I promise I'll get back to this blog eventually.

Like you care.

POP CULTURE

Jump The Shark

It gets old after a while, but it's still a fun site to dip into now and then.

Here's the Wikipedia entry on the subject, in case you're unfamiliar with the term.

Advice

GOOD SEX (ADVICE)

The best sex-advice columnist in America is Dan Savage. His column is alternately hilarious, mortifying, and right on the mark. Among other accomplishments, he popularized a new word: santorum

SANTORUM: The sometimes frothy, usually slimy, amalgam of lubricant, stray fecal matter, and ejaculate that leaks out of the receiving partner's anus after a session of anal intercourse. Named, by popular demand and usage, after legislator Rick Santorum because of his homophobic political statements.

His Books are good, too.

_________________________________________

Holy Yawyeh! Anybody seen TLC's Shalom in the Home?

Rabbi Shmuley Boteach is a family and relationship counselor and he is one of the most prominent voices for the Jewish community in the world. He is the international best-selling author of 15 books, and an acclaimed syndicated columnist who in 2005 won the American Jewish Press Association's highest award for excellence in commentary.

This guy, this Oxford educated Rabbi, is simply the best relationship counselor I have ever seen. He's reality based, his goals are reachable, and most importantly, everything he says makes perfect sense. This guy makes Dr. Phil look like the frustrated blowhard he is. In general I can't stand this sort of show. The troubled family and their spoiled, monstrous children rarely deserve any attention, let alone an "expert" coming to stay with them. There are uncountable families enduring situations they had nothing at all to do with creating--illnesses, handicaps, natural disasters, etc. Screw these vapid, self involved parents.

But the good Rabbi and his no-nonsense, not-going-to-talk-down to you approach seems genuinely effective. Let me put it another way: whether the counseling he provides saves the families on his show, he can't help but affect viewers. Perhaps folks in not quite so dire situations can pre-emptively work things out--thanks to the Rabbi Schmuley's utter lack of bullshit.

Reality TV

TOP SHELF REALITY

The Bravo Network is gradually coming to dominate the unreal universe of reality television. From Project Greenlight, Showdog Moms & Dads and Blow Out to the current Real Houswives of Orange County, Project Runway and Top Chef, they run consistently entertaining reality programs, with a distinctive "voice" that has become a signature of Bravo's reality programming.

My current favorite is Top_Chef, a reality competition in which 12 aspiring chefs are judged against one another, week to week, in a variety of different cuisine related face-offs. One of them is sent packing each week ("Please pack your knives and go")--ala damn near every reality competition on television--but there are some genuine differences between Top Chef's weekly competitions and those of other such shows. The Top Chefs must rely on their genuine skills in the kitchen. Any weakness in foodie related stuff, and on Top Chef it ranges from microwaveable meals for busy moms to StreetCart Meals to 4-Star-style fine dining, and you are doomed. As the show whittles down the contestants, you find the chaff discarded and the true talents rewarded. I like that; there's not going to be some undeserving rube coasting under the radar to victory here.

Having had two different roomies at two different times who were sous chefs with executive chef ambitions, I can vouch personally for the casting of this show. Before the first episode had ended, I could predict with uncanny accuracy those chefs making an early exit and those who'd still be cookin' in the end. One word: ego. A sustained, all encompassing ego that drives a person to prove they KNOW food, how to cook it, prepare it, talk about it, serve it--hell, these crazy chefs are obsessed with food in a way that is difficult for the average person to understand. After all, food isn't an option. It's a necessity, like oxygen or sunlight. Can you imagine being absolutely passionate about oxygen?

The nuttiest chef is Stephen Asprinio (pictured above), a sommelier from Las Vegas. When his ability to relate to humans, whom he seems to view as inferior creatures, catches up with his enormous food and wine intellect, the man will be a foodie god. Until then he's an arrogant but gifted prick, and a ton of fun to watch.

My favorites to take the Top Chef apron are Harold Dieterle or Tiffani Falson, both of whom are superior cooks, creative and hard-working. Harold is strangely passive at times--a very non Top Chef trait--but he's so damned good it hasn't hurt him. Tiffani's a bitch at times, and that's a good thing. She gets things done.

Top Chef is hosted by Billy Joel's (Billy Joel? How does he do this?) wife, Katie Lee Joel. She's not bad--a little wooden, but unlike a lot of hosts she possesses some genuine knowledge about the shows subject. And she's, ahem, hot looking, too. Billy Joel?

Optical Illusion Rooms

These have been around the Web for a while, but, hell, I just got here.












Photos on right are how the rooms appear if you are off angle.
Here's one link.
Here are some outdoor versions.

Slang

Get Hip, Man.




A BOWL OF ASSHOLES

Very foul breath, smells awful. morning breath.

"Man what did you eat? Your breath smells like a bowl of assholes."


TROMBONING

the new felching: sexual act when a male/female kneels behind their male partner and licks his anus while giving him an hand job

"Richard gladly accepted Tim's offer of a breathtaking tromboning later, after dinner."

__________________________

I thought my teeth were white, until I washed my face with Noxzema. They're not white, they're off-white. Hell, I'm not even white, I'm off-white. We're a new race, we will prevail!

---------Mitch Hedberg

Movies

So many crappy movies, so little time. Go to The Movie Spoiler --you'll get the whole story, including the ending, and it won't cost you a ticket, popcorn, Coke, and Juji Fruits. Or, I suppose you could actually watch the movies, if that's your thing. Sicko.

Religion

Sex In The Bible --it's no Literotica, but it's fascinating, nonetheless.

Television

Best and Worst TV Shows of the Week, Brought to You by PARENT'S TELEVISION COUNCIL, "Because Our Children Are Watching."

The clips from the "worst" shows are terrific entertainment, much better without any confusing "context."

Painting

The Art of Donald Roller Wilson

Thanks KK.

Murals

Murals By Eric Grohe

Street Art

These are two-dimensional drawings on the ground.

I am a sucker for perspective-shifting art.

Julian Beever is the artist.

SCULPTURE

"Sculpture Park" in Oslo, Norway.
"One of the artistic highlights of Norway is the Sculpture Park in Oslo. The park contains 192 sculptures with more than 600 figures, all modeled in full size by Gustav Vigeland."

All I wanted to know was the name of the sculpture at left (The Irascible). But these things are too...strange to ignore.

(Turns out I know someone who has been to this park.)

GOSSIP, LIES

CELEBRITY SHOCKER !

ANGELINA JOLIE LITERALLY SUCKING THE LIFE FROM BRAD PITT

This will be my Pop and Culture Blog. My Humor Blog, KEEPING AN EYE OUT, is located right here. (http://eye-out.blogspot.com/). Check back for more soon.