South Side Star South Side Star An everything goes cyber lounge serving you mental martinis -- shaken, not stirred. Come relax with a humorous spin on news, pop and underground culture, and opinions. Articles
Jonestown Kool-Aid Redux
2007-03-06 22:00:08 Here's an odd newstory and compelling CNN video found at Paula Mooney's blogspot. It's about Miami-based Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda, a popular minister with 300 congregations in over 20 countries. His 100,000 followers believed he was the Second Coming until last week. Because that's when he had a change of heart and confessed to being the Antichrist.Time to lock-up the Kool -Aid and change bank accounts... ?Antichrist? is the latest in a string of titles De Jesus has bestowed on himself. In 1988, De Jesus announced he was the reincarnation of the Apostle Paul. In 1999, he dubbed himself ?the Other,? a spiritual superbeing who would pave the way for Christ?s second coming. In 2004, he proclaimed himself to be Jesus Christ. That claim caused some prominent members to defect from the movement - including De Jesus? first wife, Nydia, and his son Jose Luis Jr., who started his own church in Puerto Rico.In January, during a packed worship service at the church, De Jesus took off his c... More About: Jones , Town , Nest , Redu
? Al Sharpton <-------> Strom Thurmond ?
2007-03-06 22:00:08 In a most astounding turn of events, it's been discovered that the controversial Senator Strom Thurmond (R-SC) is a blood relative of his polar opposite, the Rev. Sharp ton. Seriously. This gives whole new meaning to truisms such as "Never say never" and "You can't choose your relatives." The staggering news was brought to the civil right activist by an Ancestry.com genealogy team that included Tony Burroughs, a professor here at Chicago State University.Senator Thurmond died in 2003, but not before dedicating most of his 100 years to racial divisiveness. However after his death, to the astonishment of many, an African American named Essie Mae Washington-Williams made national headlines, stepping forward as the "secret daughter" of the staunch segregationist. And now this... The family connection involves Rev. Sharpton 's great-grandfather and Sen. Thurmond's great-great grandfather. Probably picking himself up off the floor, Rev. Sharpton said, "It's chilling. It's amazing..." ... More About: Al Sharpton , Harp
In Your Dreams, Girl: From Jennifer Holliday to Jennifer Hudson
2007-03-06 22:00:08 One of my favorite weekend rituals is watching CBS's Sunday Morning, but sometimes I miss it. So glad I caught it today though, as an original Dreamgirls star -- diva Jennifer Holliday -- was interviewed! She had a lot to say on this special day... the day that "her" character, Effie White, may win an unseasoned actress named Jennifer Hudson an Oscar."I never got to turn Effie off, the way that Jennifer Hudson can," Holliday told interviewer Russ Mitchell. She admits she lived the character of Effie for many years -- obviously becoming an unhealthy "one" with her Tony Award-winning muse.Like the character she brought to life in the spectacular Broadway musical, Holliday felt pushed off-stage, unrequited. It didn't much matter that she was celebrated as Time magazine's Performer of the Year. She'd actually quit the play at one point, unhappy because her character didn't get stage-time throughout. She might have felt better about herself when the producers tweaked the script and ... More About: Dreams , Your , Girl
"O" is for "Obama"
2007-03-06 22:00:08 "O" say can you see... what tomorrow may bring? Congratulations to the graphic design team at Chicago-based Sender LLC for producing this o-so-hot logo for Sen. Barack Obama 's presidential campaign. I like!Advertising agencies spend untold hours analyzing reams of data and pondering a universe of minutia before coming up with a successful branding image such as this. Sender's logo for Obama is crisp and simple, appropriately patriotic, and -- best of all -- reflects the strong sense of hope being on the horizon that he's inspiring across the country.Learn what the designers told Crain's Chicago Business about their prestigious assignment here.Links: obama chicago graphic design logo design More About: Bama
* Behind The Buzz * Sunday *
2007-03-06 22:00:08 I know I am, but what are you: Frank Rich's New York Times column and what cyber-pundits are saying about Rich calling the Administration inept liars...Is it cheaper to keep her (i.e., Iraq): Senator Carl Levin, Democratic chairman of the Senate armed services committee, says his party is drawing up plans to amend the 2002 congressional vote authorizing the war in Iraq. ..Baby, She's a Star: Amy Argetsinger's Washington Post piece about Britney Houston's -- I mean Spears's -- new look. But this report from Austrailia paints a darker version of events. Either way, locks of what's alleged to be the former Mouseketeer's hair have a bid at e-bay for upwards a million dollars. DNA litmus kit not included.Links: celebrity washington post new york times More About: Buzz , The Buzz , Sunday , Behind
Craig's List - Naughty or Nice?
2007-03-06 22:00:08 I'm a fan of Craig 's List ; I've actually gotten good leads on writing gigs off the site. But I'm starting to see it has an absolutely wack underbelly. I learned a few weeks ago about the bust of a prostitution ring that snagged its prey via Craig's List. Most of the call girls were minors; it was masterminded by two young people from the West side of Chicago. *cough*...And now I discover this: CraigsList personal ads. These posts are so bizarre (but well-written), I have to wonder if they're actually the work of some deviant (but truly imaginative) pro writers. Some of them are funny as all get-out; a few are just patently disgusting (but compelling, nonetheless).They say you can't make up stuff like this. Or can you?Links: craig's list sex chicago personals More About: Nice , Naught
Britney / Anna Nicole: Rehab & A Shake
2007-03-06 22:00:08 The Spears family has pressed Britney 's pause button: she checked into rehab again. She and her family are in my prayers. I hate seeing anybody go through the fire.Like this columnist, I've wonder if postpartum depression is a factor. Check out the potential PPD red flags @ Julie's Health Club.Steve Johnson @ Chicago Tribune has lots of Britney comments; some are so cold. Brit is only human. Makes me think of Princess Di.If that's not disconcerting enough, footage has just surfaced of Anna Nicole Smith... out of it and wearing clown make up. Reeling like a zombie.I saw the video last night. The only other image this bizarre is Samuel L. Jackson playing 'Gator' in "Jungle Fever."[deconstruction of an anti-Hero] From Wikipedia, thefree encyclopediaA hero (male) orheroine (female) usually fulfills the definitions of what is considered good and noblein the originating culture.Typically thewillingness to sacrifice the self for the greater good is seen as the mostimportant defining ... More About: Rehab , Cole
Lush:::Bathwater That Will Drive You to Drink
2007-03-06 22:00:08 Stopped by the Lush boutique at Macy's today, giving my sweet tooth for home-spa stuff a real jolt. Lush is like a candy shop of soaps, face scrubs and bath oils that look delicious enough to eat. Seriously. Lush prides itself on hip design and functionalty. But beware: It's a fakery, too. Hence the tagline, Fresh Homemade Cosmetics. Lush manages to dimensionalize any space the brand occupies. Inside stores, you're surrounded by a maze of baskets. Each is stacked high with colorful, snowball-sized bath tablet or soaps. Or cool soaps splayed on a plate like sushi or pate'.And you can't help but smell everything. That's what I did: descended like a bee, sinking my stinger in every goodie I passed. When I came up for air, the girl working there was kind enough to tell me I sort of had glitter up my nose. Guess I sniffed that bath tablet too hard. (I must have looked like a junkie smearing away stray nose candy. So dial 9-1-1: I'm addicted to lavender.)Yep, L u s h i s t h e Link... More About: Bath , Drink , Drive , Hat , Water
The Professional: Naomi Campbell
2007-03-06 22:00:08 Supermodel Naomi Campbell 's coming back to Chicago soon. And when she does, some innocent runway will be asassinated, Jean Reno-style. The hottest hit-woman to ever stalk a catwalk, Campbell aims to promote and *star model* in an upcoming consumer fashion show called "FashionWeekLive." Happening March 13 at Millenium Park, the IMG-produced show features the work of 20 to 30 designers from New York and Chicago. This promises to be one heck of a stomp across the grass in Grant Park. Check this Chicago Sun Times story by Maureen Jenkins for more. Links: naomi campbell fashion show chicago FashionWeekLive Fashion Week More About: Profession , Prof
Fantasia to Star In 'Color Purple' on Broadway
2007-03-06 22:00:08 The deal is done: American Idol winner Fantasia Barrino is set to channel "Celie" in the Broadway play The Color Purple . Fantasia announced her fantastic, new gig tonight on 'Idol' -- right before wowwing the audience with an emotion-charged tune from the B'way show.There's great anticipation in Chicago about The Color Purple coming here this spring. Wouldn't it be wonderful if the Windy City cast for this Oprah Winfrey-produced venture included you-know-who? And you know who can make it happen.Links: fantasia barrino american idol the color purple oprah More About: Asia , Star
Restless Royals: Hillary, Helen, Harry & Forrest
