Not So Nifty At 50

Michael Jackson is 50 years old. I used to LOVE him back in the day. I'm not afraid to admit I have his classics on my iPod. I think I lost my love for him when he got all caught up with the surgery and started hanging out with that kid from "Home Alone." That's just weird.
He's admitted to having just a couple of surgeries, though it's quite clear he's not that guy he used to be. Then, I saw this computer-generated photo of what he would look like if he had not been on the crazy juice.
That's not bad. I wonder if he ever thinks about undoing what he's done to his face. Or, do you think he looks in the mirror and sees his old self?

If you want to go back in time, go to MJ's youtube page to see the videos.

The Horror!

If you like your wine from California, you might want to either start hoarding or saving. There's bad news from the west coast. I just stumbled upon this headline:

California winemakers brace for short supply of grapes

It seems freezing weather, then hot weather, then lack of rain has ruined the crops. I had no idea global warming could be so hazardous!

I Can't Help It

Every time I see Sarah Palin, I think of Karen from "Will & Grace."














Part of me expects her to grab her boobs while holding a drink and asking someone to spank her.

Then, I remember they are philosophically two DIFFERENT people. Not so funny.

In Case You Missed It...

Most Ridiculous Political Attack

Something For The Wish List

I'm adding that camera to my ever-growing wish list. Why? Besides taking pretty pictures, it will also take high-definition video. With that, I can become the next Steven Spielberg.

Santa, are you reading? Are you rolling your eyes at me?

Seriously, it's a cool camera. If someone were to put a big bow on it and give it to me, I wouldn't send it back. I'd make a movie on how happy the camera made me. Of course, I still have to figure out how to use my editing software, but by the time I finally get that camera, I'll know how to use it. I think.

I'm All Political

I can't help it. I am already in politics mode at work. Watching the Democratic National Convention this week (only in primetime - I can't watch the delegates do their thing - YAWN), I'm starting to get excited about the November election!

But there's something that's been bothering me...those Hillary supporters who feel wronged by Obama's nomination - like he stole it from her (racists - BTW, that's an inside joke as I call someone a racist every day). What I don't understand is why they would rather abandon the party that represents their views for one that is basically the complete opposite? So, I decided to do some fact checking myself this morning to see just how different Clinton and Obama really are.

This article says the two have shared identical votes on the issues. The only thing separating them? Time spent in the Senate.

I found this comparison of their stance on health care.

They're like-minded in their take on crime issues.

Difference are really hard to spot in this side-by-side comparison.

Here's another comparison with a timeline (it makes the age difference quite noticeable).

Not much of a difference on these issues.

Now, I ask you to compare Obama to John McCain. If you truly care about the issues (and with the privilege of being a voter, you should be), you should be able to put aside your bitter feelings about Clinton having to sit this one out. She'll be back, whether it's in four years or eight. Until then, do you want to sacrifice your future out of spite? Would it be worth it? You know, the thing about elections is that once it's done, it's pretty hard to un-do it. And if you elect someone you're not happy with, you have to ride it out. I'm not telling you who to vote for. I just ask that in these next two months you take time to become an informed voter and use your head instead of your heart.

To get you on the right path, look at what Obama says about the issues and look at what McCain says about the issues. Pay attention while you're there. Which one shares your ideas? Vote for HIM.

More New Shows To Check Out

These are midseason replacements, presumably replacing shows that won't last. Some of them look interesting...

Triple Dog Dare

Watch this and try not to tear up.

How will the Republicans get through next week? Who will they drag out to motivate the masses and inspire people to stand by them for the next four years? The Obama-Biden ticket may have a nice, shiny package of hope, but, honestly, I can't imagine not having hope for the future in times like these.

One Of My Favorite...

Actors is Guy Pearce. If you haven't heard of him, you might recognize him.

I was excited to read this in the LA Times this morning! He's partnering with one of my other faves, Don Cheadle, in the movie Traitor.

She's A Monet

So, I just saw this picture of Pamela Anderson on perezhilton:
Do you know what this reminds me of?

Surprisingly, not a tranny on parade. I thought of the movie "Clueless."

