The Final Frontier: a poll
 

By some odd coincidence, I just saw this news:

Shatner's ex-wife sues him over horse semen

And you thought there was racism on AI
 

First of all, I don't know who singles out race when it comes to criticism of either of these two athletes. I think the "I don't have an opinion on anything, ever, because it will affect my endorsements even though I make $60 mil a year on them" attitude is insane.

I would like people to have opinions. I would like people to take a stand on issues they believe in. I would prefer if they not turn themselves into eunuchs because of greed. I don't need to choose an issue for you, but jesus. We know you have an opinion on something.

And they need to understand that other athletes opened the door for them in ways they hardly even acknowledge (I will admit Tiger is a student of the game who acknowledges and appreciates contributions by black golfers such as Lee Elder). Arthur Ashe, Jim Brown, Jackie Robinson, Muhammed Ali. All larger than life. All contributed something more to our society than championships. Sitting on top of a pile of money was made possible by people who fought for themselves and you. Fought for access. It's extraordinarily selfish to get there and then ignore others.

As far as race only being an issue if you respond to racists, that's naive and short-sighted. You need to be proactive, especially when you hold a position of authority. We aren't so far removed from the 60s that the lessons of Martin Luther King (proactive), Malcolm X (proactive) and countless others, that we should just sit back and lead only by example. I disagree with your approach.

TM

(Smacked with a) POLL
 

I don't know who should be more insulted.

TM

New question for movie going parents
 

I'm behind, but I hope somebody caught this and responded with at least an "I bet you could."

TM

Oh god. I hoped never to see the words "Shatner" and "semen" in the same sentence.



:eek:

I'm also distraught that the Buttafuco's are divorcing. I never saw that coming.

:rofl: :rofl:

Just when you thought is was safe to go to the mall:


WACKO JACKO SHOPS AS A MONKEY
Michael Jackson went out shopping in a Florida shopping center -- dressed as a monkey. Jacko surprised fellow shoppers when he appeared in the mall wearing a chimp mask.

One says, "He looked like an extra from 'The Planet of the Apes.' In fact, he looked just like Zira in the original flick.

"He acted as though it was perfectly normal to go out shopping looking like a chimpanzee.

Jacko is rumored to have had four chimps in the past, all called Bubbles.

© 2003 WORLD ENTERTAINMENT NEWS NETWORK LTD.

Discuss[B]:hug:

Another rant
 

Speaking of things that must be stopped, I have grown incredibly weary of the "witty"-parenthetical-inside-my-initials-sign-off.

Please cease and desist.

Another rant
 

Except Sidd Finch. His are always very funny, especially in the good ole days when we were playing the Brobeck death watch.

btw: where is Sidd?

first post on board the sequel
 

I couldn't help it, not everyone is hung so well.

And you thought there was racism on AI
 

Originally posted by ThurgreedMarshall

I doubt it. I really doubt interest would've been any lower if OJ had killed a pretty black woman.

And as for crackers being overwhelmingly against OJ. A fair number are more misogynist than racist.

E.g., one on the radio, "Nicole didn't give OJ no choice, cheating on him like that."

"Well, she had gotten a divorce."

"Bitch had it coming."

Another rant
 

Originally posted by robustpuppy

atomic kitty

Or, keeping with your music theme, sub pop kitty

AI Results
 

Hooray!!!!! Josh the constipated Marine goes home. Won't miss him a bit.

tm

AI Results
 

He was awful and it was more than time for him to go.

The big question is . . . who's next?

I would have to guess that Ruben and Clay go through and Kim Locke will end in the Nikki McKibbin spot.

Last year, I thought Justin would win it all on the strength of the pre-teen girl vote. I was surprised when Kelly won (and I admit I voted for her).

This year, I'd think Clay would win on the strength of the pre-teen (and barely_legal) vote. So, maybe people will get off the sofas and give Ruben the win . . .

AI Results
 

I think you'd be surprised how many non-preteen (and non-me) people like Clay. He's my mother's favorite, and has a large fan base of women of all ages. I'm not sure that he has a male fanbase at all, but then again I don't think that most of the voting is being done by men. Which explains why most of the women (especially the somewhat trampy ones) left early.

At this point both Ruben and Clay are going to get record deals, I bet, so I'm not worried about either of them (it might be better for their careers not to win -- see Tamyra Gray). Kim Locke is in the most danger of actually having to go back to a real life after this is over (poor Kim will actually have to study for those LSATs now).

AI Results
 

It sort of amazes me how many parents let their 12 year old daughters (and sons) make phone call after phone call when they should probably be in bed. It also sort of amazes me how man people appear to have an affinity for showtunes and cheezy ballads. I guess this explains the success of Chicago, Branson and cruise ships. Hopefully the grownups will realize true quality, genius interpretations of songs and talent that should last for a decades long career that hopefully wont end at age 39 with a heartattack and vote for Ruben. If anyone has the talent, genius, charisma and originality to win, it is he. Kim Locke is fabulous on a good day but not consistent. