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CHINESE POLICE VALENTINE
2012-02-09 15:19:00 Reports say that a site full of bachelor policemen has become the most popular Weibo microblog in China. More than 2000 fans follow the online initiative started by Wuhou public security bureau in the province of Chengdu of Sichuan. The goal is to help single officers that work long hours that prevent a normal social life, find dates. Who wants a handsome, employed, gun-toting Valentine?
Is On the Waterfront the only movie. . .
2012-02-02 06:16:00 . . . where union bosses are the bad guys? Just saw Super 8. Now, to be sure, I enjoyed the flick, was a fun, very well-made popcorn movie, but once again, the villains come from the armed forces. It’s not just the military; it seems that all too often businessmen, particularly oil tycoons, are ...
By: GayPatriot
Red Tails: This is why they make movies
2012-01-25 09:09:00 I did not watch the State of the Union last night. Instead of hearing a speech by a man of little accomplishment and great acclaim, I went to see a movie about men of great accomplishment and little acclaim, Red Tails, about the Tuskegee Airmen and their valor in World War II. All I can ...
By: GayPatriot
Lessons from ?The Waiting Place? of LA Traffic
2012-01-20 21:36:00 Perhaps the main reason I posted my rant yesterday on my travails of LA traffic was because they had so drained me of the creative that had nourished me previously in the day. After dashing out my Iron Lady post, I just couldn’t focus. And that lack of focus caused me to wonder about the ...
By: GayPatriot
WARREN BUFFETT AND JAY-Z
2012-01-20 18:30:00 Music mogul, Jay-Z, was in the spotlight this past Wednesday as he re-opened his famous 40/40 Club in New York City. The star-studded evening was graced with a handful of celebs, one of which was probably more noteworthy than the rest--Warren Buffett. The multi-billionaire was caught enjoying the scene and remodeled look of the trendy establishment. Photographers even caught him throwing up Jay-Z's infamous "Roc Diamond." Now we've seen everything!
Falling Down in Los Angeles Traffic
2012-01-20 00:57:00 Yesterday, while pumping gas, I saw a woman melt down when unable to fill her Lexus SUV with gas. I silently mocked her. Today, I sympathized with her. Maybe she had had the kind of traffic I did today and the challenge of self-serve gasoline was the straw which broke the proverbial camel’s back. Driving ...
By: GayPatriot
The Iron Lady: Great acting, flawed storytelling
2012-01-20 00:28:00 Just got back from seeing an early show of The Iron Lady with a conservative friend. Both of us agreed that the film lacked a political agenda and indeed largely put Margaret Thatcher’s conservatism in a positive light. The problem of the film was not its politics, but its storytelling. It seemed more an exercise ...
By: GayPatriot
CRAIGSLIST THE MUSICAL
2012-01-18 18:38:00 CBC broadcaster Bill Richardson and singer/songwriter Veda Hille are the culprits behind the quirky new musical, Do You Want What I Have Got? A Craigslist Cantata. The show is a musical parody based largely on Craigslist want-ads and the theme of humanity in the age of social networking and exchange. It will make its big debut at this year's PuSh International Performing Arts Festival in Vancouver, Canada. Expect lots of laughs and weirdness like irregular cat hats, mounted lobsters, and a slew of other want-ad mentions.
DC COMICS TATTOO HOAX
2012-01-14 00:52:00 Yep, we've been suckered! Earlier we reported a post about DC Comics and their supposed litigation against fan tattoos. Turns out the story was a complete hoax from 2011. The original April Fool's story appeared on ComicMix. We're sure we weren't the only guys that got had. We can imagine all the take-downs during that week. We apologize anyway and we won't be returning any calls to Hawkman, Superman or responding to any Justice League threats...
DC COMICS VS TATTOOS
2012-01-13 18:00:00 In a pursuit that's almost too incredible to believe, lawyers representing the comic book pioneers over at DC Comics are actually handing out cease and desist notices to fans with tattooed art that they deem copyrighted material. The suits, apparently on call from Warner Bros. (DC's parent company), began handing out official notices while on the floor of the C2E2 convention in Chicago last month. And here's what they had to say about it:
X-MAS IN HOLLIS [EMOTICON VERSION]
2011-12-25 13:05:00 Seeing as how Christmas day is finally upon us, we thought it'd be sweet to commemorate the holiday with a proper sound-off. Check out what we found while surfing. An emoticon version of the Run DMC classic, Christmas In Hollis. Ho-Ho-Ho and an iPhone yo!