Tai: Do you think she's pretty?
Cher: No, she's a full-on Monet.
Tai: What's a monet?
Cher: It's like a painting, see? From far away, it's OK, but up close, it's a big old mess.

That, my friends, is your dose of pop culture for the day.

Aren't They Cute?

This morning, my mom was asking me about pictures of the kids.

MOM: Have you posted any pictures of the kids lately?
ME: No.
MOM: How am I supposed to know what they look like?
ME: You could visit.
MOM: True.

In case you haven't heard, my parents love road trips. They take them to all kinds of places, sometimes spending more than 24 hours on the road to reach their destination. However, they haven't come to see me in months. Mom, Dad, I'm not counting that Saturday trip for the funeral. That was NOT a visit - even if you came to my house and worked magic to get my router to play nice.

Now that my cool air is working, it's the perfect time to make the 2-hour trip to see me for more than a few hours. I won't even make you do work around the house!

Since I may still have to wait until November for my parents to come see us (and then it would be to see Fun Mom run the marathon), I'm posting this cute picture of the kids napping after a morning of wrestling.

Problem Fixed???

The a/c guy showed up yesterday afternoon. He was about to climb up in the attic to check the unit up there when I asked about the heater working. He asked me turn on the heater (which is totally ridiculous when it's 88 degrees in my house, but if it fixes the problem, I'll crank it up). I do, it comes on and he decides - like Kenny suspected - the problem is with the thermostat.

MY thermostat that I spent more than $60 on. We talked about the cheap ones the electric company uses (he says they're bad and always need to be replaced - so think about that before you decide to sign up for their alleged energy saver program).

He went to my thermostat, took some wires out, connect them directly and, voila, the cool air started blowing. He said replacing the thermostat should do the trick. Sadly, he did not have a programmable thermostat on him, so he installed a regular thermostat. He still has to come back to give me the programmable one.

So, indulge me in my optimism. Here's hoping this is the LAST time I have issues with the whole freeze-up thing. Cross your fingers, toes, eyes and whatever else you can to make this happen!

I'm Frustrated

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about the pains of home ownership. This weekend, I had yet ANOTHER misadventure with premature heating inside my home.

Saturday night, it started to feel warm inside. I went to the thermostat and it said it was 82 degrees. I grabbed a flashlight and went outside to look at the unit, which was running. ICE. AGAIN.

I shut it down, thinking I could do what I've done in the past: let it de-ice, then turn it back on. I know this is only a temporary fix, but I was hoping the unit would hold out until winter, as the heater works just fine. Sunday morning, I wake up and fire up the cool air. Nothing. I try the heater again, that works. I open windows, letting warm, muggy air inside. I call the home warranty people and decide I will wait to talk to a real, live human. I talk to a woman named Joan who was very patient with me as I (literally) melted down while on the phone.

I'm hot. I'm tired. My head hurts. Clearly there's a leak in the unit. I just hope whatever is wrong is covered by the warranty and that they don't try to screw me out of the repair cost. You see, a few years ago, I had a car that had a/c problems and the mechanic just dumped freon into it. Turns out, there was a leak and it froze up my compressor. Since the last two guys who have come out to perform maintenance on the unit have just added freon and never checked for a leak before doing so, I plan to raise holy h-e-double hockey sticks if they give me a hard time.

Then again, my blood is pretty warm already, so there's no telling what I'll do if things don't go my way.

I'll keep you posted. Think cool thoughts for me!

Ha Ha

This makes me laugh. Before you press play, I have to warn you about the language - it is NSFW - or children.

Foiled By Lack Of Math Skills

I never really liked math. And now, it has come back to haunt me.

I have always wanted to win the lottery (and I still have time to do it). However, these math whizzes seem to have put something I hate (math) to use to achieve something I want (jackpot).

They claim to have found a formula to win the lottery - and they've earned nearly a million dollars in the last week! They're not saying much else, for now. I suppose they want to rack up all the money they can before they share their secret.

You can read more about them here. I might have a little more faith in them if they can win a huge jackpot, as opposed to a couple of smaller prizes. Still, if they read this, tell me your secret. I will gladly be a guinea pig in your math/lotto game.

