Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Short Attention Span Wednesday

Truth in Advertising?

I'd like Ralph Nader to take a closer look at the deceptively-named tee-vee show "Dancing with the Stars." The next edition's cast includes these has-beens wanna-bes stars of stage and screen: actor Vincent Pastore ("The Biggest Loser" -- and oh, yeah, "The Sopranos"); Beverly Hills 90210's Ian Ziering (who apparently doesn't know how to pronounce his own name, calling himself "Eye-an"); former 'N Sync Member Joey something or other; future ex-Mrs. Paul McCartney, Heather Mills; Miss USA 2004 Shandy Finnessy (IMHO she'll never top her stellar work on "Lingo"); and several others too depressing to even think about.

Topic: "Dancin' with the Stars" is neither dancing nor with stars. Discuss.

No-Bull Book Reviews

I've got some more knitting book reviews coming up, but notwithstanding some reader requests, I'm not going to review any books put out by Interweave Press. They are the publishers of my upcoming book and since I pride myself on honesty and objectivity, it just wouldn't be right for me to opine about their newest releases. We're all about journalist integrity here at GKIYH. (Although, ahem, I do love Lace Style, Favorite Socks and No Sheep 4 U...)

Speaking of Journalistic Integrity


WTF is with the mainstream news media? There's gavel-to-gavel coverage on the Anna Nicole who-gets-to-bury-the-putrefying-corpse hearing, while serious issues, like the Scooter Libby trial (doesn't anyone care that high-level government officials are willing to blow the cover of CIA agents for political purposes?) and the current clusterfuck in Iraq (if we're doing so well over there, why is Britain pulling out its troops? and if Britain is doing it, why the hell aren't we?) get virtually no coverage.

Can We Knit-Bloggers Please

please come together in a display of unity and decency, and stop saying the following: "dudes" (particularly when used to address readers), "alert the media" and "just sayin'"?

Please?

Who says Philly is a second-rate city?

Where else would you find Nora, the piano-playing cat?

29 comments:

Anonymous said...

One of my favorite comments on at least one of these topics:
"Well, I look at it and see it is actually an affirmation that there are parts of Iraq where things are going pretty well."
-- Vice President Cheney, 2/21/07, reacting to the announcement of U.K. troop withdrawals from Iraq

Sherry W said...

I stopped watching TV news JUST to avoid the celeb claptrap. We are at war, and I really don't need a five minute update on the stations top TV show (Idol, Stars, etc) every night.

Dude, I'm so guilty of the 'alert the media' thing. Just sayin'.

(Sorry, sorry, I can't help myself!)

Anonymous said...

*waves 'hello'*

"if we're doing so well over there, why is Britain pulling out its troops? "

Because our dear, deluded poodle-PM has an enviable ability to convince himself of an alternate reality where Iraq is a peaceful democracy and quite probably thinks that if he behaves as if this is the case, then the rest of us will believe him. Either that or its some machiavellian plan to leave large amounts of trouble for whoever succeeds him!

Cal
long-term lurker (and knitter) who can be brought to the boil by politics...

Bridget said...

Dude, chill out! We need to know every detail about Anna Nicole, because it has a direct impact on our daily lives and ... oh, wait.

As for "Scooter" Libby, I want to know why a grown man still calls himself "Scooter." If you know the answer, I'll alert the media.

OK, sorry. But I have to say that Nora the piano-playing cat ROCKS!

Carol said...

Bridget, clearly it is a Muppet Show reference.

M-H said...

ROFL! We've a few yars of that dancing thing down here now and I can proudly say I've never even considered watching a single show. It wouldn't surprise me if somone next season was dragging Anna Nicole's mummified corpse around.

Anonymous said...

Speaking of journalism, what is it about Britney Spears?

Just sayin'. Dude.

Carol said...

Sorry, I know the political stuff deserves a mention but I just can't get over the fact that someone named Miss USA after drink. A Shandy is a mixture of beer and lemonade. Either her parents were drunks or just plain silly. Maybe both.

Carol said...

Well, she's certainly no Kaye Lani Rae Rafko (Miss America 1988).

Carol said...

I'd prefer to see some coverage here of Nora. We want Nichole shipped backed to her own neighborhood, wherever that has become.

Anonymous said...