Of Maggie & Movies
2011-12-24 06:54:00 In her column yesterday, Peggy Noonan demonstrated the qualities that have caused me to dub her the Athena of punditry: she offers a particular feminine insight into recent cultural moments, a woman’s wisdom. Just read her reflection on the death of Steve Jobs and wonder. Although she is slightly critical of the soon-to-be-released movie about ...
By: GayPatriot
THE RE-EDUCATION OF INDONESIA
2011-12-22 23:34:00 In an attempt to reclaim "lost" youth and restore "moral values," authorities in Indonesia are corralling dozens of punk teens and forcing them to give up their rebellious ways. The effort includes shaving the heads of many of the detainees, ridding them of their punk attire, and forcing them into a strict regimen of religion and military drills. Despite the clamp down, The Guardian reports, many of the teens are still rebelling and sticking to their punk ethics. Here's what one young man had to say about fighting the power:
Where are the films exposing the suffering under Islamofascism?
2011-12-19 04:59:00 The late Vaclav Havel was a voice of moral clarity on a continent confused by the various ideologies which arose as the threat of communism receded, indeed, which became chic even as those totalitarian regimes oppressed the citizens of nations in eastern and central Europe and challenged democratic republics in the western and southern regions ...
By: GayPatriot
LA Times coos over Occupy version of Christmas Carol
2011-12-19 00:54:00 To see just one reason why fewer and fewer right-of-center Angelenos subscribe to the Los Angeles Times, take a gander at this front page puff piece on a left-wing playwright’s revisioning of Charles Dickens’s Christmas Carol. The story is not even about a play that has been produced, but merely about a script a man has ...
By: GayPatriot
The Visual Power of A Single Man
2011-12-18 00:57:00 Last night, I finally got around to watching A Single Man and wish I had seen it on the big screen. Although the script had a numerous problems, the art direction and cinematography made the flick a real treat. And Colin Firth‘s portrayal of the solitude of gay man in the early 1960s struggling with ...
By: GayPatriot
Someone other than Disney suing James Cameron over ?Avatar?
2011-12-10 21:18:00 According to Reuters, “‘Avatar’ director James Cameron has been hit with a lawsuit by a writer who claims that the plot for the hit sci-fi movie was lifted from his own project“: In the suit, which was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court Thursday, Eric Ryder claims that he entered into an agreement with Cameron’s ...
By: GayPatriot
SAY WORD! | ARE KIDS EATING DESSERT FOR BREAKFAST?
2011-12-09 22:15:00 Being one to LOVE our cereal followed by our cereal milk, we kind of knew it, but this report by the Enviornmental Working Group solidifies the fact that most children's cereal contains a lot of sugar! It's not until it's contextualized with hightlight such as: "One serving of Honey Smacks has more sugar than a Twinkie." and... "One cup of any of 44 children?s cereals ? including Honey Nut Cheerios, Apple Jacks, and Cap?n Crunch ? contains more sugar than 3 Chips Ahoy! cookies." That one begins to realize the ramification of what this all means especially with childhood obesity...
When Hollywood honestly defied an unjust system
2011-12-09 09:30:00 For the past few evenings while having my snack or seeking a moment’s escape, I have been working my way through The Bette Davis Collection, Vol. 3 which I bought on sale at a Barnes * Noble in Denver. (I could have saved a few more bucks had I bought it online at Amazon.) Although ...
By: GayPatriot
Pop Culture Baby Name Game 2011!
