is assaulted by a flying pan, screams, “Leave me alone!” and flees to her room. As amusing as her outburst was, wouldn’t we all do the same? I applaud the actors for not succumbing to the temptation to be stupid and ignorant to the threats of a violent, albeit fictional, supernatural being.

The success of both "Paranormal Activity 2" and "Paranormal Activity" hinges on the fact that it allows viewers to insert themselves into a seemingly realistic scenario. Terrifying things are occurring in the present day to an ordinary family, and that seems far more realistic than a masked man with a rusty chainsaw chasing one into a deserted mansion.

Audiences leave the theater asking the question, “What if that were me?” and the answer boggles the mind for hours on end.

Perhaps the success and money the "Paranormal Activity" movies and their inevitable spin offs garner will prompt the birth of a new franchise. Let us hope won’t be executed like the "Saw" movies…I still think that’d be overkill.

'Paranormal Activity 2' an almost flawless sequel

Movie Review: 'Paranormal Activity 2'

Paranormal Activity 2 improves original idea

Youtube review:

The Found Footage Phenomenon

Ever since the success of “The Blair With Project” in 1999, film makers have employed the use of the found footage to insert audiences into a fictional story that feels more believable or realistic. The first horror film to utilize the technique was “Cannibal Holocaust” in 1980, according to the Scene Starter’s ‘Top 10 Found-Footage Horror Movies’ article.