2007-03-06 22:00:08 The Queen is not amused. Nor is the King, for that matter. And the Prince has had it up to here. Royal s on pins and needles right now: Hillary Clinton, Helen Mirren, Prince Harry and Forrest Whitaker. Here's what has them anxious...Pictured left in photo below, mogul David Geffen, a member of Hollywood's powerful DreamWorks trio, launched WMD at Senator Clinton. The upset: Geffen shared with Maureen Dowd of the NY Times his harsh opinions of the Clintons. One of many Geffen quotes:"Not since the Vietnam War has there been this level of disappointment in thebehavior of America throughout the world, and I don't think that anotherincredibly polarizing figure, no matter how smart she is and no matter howambitious she is -- and God knows, is there anybody more ambitious thanHillary Clinton? -- can bring the country together. ..."The folks at HRClinton headquarters are outraged. Usually cool as the queen, the former First Lady's nerves were frayed by "Gay Mafia" don David Geffen. Bu... More About: Restless , Rest
Forrest Whitaker: Eating Idi's Hat
2007-03-06 22:00:08 The Last King has been nominated for an Oscar, with its star, Amin-alike Forrest Whitaker , up to win the Best Actor award. But a son of Idi Amin takes issue with how his father, the late dictaor of Uganda, was portrayed.The film was just released in Uganda; Jaffar Amin nor any other family member attended the premier. He did, however, watch "Last King" later, at home on DVD. Now the dutiful son, Jaffar Amin, speaks out via this interview in today's Washington Post:Though he doesn't deny the atrocities attributed to his father during hisreign of terror, he says the film will compound many of the negative images onwhich he is now trying to shed light.He acknowledges he faces a difficultbattle trying to humanize Idi Amin.Jeeze... And I thought the Amin family would be relieved the film did such a fine job of dispelling that myth about Amin practicing cannibalism.Links: the last king of scotland films africa uganda More About: Take , Hat , Rest , Eating
Oscar Party: Serving Statuesque Martinis, Dahling
2007-03-06 22:00:08 Want to roll out the red carpet for friends coming over to watch the Oscar s? Why not treat them like movie stars: send them spiralling out of control thanks to these delicious martini recipes. The site gives instructions for mixing over 200 varieties of the world's most popular cocktail, ranging from a Mojito or Barbed Wire Mart ini to the garden variety Apple or blazing Jamaican Martini.Why, a good martini could even keep the peace at your Oscar Party : If someone's favorite movie or actor gets over-looked, they'll be too tore-up to notice! Just keep queasy people away from your casting couch. No cookie- or salad-tossing allowed...Links: Oscars martini Hollywood More About: Statue , Statues
The Oscars -- What the Survey (Didn't) Said
2007-03-06 22:00:08 I just participated in a quickie online poll over at the Washington Post. The question: What was the most egregious snub of this year's Oscarnominations?No "Dreamgirls" for Best PictureNo Leonardo DiCaprio Nod for "The Departed"No Jack Nicholson for Best Supporting ActorNo Brad Pitt for Supporting ActorNo "Volver" for Foreign Language FilmNo Sacha Baron Cohen for Best ActorI clicked the third choice, that Jack Nicholson was snubbed for his performance in The Departed. Feel the same about Matt Damon, too. How on Earth could these two not have been nominated for Best Supporting Actor? Nicholson's Frank Costello was the baddest mofo on the silver screen last year. And his crooked side-kick, Sullivan, was played with brilliant deviance by Damon. Makes me think there's too much politics involved with the Academy Awards.So I clicked through my vote, sure The World would agree... and was shocked! In most people's opinion, there's a far greater snub than my Jack & Matt disappointment. ... More About: Cars , Scars , Oscars , Survey
Obama & Mother Jones: Rapping Knuckles Over Iraq
More articles from this author:2007-03-06 22:00:08 Lost track of who's on first in Iraq ? Not sure it really qualifies as a civil war? Unclear why we should care? Know what U.S. tax payers are getting for$2 billion/week? Not sure, but want money back? Well, Mother Jones is teaching one heck of a lesson here: Iraq 101.Links: iraq Barack Obama today became the teacher's pet with this one-two punch about Iraq. A free sample:Speaking at a massive outdoor rally in Austin, Texas, Obama said British Prime Minister Tony Blair's decision this week to withdraw 1,600 troops is a recognition that Iraq's problems can't be solved militarily."Now if Tony Blair can understand that, then why can't George Bush and Dick Cheney understand that?" Obama asked thousands of supporters who gathered in the rain to hear him."In fact, Dick Cheney said this is all part of the plan (and) it was a goodthing that Tony Blair was withdrawing, even as the administration is preparingto put 20,000 more of our young men and women in."Now, keep in mind, this is the ... More About: Other 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
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