2011-12-02 16:18:00 Today is Britney Spears’s birthday. (Happy 30th, B!) And you know what happens every year when Brit’s birthday rolls around: the Pop Culture Baby Name Game! What’s the game all about? Well, we try to predict which pop culture-inspired baby … Continue reading →
CEREBRAL BALLZY SKATE HOMAGE
2011-11-29 18:59:00 Brooklyn-based punk group, Cerebral Ballzy, pays homage to the 80's skate scene with their latest video On The Run. Aside from the vintage styled footage, the video also features the likes of four-wheeled legends Christian Hosoi, Mike McGill, Lance Mountain, and Steve Alba for an extra street cred. Too rad!
Why can?t Obama say this about his critics?
2011-11-15 07:00:00 Given reports I have read on how the soon-to-be released biopic on perhaps the greatest woman of the Twentieth Century, I doubt I will see Meryl Streep’s The Iron Lady, but that great actress did make a good point about that great lady: I still don?t agree with a lot of [Margaret Thatcher's] policies. But ...
By: GayPatriot
South Park: #OWS projecting Obama?s failure onto Cartman
2011-11-03 23:09:00 A reader alerted me to the latest episode of South Park which takes on #OWS, linking this post where Christian Toto offers a summary of the episode, including this line from Cartman, “Don?t you get it, Mom? People voted for Obama, and now that everything sucks they have to blame me!” Shouldn’t these folks be ...
By: GayPatriot
MSM Journalists? Reality-Show Envy?
2011-10-31 23:45:00 Over at the Corner, Mark Steyn sees the Cain kerfuffle as just another media-generated distraction from the real issues in those (already) overlong campaign: What ought to make America ?uncomfortable? is that it?s broke and it?s heading for collapse. But, judging from the preoccupations of our media, very few Americans are discomforted by that. Read the ...
By: GayPatriot
Pop Culture Wanderer #2: I Am A Sick Sick Man
2011-07-13 20:08:00 It’s time once again to join me as I meander through the stacks of DVD’s, the Digital Cable Guide, the bowels of Netflix and more! As the title says, I am a sick sick man, or at least I was. That’s not really pertaining to my tastes mind you; my taste is pretty bad by ...
By: Cinema Fromage
Pop culture is ready for its next favorite psychopath
2011-06-04 20:30:00 This month's GQ excerpts an essay from Jon Ronson's new book The Psychopath Test, which examines the frightening likelihood that the subtly yet undeniably insane are prevalent in every area of society - especially in the upper echelons of power. Reading the piece - an intriguing mini-profile of a notorious corporate executive, "Chainsaw" Al Dunlop - motivated me to revisit two related texts that I've loved (though one of which I have only the faintest memories of). One is Snakes In Suits, a book co-authored by Paul Babiak and Robert Hare, the psychopathy expert who designed the test which gives Ronson's book its inspiration and title. Babiak and Hare argue, with fairly chilling plausibility, that many traits endemic to psychopaths...
TOP 5 CHICAGO SPORTS/POP CULTURE LOOK-ALIKES
2011-03-01 14:13:00 Jay Cutler (Bears) and Angus Jones (the 1/2 in Two and a Half Men): Like Jay, Angus wishes to grow-up to be a pro football player, date a quasi-celebrity, and avoid accidentally getting a venereal disease from Charlie Sheen.
Think Warm: Get Your Mind Off the Snow Using Pop Culture
2011-02-02 18:07:00 Snowmobile? Look at my poor Silver Bullet buried in snow. Think warm thoughts, my friend. We'll be back on the roadways soon. Credit: Kyra Kyles HTC EvoI am sick of snow. Thinking about snow. Looking at snow. Looking at my car buried in snow.I bet you are too, so I did us all a favor.Here are some movies and videos that make me feel hot just watching them. No, not those kinds of movies and videos, you dirty, dirty Kyles Filers. These:(1) "Belly"This much ballyhooed, but ultimately unsatisfying movie by Hype Williams, for some reason felt the need to coat one of its stars in baby oil. Just looking at her makes me think I too should be sweating.(2) "Tropic...
REAL VIDEO GAMES
2011-01-19 18:15:00 Designer/Illustrator, Aled Lewis, has a soft spot for video game-inspired art. Check out this clever photo series that combines nostalgia with modern-day kicks! Recognize any of the subjects?
