Not to detract from Haiti relief, but I gotta talk about Twitter.

Let me level with you folks. I joined Twitter maybe a week ago and it's been rough going. That stuff is great for making fun of celebrities and being the "first" to know about viral videos, but as far as real-people go, it's horrible. Probably because none (1% ?) of the real people in my life are on it, so it's nowhere near as compelling/entertaining/wtf-ing as facebook. So this is me saying: are you on Twitter? Should I even bother?

The reason I think I should bother is because it's a big deal in my department. Twitter this, crowdsourcing that...honestly people, I think it's here to stay. If not in this version, then the next, but it's coming for us. If you're a heretofore anonymous reader and you follow me, I won't reveal your identity. And it won't be weird! Twitter isn't weird, right?!???

So what do you say? Surf into the future on the Twitter wave with me?

Super Bowl plays

Yesterday ESPN ran a piece about the best plays in Super Bowl history. I'm glad that I have some expert evidence to back up what I thought for the past year: James Harrison's interception and touchdown was the greatest play in Super Bowl history, maybe in NFL history.

The Cardinals should have scored three on that possession, perhaps seven, for a halftime tie or lead. Harrison, a linebacker, reads Warner, picks off his pass, gets terrific blocking, and breaks some tackles to outrun several faster Cardinals players and score as time expires. The Steelers won by four, and probably would have lost if he didn't pick off the ball AND score 100 yards down the field.

Cardinals WR, best player, and last opponent to stop Harrison on the play, Larry Fitzgerald, later said, "If we could have one play back, I think most of us would take that one back."

Haiti relief

An interesting article today from the AP reviewing US aid to Haiti. Our actions show we have no faith in the government (I mean, should we?), giving it 1 cent for each donated dollar. This government is leading the Western hemisphere's poorest nation. It sucks.

Some other intersting facts:

"The U.S. is providing the largest slice of a global response that totals more than $1 billion in government pledges. The European Union's 27 nations are contributing $575 million." We rule at donating money.

Where is Al Qaeda's money? For a group that bemoans our negative interference around the world, shouldn't it applaud our efforts now? It should show constructive leadership and donate some cash. Instead we get Osama taking credit for the Christmas bombing attempt and the earthquake itself. (He is Cobra Commander.)

"Of each U.S. taxpayer dollar, 40 cents is going to the U.S. military, paying for security, search and rescue teams, and the Navy's hospital ship USNS Comfort." The military needs a shitload of dough, even when not at war.

new website!

http://www.katiezickefoose.com

-now ya know!

(domain name compliments of my mom and dad)

What to Watch & Listen To

Conan's Last Show! Tonight @ 11:35pm. Will Ferrell, Neil Young & Steve Carell are confirmed (Will & Neil via Conan, Steve via Twitter). Is it wrong to hold out hope that Bruce Springsteen will stop by to play with Max & Conan???


Charlotte Gainsbourg's new cd in collaboration with Beck, IRM. Beck and Charlotte have a duet, and this record seems to be influenced by Charlotte suffering a cerebral hemorrhage in 2007.

LOST. 11 MORE DAYS!!!!

Guess That Tweet: Local Edition!

These tweets are all from someone in Raleigh--can you figure out who s/he is?!?!?

Eating lunch in my car in WRAL parking lot. A plain piece of grilled chicken with no bun. Dull, but only chance I have to eliminate gut!

Thinking about my kids, and wondering how they grew up so fast! Guess I'll have to play with the stuffed animals by myself now!

Saying good night to our GP (guinea pig) Alvin.

Midnight bowling again, this time with my son Brandon and his girlfriend Angela. Here's hoping my lower back holds out!

Cut of the week.

Ronald Jenkees.

Awesome Name. Awesome Music. Look this guy up. Wish there was an actual video to go along with the song.

THIS JUST IN

"The thing that's interesting is I don't need Sasha Fierce anymore, because I've
grown, and I'm now able to merge the two. I want people to see me. I want people
to see who I am."

-Beyonce

Guess that Tweet!

1. Please please please do urself a favor and rent/buy Anvil! The story of anvil. It is so amazing. Just finished watching it. Blown away.

2. never had plastic surgery-even w wonky teeth & the biggest nose in the biz i feel proud of who i am-but not ruling out when im older though!

3. Reality show idea: Survivor: Mall of America

4. Owwwww I just picked up the curling iron by the hot part...my fingers are burning and bright red...WHAT DO I DO? I am about to cry!

Fun Fact Friday

This is the most requested document from the National Archives. Cr@zy.

