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The Truth About New Jersey

Here we go again!  As if Tony Soprano and the table-flippin' Real Housewives of New Jersey weren't enough, now its time for MTV to exploit Garden State stereotypes.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34134615/ns/entertainment-reality_tv/
MTV brags that the Italians in its new reality show Jersey Shore "keep their hair high, their muscles juiced and their fists pumping all summer long!"

I grew up in Jersey and yes, I do like big hair,
http://images.onset.freedom.com/gaston/medium/kqqkrh-kqqkixsatisfiedlifegroup.jpg
but despite what you see on TV its a pretty diverse state.
http://www.locationnj.com/Demog_NJ_General.asp

Sure its just another one of those Hollywood crutches... pushy New Yorker, hick Southerner, arrogant Texan, surfing Californian...  but just for once can a character from the Garden State be into gardening?

11 Lingering Questions about the AMAs

Did Janet Jackson hire a "Star Wars" costume designer to hook up her outfit for the show?
Are people freaked about Adam Lambert's performance because he had guy-on-guy action?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34109255/ns/entertainment-access_hollywood/
Was Kelly Clarkson wearing her grandma's bedazzled jacket?
Was that a permanent tattoo down Rihanna's neck and chest? 
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/slideshow?id=2085583
Do celebs like Keith Urban really need wallet chains?  Are there pickpockets in the band?
How many liquor bottles does Lady Gaga need to break to let the crowd know she's disturbed?
Is knowing Taylor Swift Gloriana's only claim to fame?
Was Chris Allen, the WINNER of American Idol, a little ticked that he didn't get to perform?
Was it a coincidence that Alicia Keys' dancers had thighs that looked like hers?
Jermagesty?  C'mon Jermaine, did you have to pin that name on your kid?
Did J-Lo's magic booty help her bounce back up so quickly after she fell?
http://www.usmagazine.com/moviestvmusic/news/jennifer-lopez-falls-on-bum-at-amas-20092311

Stars of the DVR

Though "Blades of Glory" was far from Oscar worthy and "Land of the Lost" defiled a cherished childhood show, I still like Will Ferrell.  Forbes puts him on top of its list of overpaid movie stars.  So what.  Will is among a select group of actors who, despite their box office bombs,  give us films that have the ability to make a lazy afternoon.... ummmmm lazier.   At least mildly amusing and starring familiar faces their movies will always get a spot in my DVR memory.
Here are my stars of the DVR. (I see very few of their flicks at the box office, but my cable subscription takes care of it)

1.  Will Ferrell
http://www.bladesofgloryquotes.com/
2.  Ben Stiller
http://www.slashfilm.com/
3.  Adam Sandler
http://www.sonypictures.com/homevideo/youdontmesswiththezohan/
4.  Vince Vaughn
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Couples-Retreat-crosses-100m-mark/H1-Article1-478048.aspx
5.  Drew Barrymore
http://www.seattlepi.com/movies/410746_film30308252.html
6.  Chris Rock
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mujzsr-MEMI
7.  Martin Lawrence
http://www.spike.com/video/black-knight-jamal/2411563
8.  Owen Wilson
http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/movies/chi-21-drillbit-taylor-review,0,7426777.story
9.  Gabrielle Union
http://www.empiremovies.com/2006/05/23/gabrielle-union-is-daddys-little-girl/
10. Michael Cera
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0McgEOxYyCk
11.  Queen Latifah
http://movies.about.com/od/theperfectholiday/ig/Perfect-Holiday-Photos/theperfectholidaypic2.htm
12.  Anne Hathaway
http://www.stlyrics.com/b/bridewars.htm

Fath Test vs. Common Sense Quiz

I've been praying for months that God will send the family who needs my home.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbeLdsoSbY0.  Friday night I decided to change it up a bit.  I thanked Him instead.  I said "thank you" for the family You are sending.  I thanked Him for the healings he was bringing to the lives of family and friends who've been facing serious illnesses.   It was a statement of my faith.  I confess that my relationship with faith isn't perfect.  There are times when we make a great couple.  I'm hopeful and prayerful and filled with encouragement.   At other times, I'm fearful, doubtful and filled with worry.  http://www.givinghopethroughfaith.org/letters-of-hope-aug07.html

Mere minutes after my Friday night faith statement came a major faith challenge and what a doozy it was.  I sat down to look for an e-mail and found two amazing messages.  My friend heard from her hubby's doctor that his condition had improved so dramatically that he no longer needed to be on the transplant list!    The next message was from my realtor.  A cash offer for my house!  Wow!  So where's the test?  The offer comes without any earnest money and the buyer wants me out in about a week.  Do I move on faith or listen to the "what if" wondering if the refusal to put up earnest money is a sign they'll back out at the last minute?  Is this a faith test or common sense quiz?

Worst Kid Characters on TV

Some TV kids are the victims of poor writing, some are the victims of their own lack of talent and some simply play characters that are so unlikable and annoying that you want to immediately put them on time out.