NAS' TDK CHRONICLE
2011-01-19 01:08:00 Picking up where our boombox coverage left off, Rolling Stone and TDK teamed up with Hip-Hop legend, Nas, to continue the ongoing film series, TDK: Life On Record Chronicles. In this edition the MC goes on to discuss the significance of the analog recording process to the early Hip-Hop music scene.
Harry?s Law: libertarian worldview/liberal rhetoric
2011-01-18 09:42:00 Last night, for the first time perhaps since I moved to LA, I watched two one-hour dramas back to back. Indeed, this may well have been the first time I watched an one-hour drama alone since Northern Exposure was cancelled, save when I tuned in to see an acting friend who snagged a part on ...
By: GayPatriot
NUTHIN' BUT A GLEE THANG
2011-01-15 07:39:00 Fox Television's hit musical series, Glee, meets 1993 Dr. Dre and Snoop. Need we say more? Umm, no!
BLOGGER PORTRAITS
2011-01-15 06:51:00 Photographer, Gabriela Herman, presents her bloggers portrait series, where she captures the famous subjects behind Crushable, Fimoculous, and The Gloss, to name a few. All of them, in their natural environment--behind the computer screen! Enjoy.
CES IN 60 SECONDS
2011-01-14 20:22:00 Check out some of the the technological madness at 2011's Consumer Electonrics Show (CES) in Vegas, as seen through the eyes of ABC News. Expect some double-screen tablets, cleaning robots, and Ludacris!
NIKE SB BOOK
2011-01-11 18:09:00 Sportswear giant, Nike, dives further into its skateboarding history by announcing the release of a comprehensive book on the iconic Dunk sneaker--The Nike SB Dunk Pro 1985-2011. Set for release sometime this year, the book will explore the rich 25-year history of the popular shoe.
REMAPPING THE WORLD
2011-01-10 17:57:00 American illustrators, Rick Meyerowitz (National Lampoon) and Maira Kalman (The New Yorker) are strong supporters of the idea that mapping the world around us is no longer a thing of bureaucracy or the elite. The two's Culinary Subway Map is a foodie's (or attention fiend's) reinterpretation of the New York City MTA Subway Map. It leads many of us to consider the range of possibilities concerning how we all psychologically "map" out our worlds. Happy mapping!
CANVAS LUXURY
2011-01-08 09:55:00 Los Angeles-based accessory line, Thursday Friday, presents an ironic twist to designer handbags. The playful label is making a name for itself by interpreting the iconic (and ultra-expensive) Hermès Birkin bag. The difference? Oh, just that it's a canvas tote bag and about $20K-$100K lesser than the French original. Ha!
BBC'S "THE LOOK"
2011-01-06 21:52:00 Here's a "look" into the fashion industry via the BBC's documentary film vault. The Look is a series that examines the social context of famous labels like Polo, Stussy, and Chanel. While dated (circa 1990's), the series still captures the relevance of an industry that markets aspirations and status to its consumers. Designers Ralph Lauren, Coco Chanel, and Shawn Stussy are the focus of episode 4.
A DIGITAL NATIVITY STORY
2011-01-01 04:58:00 The Portuguese creatives over at Excentric wanted to wish everyone Happy Holidays--their way! And what better way to do so than by creating a "digital" version of the Christian Nativity story, complete with the use of Google, iPhones, email, and all! Nice job.
SHANGHAI 5: SKATEBOARDING IN CHINA
2011-01-01 03:53:00 With all the recent buzz surrounding China and its eminent role in global economics, it might seem a bit of a curve-ball to focus on a burgeoning counter-culture scene. But that's exactly what videographer, Charles Lanceplaine, tackles in his 23-minute skateboard short, Shanghai 5. The film takes a close look at the social context of the relatively "new" scene and gives insight into the lives of participating Chinese youth--a dichotomy between traditional China and emerging pop-culture!
A 10 MINUTE HISTORY OF THE BOOMBOX
2010-12-30 07:21:00 iPod and Mp3 player users owe a lot to the Boombox, and NPR's "Rise And Fall Of The Boombox" sets the record straight. The documentary-style short covers the history and context of the infamous "Ghetto Blaster" via interviews with collectors like Lyle Owerko and historians like Fab 5 Freddy. Do yourself a favor and turn it up!
TOO FLY NYC
2010-12-28 21:13:00 International artist, philanthropist, and República homegirl, TooFly, is getting ready to welcome the New Year in New York with style! That's right, fans will be able to peep multiple showings of her art and photography via different galleries throughout the city. And here they are, straight from her email blast to you:
VISUALIZING FRIENDSHIPS
2010-12-27 21:03:00 Facebook intern and data cruncher, Paul Butler, decided to embark on the ambitious task of rendering the connections between a sample that represents the site's 500 Million-plus users. After a few mathematical adjustments and visual tweaks, the results of his work were made available--and the picture is quite telling! Paul puts it best when he states, "what really struck me, though, was knowing that the lines didn't represent coasts or rivers or political borders, but real human relationships." Alas, the Internet and social networking continue to amaze!
PERALTA POWER
2010-12-23 00:26:00 Just in time for the holidays, The Peralta Project drops it's collaborative Good Wood collection. Expect some of the classic imagery that first catapulted owner and artist, Tony Peralta, onto the scene, along with some more contemporary and politically-inspired pieces. Grab yours here.
THE F**K US ALL EXHIBIT
2010-12-21 18:34:00 The traveling work of subculture photography legend, Glen E. Friedman, is now being showcased in San Francisco's 941Geary gallery. Those of you too far to check it out in person can peep the following Warholian.com edit, as it explores the cultural impact of Friedman's work on the continued success of Punk, Hip-Hop, and Skateboarding cultures:
33 Epic Pop Culture Turkeys
2010-11-18 18:50:00 I've plucked the 33 most noteworthy turkeys of all time from Howard The Duck, Lindsay Lohan to Superman IV: The Quest For Peace. So pass the dressing and stick a fork in it, its done
THE BOOMBOX PROJECT
2010-10-19 17:24:00 It's hard to think back to a time when mp3 players and cellphones weren't so prevalent. A time when the only portable music came blaring out of a passing car stereo, or, even better, out of a boombox! Canadian-born photographer, Lyle Owerko, explores that time and the powerful urban history associated with it in his new book, The Boombox Project: The Machines, The Music, And The Urban Underground. Okay Hip-Hop heads, it's time to put down the iPod and listen to some history!
Pop Culture Possessions: Are Demons the New Vampires?
2010-08-25 20:10:00 I've been mulling something over and I'd like to get your thoughts. Does it seem like demons are taking over vampires as the new "it" monster? I'm getting a little sick of trailers for "The Last Exorcism" featuring a wild-eyed, stringy-haired possession victim whose father looks like an extra from "The Expendables." And now M. Knight Shymalan (the biggest director disappointment I can think of at the moment) developed the story for a movie about the devil being in an elevator with a group of unfortunate mortals who should've taken the stairs. The name? "The Devil." (Yeah, it sounds dumb.) Doesn't the devil have anything better to do than pull the "emergency stop" in some office building? I mean,...
Summer lovin': Pop culture crushes
2010-08-20 01:43:00 'Tis the season to fall in love. Everything is green and magical and the air feels heavy with the promise of something sexy. Whether it's a simple summer fling, a serious romance or a silly crush on a celebrity--it's easy to get carried away on the summer winds. Here are my summer crushes, both sentient beings and inanimate things....
Pants-on-the-Ground Banished From Pop Culture? You Tell Me...
2010-01-22 13:00:00 If you checked out this column in today's RedEye on page 4, go ahead and skip on down to the part where you comment. I'd like to know your thoughts about the possible death of pants-on-the-ground. I also need to take this opportunity to thank Tracy Swartz, my RedEye colleage and "Going Public" goddess who helped make this column possible, and no, it wasn't by wearing too baggy/too tight pants. It's cruel to kick a man when he's down. The same rule applies to pants on the ground. Chicago Tribune: Ed Wagner I, for one, am tired of the one-sided pop culture pummeling being meted out to baggy jeans. The commander of this cause: "American Idol" reject-turned-viral video star... |
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