This is a Good Organization

Hey dudes, we all know what's been happening this week in Haiti. Here is a reputable and trustworthy organization--and I have firsthand props from a friend who worked with them--if you feel like you want to donate.

And it's not affiliated with a religious or political group. Sorta like Doctors Without Borders, another excellent organization!

Partners in Health

Niagara Falls email forward

I get a lot of (unintentionally) hilarious email forwards from family members, and there are also lots of forwards with cool pictures. Sometimes both!

Hilarious part: "My friend's mother had a cousin living in Niagara Falls that year." (that year = 1911) This is about as credible as "my sister's friend was dating a guy who worked in a morgue, and one day she got a bad skin infection..." or "my mom's friend was riding the schoolbus home one afternoon when a girl stuck her head out the window...right beside her identical twin" (I don't know why the twins part is crucial but whatev). Basically: yeah right.

Cool pictures part:




Couldn't crop down that sepia one, but I'll leave you with this tidbit from the original email--not the animated GIF of "awesome!":

I THINK NIAGARA HAD VIAGRA!

Thank you readers!

Let me give a special shout-out to our faithful readers in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Maryland, Wisconsin, Florida, Ontario, Colorado, Washington, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Oregon, Texas, Oklahoma, Utah, California, the UK, Illinois, the Netherlands, Australia, and even Hong Kong!

Without you, JoP would make even less sense. We love you, and your comments.

I found this amusing and it answered my question too!

bm2xv

Resolved Question

Show me another»

Why do foreign metal bands sing in english?

So many awesome foreign bands like In Flames, Opeth, Blind Guardian, Children of Bodom, and the Scorpions sing in english, it seems to be the norm. Why is this?
And for that matter why are they so good at it? Some of the deepest lyrics I've heard have come from In Flames and Opeth.

• 2 years ago

Report Abuse

LuvMusic

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

Actually,... you'll have to take it back to the days when England and Spain were the world's super-powers!... At that time those two nations had a huge influence on the rest of the world!... As they were invading new lands/territories, they were implementing their "mother-tongue"!... That's why now the two most commonly spoken/understood languages in the world are Spanish and English!...

So,... being that a song that is sung in one of these two languages is more marketable to the world,... that's the reason that these metal bands will typically do their songs in English!...

As far as the depth of their music,... it's a cultural thing!... Other cultures place more emphasis on issues with more substance,... things other than material possesions!... That's why their music deals with more than the bitches, the hoes, the bling-bling, their "ride" or a simple heart-break....

• 2 years ago

Its been cold!

Thanks Winnie, that was a very sweet post. Too bad I have to bump it down with this one--but I gotta do what I gotta do.

So its been really cold here in North Carolina and among most of the Southeast and eastern part of the country. How are you dealing with it?? At first it annoyed me, much like many other people I'm sure. But then I got really used to it...the gloves, the sweaters, the scarves and hats! Warming my car up for ten minutes in the morning while I get ready for work (and not worrying, because who wants to steal my precious wheelz! (no sarcasm with "precious" intended)). Even if they did there's no way in BEEP it would go into second gear not warmed up. And I've been thinking to myself, so this is how the other half of the country lives (+ snow of course)!!

Now that its getting back to a normal NC temps again, I'm kind of sad. I really liked turning the heat down when I went to work and then bumping it up when I got back...my place heats up fast, then I'd just chill out on the floor next to the one heating vent in my whole place. Even jogging in that cold weather kind of gave me a power trip..."look how motivated I am!!"

Its has also made for some interesting (if sad) news. A man died in Miami of hypothermia. Iguanas are falling off of trees in Florida because their body temps have gone so low and then they just shut down. FYI, they aren't native. Owners just release them once they don't want them and they have multiplied. Manatees in Florida have also been gathering around an electric company's pipes because of the warmer the water. The plant has even turned up the heater for the sea cows!! That's kind of sweet.

Hey guys, remember this?

"podcast"/zach standup
Originally uploaded by winnietitchener

My flickr page lets me see what people have been viewing (but not who they are--don't worry!--even though i want to know that too) and somebody watched this yesterday. Which made me want to watch it! And it is really sweet. Watch in full-screen for maximum effect.

"There are red ships and blue ships but the best ships are friendships."

My Two Favorite Dramas

I steer clear of most TV dramas. They can be a time vacuum and of dubious quality. Few things frustrate like a TV series, formerly good, which recently stinks but has yet to resolve the lives of its characters, forcing you to watch more.

My two favorites drag out their plots, big time, but fool constantly about what turns they will take. I want to watch each episode, rather than feeling compelled. Those programs are DEXTER and LOST. (Aren't they in all-caps?)