Allow Me To Be (Kinda) Political For a Moment

When John McCain was asked how many houses he has, he said:

"I think — I'll have my staff get to you," McCain told Politico in Las Cruces, N.M. "It's condominiums where — I'll have them get to you."

I have just one house.
Is it reasonable for one person to believe this candidate is in touch with the rest of America when he doesn't even know how many homes he and his uber-wealthy wife have? I don't know how many shoes I have. But that's different. I don't have a collection of multi-million dollar shoes. That bothers me A LOT, even if they're technically in his name.

If you haven't counted McCain's homes, you can see them here.

Movie Music

The American Film Institute says these are the best movie songs of all time. I think it's a fine list. What would you add to it?

1. Over the Rainbow, The Wizard of Oz
2. As Time Goes By, Casablanca
3. Singin’ in the Rain, Singin’ in the Rain
4. Moon River, Breakfast at Tiffany’s
5. White Christmas, Holiday Inn
6. Mrs. Robinson, The Graduate
7. When You Wish upon a Star, Pinocchio
8. The Way We Were, The Way We Were
9. Stayin’ Alive, Saturday Night Fever
10. The Sound of Music, The Sound of Music

Love on Sesame Street

Apparently, there are more than grouches, big birds and other fuzzy-spongy creatures on that block we all know!
A couple of people we've never seen on Sesame Street fell in love and married (check out the guest in the trashcan)! Proof that no matter where you are, you can find your soul mate - even if he/she likes puppets and rhyming songs.

That's me being optimistic. Write it down. Bookmark this post. You may not see it again.

Bottoms Up!

Some people see wine in a box and think "Ew."

Some people think it's one step above the screw off top wine bottle - and that's a good thing.

Well, now, you apparently should consider drinking vino from a box. This piece says it's basically better for the environment.

Now that's my kinda juice box!

A Little Pop Culture Help

Are you out of the loop when it comes to pop culture? If you think you're hip by reading this blog, you're wrong. For starters, kids don't use the word "hip" anymore. I don't think they've used it in the last few decades. And you should know that while I am very proud of my pop knowledge, there's a lot out there that is foreign to me.

So I want to help you (and me). Every Monday, the LA Times puts out its "Smart List" of things people will be talking about this week. I encourage you to check it out each week and learn a little more about what kids are talking about these days. Start with this week's list.

You're welcome.

What I'll Be Watching This Fall

Last week, Julie and I looked at the Fall TV lineup to plan what our DVRs will be recording. I will admit it's insane for one person to watch this much TV, but you should know some of these shows will be canceled, or I'll reject them after the first episode or two. I just want you to see what I love and what I think will be worth checking out. I'm including links so you can read about them to decide if you'll want to check them out.

Sunday:

• Entourage - This show returns to HBO September 7th. I cannot wait! I love the relationship between Ari & Lloyd more than I like the boys.
• True Blood - This one debuts on September 7th. It's a vampire series - a first for me. I'm willing to check it out because it's HBO and I figure it can't be that bad.
• Mad Men - I've been watching the second season of this show for a few weeks already. LOVE IT!
• Breaking Bad - This is supposed to return in the fall, though I'm not sure when.
• Desperate Housewives - This one doesn't return until September 28th. It will be five years into the future.
  
• Brothers and Sisters - It also returns on September 28th. I might give up on this. It will have to really hook me when the season starts, otherwise, I'll leave these siblings behind.

Monday:

• Dancing With The Stars - I don't just watch this so I can blog. I watch it because I like the pseudo-celebrities trying to dance. It returns September 22nd. The stars will be announced in a week. I can't wait to see if the ones I predicted on the work blog make the cut!
• How I Met Your Mother - At this point, it doesn't matter that much who the "mother" is. I just want to see Barney and wish I didn't have to wait until September 22nd to see him. The rest of the cast is great, too, it's just that Barney makes me laugh out loud every week. LOVE IT!
• Samantha Who? - Christina Applegate has great comedic timing! This show is cute and funny. Get your giggle on October 6th.
  