But Carol, who would you like to see on Dancing With the Stars?
Tim Curry? Hugh Jackman(with the Wolverine blades would rock!)? Tim Allen? Ohhhhh, how about Steven Tyler!
As for American Idol, any reality show that deprives me of Hugh Laurie and House automatically tops my shit list.

Carol said...

Michelene, dear, I don't want to see anyone on Dancing with the Stars. In fact, to take the Linda Richman thing one step further, I say that reality entertainment is neither reality nor entertainment.

Well, okay, maybe if Tonya Harding was dancing with Danny Bonaduce, maybe...

Aponia said...

The only reality TV I watch are the competitions on Bravo. They're like TV crack. If the people aren't catty I have no interest!

Nora the piano playing cat made her debut on Cuteoverload a few days ago, then I made Aaron watch the video twice. So cute.

I do admit, I've been keeping up with the Anna Nicole story, via blogs. Because blogs always know celebrity gossip way sooner then cable news does!

Bridget said...

Carol - if Scooter Libby's nickname is in fact a Muppets reference, then the Muppets should sue for defamation of character ... except, aren't they owned by Disney now? Never mind.

Anonymous said...

I detested the word dude all my life...Until I moved to the west coast and it has not-so-slowly found a semi-frequent place in my vocabulary. Sometimes it still shocks me to hear it coming out of my own mouth.

Anonymous said...

I never say "dudes," dude. I prefer my bizarro pseudo-surfer slang in the singular form.

(However, the word "dudette" makes me want to commit violent acts unbecoming a lady of such high verbal standards. Ahem.)

Jennie said...

I have to give up 'dude'? Not sure if I can. Even for you.

Anonymous said...

Tonya and Danny vs. Nancy(I'm going to DisneyWorld and I'm pissed)Kerrigan and Peter Knight.
I don't need reality TV. Fox should pay me and come film my workdays.

Carol said...

Michelene, are you on "Cops" again? Or is it "Trading Spouses: Meet your new mommy"? ;)

Unknown said...

I would like to see the following pairs on Dancing With the Stars:

Verne Troyer and Beyonce
Matt Lauer and Wendy O. Williams
RuPaul and Hulk Hogan
Kid Rock and Celine Dion

That's my short list.

Rabbitch said...

No. No, dude, I'm afraid we can't.

(should I alert the media?)

Anonymous said...

That pronunciation of the name Ian is correct. It's a traditional Jewish name.

Anonymous said...

Probably Cops. But it wouldn't be me getting arrested. Maybe. Marilyn, your list made my day.
Donald Rumsfeld and Bjork
Bill O'Reilly and Rosie O'Donnell

the hanged man said...

Marilyn - Sadly, Wendy O. Williams died almost ten years ago.

Isn't the future ex-Mrs. McCartney an amputee? I know they can work wonder with prosthetics, but how much dancing is she going to be able to do? Or will she just stand there and wave her arms while her partner dances around her?

Carol said...

Hoo-boy, I think I'm gonna let The Internet's The Ampu-Tee-Hee handle that one, J-boy.

It's a shame Wendy O. Williams isn't alive and her dance partner six feet under. Life is odd.

Anonymous said...

I will join you in wishing that "just sayin'" dies a burning hideous death very very soon.

Anonymous said...

It will be a joyful day when "awesome" joins the list of words never to be spoken/written. Let's also ban cringe inducing apologies for liking/disliking something - expecially those that end with "I'm a geek".

the hanged man said...

I'm also hoping to never hear the expression "jumped the shark" again as long as I live.

MsAmpuTeeHee said...

To The Hanged Man...I am an amputee dancer who does NOT wear a prosthesis. As was Homer Avila. (not that I'd dare compare myself to his greatness). I've also worked with three other fabulous amputee dancers that DO wear prosthetics, all of whom perform with nationally renowned dance companies, and one of which who won an Isadora Duncan award (if you dont know what that is, well...let's just call it a top honor).

So I hate Daning with the Stars. And I actually dont like Heather Mills all that much now (my pour dear Paul)...but you can bet I'll be watching. You should, too. Even if it is just to try to guess which leg it is or to see if it spins around or falls off. LOL

(and Carol...dont hate me, but I'll probably never stop calling people dudes. Too many hours on So Cal beaches during my formative years.)