Dexter the serial killer murders those who have murdered. That's all the evidence he needs to off someone, and he is an expert at killing and staying out of trouble. Like any series, DEXTER strives to keep an audience on its toes, but does so by killing important characters and speeding the action. I thought I knew how season 3 would end, but the action came in the episode prior. (At 12 episodes the seasons are shorter than on the networks.)

No series baffles its audience like LOST. That the show has a predetermined ending since its debut gives it a fighting chance to be dubbed "Drama of the Decade," and perhaps of all-time. Its third season dragged in a negative way, only because the producers did not know how long the series would run. Once they got an end date, LOST fired on all cylinders.

The series mystifies with its science (fiction) and mythological foci, allowing the producers to do anything they want with the final season. DEXTER takes place in the real world, where gods and time warps can't help him elude a rival killer. Jack, Kate, and company can and will need the aid of both to achieve their ends, whatever they be.

DEXTER and LOST offer superlative alternatives to TV's traditional doctor/lawyer/cop drama triumvirate. What shows, current and past, do the same for you?

The Biggest Loser?

It really kills me to see what's playing out in the news these days. Unless any of our readers are over 70, I think it's common belief that Conan is actually funny and Jay is old and tired*. BUT! NBC continues to believe that Jay has a chance? I'm happy that they finally are cancelling his 10pm show because it was painful. The fact that NBC is still willing to give Jay whatever he wants in the form of an 11:30 show is still nauseating. I love this argument - "Jay just wants to tell jokes!". Too bad they aren't funny!

I hope that Conan decides to leave NBC instead of taking their compromise of moving his show back to midnight. I understand Conan wanting to host The Tonight Show, but would his show at midnight even carry that title? At this point is it even worth it? Also, the People article is weird too with the whole "Conan's motivation will become clear". What?? Are they not reading the NY Post?

It's "funny" that Late Night shows have such a dark side, and why is Jay Leno always involved in these hosting controversies? Leno being picked over Letterman to host The Tonight Show almost seems tame compared to Leno vs. O'Brien. I never thought Jay was "a nice guy"(TM) , but seriously how much power/whining is 1 unfunny man capable of? Is his ego as big as his chin?

*I think David Letterman is actually the best late night host, but obviously Conan is the best on NBC/for the future.

Christmas all year round

Somebody help me because I can't stop listening to Christmas music.

Actually don't help me because I like it.

Dealz, Dealz, Dealz!!

In an economy like this, its all about the "steals and deals", isn't it? I have always been a fan of good stuff for cheap--and since my rent has gone up in the past year, I have really kicked it into high gear.

You gotta love the discount stores--I'm talking Big Lots, and if you live a little bit more up north, Ollie's (the BOMB for books) and Ocean State Job Lot, which my sister is a huge fan of. Yes, it looks like something exploded when you first walk in, like your brain can't take in that much data. But imagine what you can find!!! And you always end up finding it. Like a DVD of Stand By Me for one dollar. At a Big Lots in Virginia I bought a kajillion Vitamin Water 10's (a discontinued flavor) for 35 cents each!!!

Lately I've been turned on to Coupon Kim. Yes, I always wondered how you can go to Harris Teeter and get six cans of soup, four rolls of toilet paper, two boxes of cereal, yogurt, and frozen broccoli for 32 cents. Its a little something called coupon websites and super deals week where they double your coupons.

Clothes...I'm almost done going to regular stores at this point. I like clothes CHEAP. Sometimes I think even the thrift store is trying to rip me off. For me its all about finding decent stuff from Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters, and J. Crew at Rugged Wearhouse. I'm not trying to brag, but this is done frequently by me. I'm saying I want a t-shirt for three dollars and a dress for under ten. And a good thrift store (especially in a rural area) is like finding a gold mine sometimes, isn't it? You have to be willing to frequent these places regularly though. I'm not going to lie, a few shots of espresso help before going into any discount stores. You definitely have your tactics and rules figured out for tackling places like these.

Now, I'm not saying I never buy anything kind of expensive, and I like quality. Shoes, for example, are hard to find fashionable, high in quality, AND cheap. You just have to cave sometimes. But with all the money you've saved, its not a big deal!

Gaga

I love Lady Gaga.

I suspected it from the start, but Bad Romance clinched it. It confirms her title of Best Booty of the Decade. The crazier and sexier the pop star the better. Her fashion sense supports her insanity. She digs chicks and dudes. Hot.