• My Own Worst Enemy - This is a new show. It stars Christian Slater, which is why I'll check it out. But if I don't love it right away, I'll say buh-bye. Look for this one October 13th.
• The Hills - Yes, I'm too old for this show. Still, the cattiness is silly. The fact that it's scripted is obvious. I still watch it. Besides, they play good music and MTV has finally gotten around to popping that info up so you can add to your music collection.
  

Tuesday:

• 90210 - I know I'm not a teenager. I still want to know what became of the gang now that they're my age and working with the kids at West Beverly. You know you're curious!
• DWTS - It's elimination night! I have to know which star's dancing days are done.
• Fringe - This is by J.J. Abrams, the brain behind LOST. This could be too much sci-fi for me, but I'll still check it out when it debuts September 9th.
• Eli Stone - Will George Michael still influence this show? If not, I'll still watch when it returns October 14th. I think.

Wednesday:

• Pushing Daisies - This show is quirky and cute and oh-so-funny! I can't wait for it to return October 1st!
• Private Practice - Whiny doctors with lots of drama in their lives. It's not the best medical show out there, but I'll consider keeping this in the rotation when it returns October 1st.
• Dirty Sexy Money - This is one messed up family! What's more entertaining than a couple of sex scandals and a money grab? This one returns October 1st.
• Lipstick Jungle - I miss "Sex and The City." This does not completely fill the void, but it'll do. Plus, it has one thing SATC never had: Andrew McCarthy! It returns September 24th.

Thursday:

• Ugly Betty - This hour-long dramedy always cracks me up! I have to know whose offer Betty is taking when the show returns September 25th.
  
• My Name Is Earl - I love every one of these main characters. They all have great one-liners that make me laugh. This one is also back on September 25th.
  
• Kath & Kim - I know, Brit rip-off. But it looks funny. I'll check it out October 9th.
  
• Grey's Anatomy - I can tolerate the whining and complaining because the medical procedures they do are INSANE! Plus, the boys are not hard to watch. I just have to wait until September 25th for the new episodes.
  
• The Office - I love this show so much, I have my DVR set to record all episodes -not just the new ones! I've also been watching the webisodes to help get me through the summer. I can't wait for this one to come back September 25th.
  
• Life on Mars - This one is new. It's a cop-drama that involves some time travel. If it hooks me October 9th, I'll keep watching.
  
• ER - I'm one of, like, three people I know still watching this show. I refuse to quit it, even though it's predictable. Also, Ray is returning. Oh, and this is the show's last hurrah. We've made it this far, might as well see it through to the end. The final countdown begins September 25th.
  

Friday:

• Crusoe - This is a 13-part series based on the book by the same name. If it's not too corny, I'll keep it. Look for this one October 17th.
  
• The Ex List - This new show could be cheesy. Still, I think it might be worth a look-see when it debuts October 3rd.
  
• Life - This is a cop show I got hooked on in the spring. I love Damian Lewis from when he was on Band of Brothers, so I'm a little more patient with this series than some people might be. This one is back September 29th.

I cannot wait for everything to return, though I still have stuff on my DVR I need to get rid of - like the whole last season of LOST - so I have room for the new season. That's what I'll be watching. Tell me what you're watching (without judgment of my list) in the comments section!

Happy Birthday, Madonna

Here's what she looks like at 50:And here's what she looked like when she first took MTV by storm:



If you want to look at some of her other videos, get in your wayback machine or click here (since MTV no longer plays videos).

Last One To Finish This

I am the last of my friends to finish reading Breaking Dawn.

It's supposed to be the last book in the Twilight series. I have mixed feelings about the book. I won't talk about it here, in case you've stumbled upon my blog and haven't finished this. My thoughts will be in the comments section. If you've finished the book, please share your comments there, too!

Something Cool

Have you seen this logo? It stands for something pretty cool.

It's part of Microsoft's network - specifically the instant messenger.

Here's how it works:

You download the messenger, create a screen name (if you don't already have one), choose one charity out of a list of ten, then instant message or email through this account. Every time you do that, Microsoft will donate money to your charity.