Sorry kids your character was just unnecessary or unlikable:

Juanita - Desperate Housewives (A bully and unpleasant child character.  My mom spends every episode describing what she'd do to whip the kid into shape.  She makes Nelly Olsen look like an angel)
Richie and Judy-  Family Matters (Richie was a pint-sized Lionel Richie hired ONLY because somebody thought he was cute.  It was never explained what happend to Judy, Laura and Eddie's younger sister.  she was so useless her character disppeared with no explanation because nobdy cared)
DJ - Roseanne (they switched Beckys, but everybody wishes they had just sent DJ off to live with one of his wacky grandmothers)
Any kid added just because the series was getting stale.  This means you Cousin Oliver on Brady Bunch, Sam on Diff'rent Strokes and Nicky Banks on Fresh Prince.

Some kids just aren't good actors.  They start out cute, but their acting skills are nil.  But the most unforgivable are the kids on reality TV.  Jon and Kate are doing little Maddie any favors by showing her tantrums.  The same goes for ALL the kids on Nanny 911 and about half the kids on Wife Swap and Toddlers in Tiaras. 

Just Say Ho

We've trivialized all of the other girl put-down words.  "Dame" and "broad" used to be edgy gangster terms.  Now they just sound silly.    You can make life a legal nightmare for your sexist supervisor if he substitutes honey, baby or sugar for your God-given name.  We've claimed  the word "chick."  I'm also proud that in my lifetime, we've even taken the bite out of the female dog term.  In your face, Snoop Dogg!  "Bitch" is no longer a word we can't say on the radio.  In fact, I remember when pop radio stations had Meredith Brooks' song, "Bitch" in heavy rotation (http://popup.lala.com/popup/576742236132675147.  Some gal pals even use the word quite lovingly.  I think its time for "bitches" to move on.

Next up is ho (if you're from the old skool it was probably remember it being spelled differently on the bathroom stall doors).  I think the only way to tame this monster is to take it over.  The ho costume was so popular at Halloween that party stores added ho accessories to the inventory! (http://www.candyapplecostumes.com/pimps_hos.html?gclid=CK7gtrC3gp4CFYlM2god92Ripg)
We've got to stop the madness.  My strategy is to make it positive.  Our best friends and sisters must become our Support Ho's.  Girls who plant flowers must become Garden Ho's.  Call Nancy Reagan!  Let's lobby her to change the name of her campaign to "Just Say Ho!"

Sadly, during the 2008 presidential primaries,  when I saw a college kid sporting a "Bro's before Ho's" t-shirt featuring Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, I knew we had a long way to go.  But I think we can do this.  If we don't the next generation of girls will have a hard road to hoe (http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/a+hard+row+to+hoe).
(really bad pun very much intended)

RIP Roosevelt Franklin

Kids these days have the Wiggles but the children's music I grew up on came straight from Sesame Street.  If you visited our home you were sure to hear me singing my ABC's right along with Roosevelt Franklin
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ww3RAgnVOIs).  I memorized his whole album "Roosevelt Franklin Sings" and thanks to him I could rock the days of the week ("http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRH5-q7iFS0)

A purple guy with a tuft of Don King-like hair, he was the hippest of muppets.  Sadly he fell victim to political correctness.  While Roosevelt Franklin taught kids lessons about accepting people who look different, talk different, live in different places and eat different foods... some folks felt he represented "a negative cultural stereotype." ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lv58qiMgGvY).  Despite being a popular character he was canned. 

I'll never forget you Roosevelt Franklin, R.I.P.  Thanks for inventing him, Sesame Street.  Happy 40th birthday.

Dream Guests

I've got a short list of dream guests.

1. Carter, Jimmy or Amy

2. Sasha or Malia (the most elusive and fun Obamas) http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hk5atMZtp29Rx-J14X1haDCpYwIQ

3. Oprah (confident enough in my interview skills to believe I could make HER cry)

4. Cecily Tyson (a.k.a. Miss Jane Pittman. Yes, I'd be ignorant enough to reinact that final scene at the water fountain where her lips are shaking as she takes a sip)http://www.borders.com/online/store/TitleDetail?sku=074645895390

5. Jesse Ventura  (the Chuck Norris of politics)

Jesse is the best guest in the world. A monkey could interview him about politics and look like a Marconi/Emmy/Gracie Award winner. It doesn't matter what he's talking about.... the war, the economy, health care, gay marriage... he's got a common sense way of breaking down the politics that keeps me glued when he's on radio or TV. Props to you Mr. Body. I once made fun of the folks in Minnesota for making you their governor.  Now, Ah-nuld is thanking his lucky California stars that Jesse paved the way for a weight lifter to have big political muscles.

Last night I heard Jesse ask a question that I first read on as a "status" comment on the profile of a Facebook friend named Jerry.  Both wondered if a civil rights issue should be put up for a popular vote. What if slavery had been a ballot question back in the day? If, like Jesse, you examine gay marriage as a 100% civil rights issue, then the answer seems clear.