Yet Gaga would never confine herself to the pedestrian role of Pop Star. The 23-year-old aimed for the top: Pop Legend. (The female Pop ___ hierarchy goes: Star, Sensation, Diva, Legend). How does one reach such status and how soon will she get there? The scale:

A Star needs one or two hits without using a musical instrument. Her first album, The Fame, gave us four top-10 singles and two #1s, mostly while just dancing and dodging photographers. Check.

A Sensation needs a couple more hits, preferably from another album, or to stir up some controversy. Bad Romance reached #2 on the charts. MTV lists her as its most popular artist. She simulated bleeding on stage at the MTV VMAs. Check.

A Diva is dramatic, insane, or both. Mariah Carey and her addictions come to mind. Britney Spears and her marriage? pantilessness? child-rearing? support her Diva status. As for Gaga, have you seen her clothes before? Ever? Check.

Finally, a Pop Legend sustains Diva status for years, and creates numerous hits. Madonna holds the crown for all-time Pop Legend (remember, this is the female scale). Mariah and Britney await on the threshold, if they haven't passed it already. Gaga's not there yet.

Lady Gaga is new on the pop scene; even Rihanna is old by her standards. Gaga's song-writing ability and great dance beats shot her to the top in an instant. Her bizarre nature will keep her there for years to come. And in my heart forever.

Obvious 2010 Predictions

The sun will rise. The summer will be warmer. Christmas will come earlier.

Too obvious, too broad. Let's try for some specificity.

Fox News will piss you off.
"Duh, it already does," you say. These are obvious predictions. "Nuh-uh. I love Fox News," you say. Then something Obama does will piss you off, and you'll hear about it on Fox News where of course it will be something bad.

What should anger you like FNC is MSNBC. They lean left while Fox runs right. The Olbermann's of this world skew the news just like the O'Reilly's. (Glenn Beck is a blowhard and far off the charts.)

You will see a shitty movie this summer.
Prince of Persia, Twilight 3, Marmaduke, Little Fockers--sigh. The former comes from the people who brought you Johnny Depp as a pirate in the Fantasy Trilogy of Let Downs. Look out for washboard abs and English accents in Persia. The latter will star Normal Ben Stiller, who pales compared to Weird Ben Stiller in hilarity (see Zoolander, Dodgeball). The less said about the other two the better.

Democrats will suck at government.
"We'll pass the best health care bill ever," they once said. Later it was, "We'll pass the best health care bill in a long time." Next came, "We got a doozy of a bill here." Followed by, "We're still trying." Finally they caved and gave us, "A health care bill."

Take that majority Republicans! (No? The Dems run things?) Well, take that American majority! You no longer favor our plan, but we're gonna show you who's in charge around here.

At least we're 2 years from the end of everything.

2009: a year of mashing...up.

If there is one thing that got played out in 2009, it's the mash-up. So I'm dedicating this mash-up of the music from 2009 to the year 2009 and mash-ups.

Let's Talk: TV shows

2 new shows I started watching over the break: Freaks and Geeks and Weeds. I'm nothing if not current! Let's profile both shows.

Freaks and Geeks: I've never heard anyone say anything bad about this show...and I'm not going to start now. It's hilarious, and the episodes fly by. It does remind me of a later Wonder Years, and Sam alternately makes me laugh and cringe. Catching on to this show so late is interesting because practically everyone on the show is famous now. All the freaks are in Judd Apatow movies and the main actress (Linda Cardenelli) was on ER. James Franco even surprised me - I had no idea he'd ever done anything worth watching.

Weeds: I'd heard a lot about this show and because it's been nominated for Golden Globes and Emmys, I thought it would be good. I guess it's marginally funny? Conrad and Kevin Nealon are the only standout characters so far, but Nancy just drives me nuts. Between her kids, her constant breakdowns, and her habit for latte drinks - I just can't stand her. And the theme song! What the heck is that about?? It reminds me of nails on a chalkboard. I can't believe they're about to start their 6th season. How many storylines for Nancy are out there??

2010

JoP is happy to be back for 2010!!!! We look forward to hearing more from our loyal readers this year - like these guys!

Guess that Tweet

Happy 2010! We'll kick-off the New Year with the new interactive Celebrity Twitter segment. Put on your thinking caps and be sure to guess in the comments!

1. "Does anyone know for sure if panasonic are really discontinuing Technics turntables?"


2. "The photos in question are photos of John posing with fans. At the conclusion of the investigation and hearing, the photos will be available."


3. "for a long time I have been seeing elevens in the form of "11:11" or "1:11"...or sometimes just a lot of "1's"...what does this mean??"