It's that simple - and it doesn't cost you a penny! Check it out here. And if you do decide to participate in this, let me know in the comments section and I'll tell you how you can find me!

Jingle Time

This is Jingle Bell Rock - but not the Christmas kind.

My blog has its own jingle. Wanna hear it? Click here.

He's Getting HUGE!

Here is Chaplin today. He is 13-weeks old. He is incredibly curious. He thinks he needs to check out EVERYTHING! When I opened that box yesterday, he immediately jumped in. I had to take him out of it a few times just so I could see what was inside!Here he is sleeping on the sofa, I believe this was two weeks ago. He's precious - more so when he's asleep.

WOOHOO! FREE STUFF!!!

I have previously written about my addiction to magazines.

Friends, I am happy to report it has FINALLY paid off!

Glamour magazine is one of my faves! I love looking at the Do's and Don'ts - and hope that my look does not fall into the Don't category (and if I should ever see my picture with a black bar across my eyes, I will just cry - and go shopping). Anywho... every month I get an email from the "Glamspotters" asking me to complete a survey. Don't ask why, but I always do these. I did one a few weeks ago and forgot all about it.

Until today.

My doorbell rang at 12:30. I looked out the peephole and didn't see anyone, so I figured it had to be the UPS guy (he drops off packages, rings the bell, then takes off). I open the door and find a package sitting there. I wonder what I ordered (only now does the paranoid part of me think it could have been a bomb). Then, a closer look at the box shows "Glamour" on the shipping label. Now, I get excited! I open up the box and see this:Then, I move the letter, telling me to sample the products and expect an email to review them. I have never used this brand, so I'm excited to see how my hair responds to it. I won't try it during the week until I know my hair won't freak out (see this post about my newly formed hair sensitivity).

I have to go now because I need to get ready for work. I just wanted to share my exciting new title: Glamspotter!

NOTE: I read the letter from Glamour and it says I can't name the product or photograph it. Fearing I may lose my Glamspotter title, I removed the picture of the products from the post.

Lessons From A Burglar

A cat burglar who admitted to taking millions in property from LA-area home owners has agreed to tell police his secrets. He recorded a 70-minute video, giving some of the following tips to police:

• Older victims in well-kept homes were an easy mark, not so much because they were vulnerable, but because he reasoned they accumulated more expensive things.
• He sought out those who were angry and distrustful of institutions like banks, essentially the mattress-money set who he rightly bet would keep cash, precious metals or other lucrative goods within easy striking distance.
• He tried to blend in to the normal activities of a neighborhood, scouting his targets while going on walks in an expensive jogging suit. He also rehearsed his exit strategy, adhering to the rule to never panic or run when confronted.

You can read the whole story here. But your friend Nicole hopes you'll take a good look at your home and protect yourself from a crafty criminal like this guy. See? I'm helpful!

This Makes Me Sad

Everyday, I get a little email from Good Morning America. It says what's coming up on the show. So when I see this story, it makes me sad.

I LOVE MY CURLS! It took me a long time, and thousands of dollars of hair product to figure that out! That doesn't mean I don't reserve the right to straighten my hair on occasion, but you make the most of what you have. I have curls. Lots of them. To think people judge me because I leave it curly. I mean, what am I to do when it's humid and no matter what I do, it's just gonna curl up?

Jerks.

Learn More About Me

This came from Bernice: Learn 45 things about your friends, and let them learn 45 things about you!

1. Do you like blue cheese salad dressing? Sometimes

2. Have you ever smoked heroin? No illegal drugs - EVER

3. Do you own a gun? Just in case burglars or other criminals are watching me here, I'm gonna say YES and let them take their chances (BTW: My hands are certified weapons)

4. Your favorite drink at Starbucks or other specialty? Depends on my mood

5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? Yes. I'm always expecting to hear the word "terminal"

6. What do you think of hot dogs? I like them at times. I just don't think about what they're made of.

7. Favorite Christmas song? OOH! I LOVE Christmas! I'll go with Silent Night for the traditional. Non-traditional, I choose The Chipmunks Christmas song

8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Vodka. Kidding. I think. Water is the first thing I drink in the morning.

9. Can you do push ups? If you mean correctly, then my answer is just one.

10. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? I love silver hoop earrings, which is why I have several of them.

11. Favorite hobby? I like to read. I also like to write - this blog being one forum for me.

12. Do you have A.D.D.? not that a doctor has told me, but since I work in TV, there's a VERY good chance that is the case.

13. What's one trait that you hate about yourself? That I do not trust people immediately, and sometimes people take my reluctance to trust them entirely as rude.

14. Middle name? Marie

15. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment? It's raining, so I want to take a nap. I'm hungry, so I should eat some lunch. I'm going to Chipotle for lunch today so I can get myself a free burrito bol this weekend.

16. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink? Iced tea, juice (whatever's in my fridge), soda (I'm so loving Coke Zero - product plug, send me some cases, Coca-Cola!)

17. Current worry right now? I may have to walk Charley in the rain before I leave for work

19. Favorite place to be? Hmmm...Sometimes I just like to be by myself. Sometimes I like being surrounded by friends and family.

20. How did you bring in the New Year? At home. I don't get the whole "ring in the new year" bit

21. Do you like to travel? absolutely

22. Name three people who will complete this… Surprise me

23. Do you own slippers? Yes

24. What color shirt are you wearing? blue

25. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? Nope - it makes me hot

26. Can you whistle? Yes, though not very well

27. Favorite color? if you look in my closet, it's probably white (though some argue that's not a color), so I'd say blue

28. Would you be a pirate for Halloween? Like an ACTUAL pirate, robbing people? Or just for dress up? Either way, I'll say probably not. Unless there was a VERY GOOD reason.

29. What songs do you sing in the shower? Whatever's stuck in my head.

30. Favorite girl's names?

31. Favorite boy's name?

32. What's in your pocket right now? No pockets today

33. Last thing that made you laugh? Jon Stewart saying President Bush should be our mascot

34. Best bed sheets as a child? I don't think I had any theme sheets. My mom clearly did not like me. SETTLE DOWN, MOM. I'M KIDDING.

35. Worst injury you've ever had? Broken tailbone. It STILL bothers me.

36. Do you love where you live? Yes.

37. How many TVs do you have in your house? Two

38. Who is your loudest friend? Most of my friends are loud (as am I). We can all simmer down, but sometimes, we're just rowdy. And that's OK.

40. Does someone have a crush on you? Judging by my inbox, YES. Though, I think "tagged" might be messing with me.

41. What is your favorite book? Right now, I'm into the Twilight books. I've always loved To Kill A Mockingbird & Beach Music. I also love biographies (must feed my brain every now and then).

42. What is your favorite candy? Sometimes it's Sour Patch Kids, sometimes it's Twizzlers, sometimes M&Ms. I will eat them until I feel like throwing up.

43. Favorite Sports Team? Astros - even though they disappoint me

44. What were you doing 12 AM last night? Watching The Daily Show and (during commercials) reading Breaking Dawn

45. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up this morning? Why did I get a kitten? It's 5:30 in the morning. Why can't he wait until I'M awake to get hungry?

What Do You Like?

Julie posted this last night. I'm taking her up on this challenge. Like Julie, I refuse to put the songs in any sort of ranking - so this list is random.

These are the songs that I will always want with me:

Yesterday - The Beatles
Stay - U2
Freedom - George Michael
Never Tear Us Apart - INXS
Drive - The Cars
Someone Saved My Life Tonight - Elton John
Vultures - John Mayer
The World Exploded Into Love - Bob Schneider
Hello - Lionel Richie
When Doves Cry - Prince
You Are The Sunshine of My Life - Stevie Wonder

There are so many songs I just love, but I didn't want to make this post any longer. These are the ones I NEVER skip when my iPod is shuffling. Now tell me what YOU like!

Matthew McConaughey Grosses Me Out

Matthew McConaughey is weird.

I know he's nice to look at - you know, when he's walking around with his shirt off. Still, this dude is beginning to creep me out. First, I think he looks like a guy who's probably very sweaty, and since he's said he doesn't wear deodorant, he might be a little bit funky. There's also the whole naked bongo incident. But I thought he could be somewhat normal. Until I saw this interview with CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

GUPTA: And you kept the placenta?

MCCONAUGHEY: Yes.

GUPTA: So what's the story there?

MCCONAUGHEY: Well, it's going to be. That's fertile ground, so to speak... we're going to plant -- it's going to be in the orchards and it's going to bear some wonderful fruit.... when I was in Australia, they had a placenta tree that was on the river and it was for the women and it was the most fertile land and fertile river and all the placentas of all that tribe, all that clan, whatever aboriginal tribe that was, all the placentas went under that one tree and it was this huge behemoth of just health and strength. And this tree was just growing taller and stronger above the rest of Mother Nature around it. It was gorgeous.

It's true. People from all over the world use the placenta (ick) for all kinds of reasons. FYI, this is the second time this weekend I've thrown up a little bit in my mouth.

I Hate THIS Guy/Girl

This is from my Urban Dictionary Word of The Day:

August 09: social plagiarism

When one uses a story/saying/information/anecdote that they recieved or overheard from another individual they know and they do not cite the source. In turn, implying that they themselves are the original source of information.

Maegan tells Leann that she talked to the band about their performance date change in Santa Cruz.
Later that evening, Leann tells a group of mutual friends that the performance date has been changed, without citing/acknowledging where she originally obtained this information. In turn, implying she spoke to the band herself, which could be construed to some as lying.
Thus, Leann commited social plagiarism.

Three Reasons I Want To Be Cindy Crawford

1. That body.
2. George Clooney.
3. Bono.

When I saw these pictures in the current issue of US Weekly, I stared at it. Then I thought, "She's 42-years-old and has it all."

However, I have to wonder about that husband of hers. I mean, taking your wife on a yacht with Clooney?? Dude, either you're really confident in yourself or you don't care if Clooney runs away with your wife. Then, to have Bono around - I mean the accent, the high note, the fact that he wants to wipe your tears away - what more could you want?

So if you want to make me happy this Christmas, give me those three things. They don't have to be in that order.

I AM OLD

I'm doing my usual web surfing before lunch when I stumble upon a story that might as well tell me I need a walker.

The headline:

Who's turning 50?

Like I REALLY need the Statesman to tell me the musicians I've grown up listening to (and still have 4 and 5 star ratings on my iPod) will hit the big 5-0 this year! My thoughts on some of them:

• I've seen Madonna lately and wonder what she's done to her face, while seemingly neglecting her frightening hands. Click here for a Madge slideshow.
  
• I don't understand why Prince has become such a funhater, refusing to let fans make their own video tributes to his music on youtube.
  
• Michael Jackson, well, no matter how old the calendar says he is, we know he still thinks he's a 12-year-old boy.

Granted, I'm not even in my mid-30s (yet), but I absolutely HATE the idea of these people getting old. I know it means that soon I'll be like my mother, listening to an oldies station and talking about how things USED to be.

Way to start off my Thursday, Statesman. If you want to see who else reaches the big milestone this year, watch this.

I Don't Care What They Say

If any actress I actually like - or any of my magazines - tell me this look is coming back, I won't do it.

Note to Katie (or Kate, as Tom would prefer we call her): buy some straight leg jeans - OR don't wear your hubbie's pants. Clearly you're wearing his hair. Just stop with the clothes. Wait till Victoria Bekham gets hold of you!

Paris Hilton Fights Back

She's not my favorite airhead, but her response to John McCain's ad is funny - and it kinda makes sense.

See for yourself.

See more Paris Hilton videos at Funny or Die

Fudgesicle?

Last night I had a craving for something sweet. Since Charles wouldn't go out and get me some blueberry cobbler a la mode, I had to settle for a fudge bar from vending machine. It was almost like frozen Swiss Miss hot cocoa!

While I'm savoring this yummy treat, I flip over the package and see something peculiar.
It includes artificial vanilla flavor.

In a fudgesicle.

Of all the artificial things in this (I mean, it's so good, it has to be phony), vanilla? Weird.

Still, it was $1 well spent. However, I probably would have enjoyed the cobbler a la mode more.

That's a hint, Charles.

DVR Alert!

If you thought Glenn Close was scary in "Fatal Attraction," you're a wimp. Her role as a mean-spirited lawyer who will stop at nothing to win a case on "Damages" is even scarier.

Plus, Ted Danson does bad guy well. Where else do you get to see that?

So if you haven't watched this show, set your DVR for August 9th. You could also settle onto your couch with a bunch of snacks to watch episode after episode. I'm not brave enough to do that. Some of these episodes scared the you know what out of me, so I stopped watching it before bed. Another warning: this show is NOT appropriate for children!

Get in on this show before the second season starts. You'll be wondering why you missed season one after Glenn Close wins the Emmy in September.

Move Over Segway...

Toyota has decided fat, lazy Americans will buy anything. The proof:



That's the Winglet. It goes 12 miles an hour.

Quick! Someone do the math! How long would it take me to get to work? And, no, I will not take it on the highway.

Apparently, Toyota is aiming these at the elderly in the airport. I would be afraid if my grandparents got on these. My grandpa, being the tailgater that he is, would probably mow down innocent people on this. My grandmother would probably ask some young person to carry her bags and scoot along on it while she walks along next to it making inappropriate remarks about people. Because she can.

Vista Haters Get Punk'd

When I bought my computers, I had a few people tell me to steer clear of Vista. I decided to give it a shot anyway. In my case, I haven't had Vista problems - knock wood.

But then comes this story. Microsoft gives it a new name then lets haters try it out.

Whaddayaknow? They like it!

I'm Still Sharing

I don't know what it is about the first of August that makes me want to share myself with you people, but here's another thing...

My Chinese name is Bai Nu kai. Get your own.

That's A LOT of Nicoles

Let me know how many of you there are in the comments section...

HowManyOfMe.com

There are 664 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

ANOTHER Survey

I will start August by answering this survey sent to me by my mother. Blame her if this bores you.

1. What is your job title right now? Producer

2. What color are your socks right now? my feet are naked
3. What are you listening to right now? The Ting Tings

4. What was the last thing that you ate? biscuit

5. Can you drive a stick shift? Yes. You know how I learned? My parents bought me a car that was standard and I had to drive it.

6. Last person you spoke to on the phone? I haven't been on the phone since last night, and I believe the last one on the phone with me was Gerber
7. Do you like the person who sent this to you? yes, mom

8. How old are you today? the calendar says 33, I say 13

9. What is your favorite sport to watch? Baseball

10. What is your favorite drink? non alcoholic: iced tea; alcoholic: margarita on the rocks

11. Have you ever dyed your hair? yes

12. Favorite food? hamburgers. I consider them the perfect meal (even if they're not made from beef)!
13. What is the last movie you watched? Superbad

14. Favorite day of the year? Christmas

15. How do you vent anger? kids, put on your earmuffs because I drop f-bombs

16. What was your favorite toy as a child? I don't remember any specific toy, so I'll say my brother

17. What happened to #16? He and his ginormous head are still around

18. Cherries or Blueberries? both

19. Do you want your friends to e-mail you back? well, since I'm not emailing this, I'll say NO - unless they want to send me their answers

20. Who is the most likely to respond? me

21. Who is least likely to respond? ?

22. Living arrangements? house with a dog and a kitten

23. When was the last time you cried? The other night when I watched Hopkins

24. What is under your bed? monsters

25. Who is the friend you have had the longest that you are sending this email to? um, you???

26. What did you do last night? I worked. And then I came home and went to bed.

27.What are you most afraid of? knowing when I'm going to die

28. Plain, cheese or spicy hamburgers? how about spicy cheese?

29. Favorite dog breed? well, I love my wienerdog !

30. Favorite day of the week? Sunday Morning

31. How many states have you lived in? 2

32. Where/when was your last vacation? June

33. What is the most exciting thing you have planned for the future? I plan to win the lottery and see the world. To accomplish that, I will start buying lottery tickets more often.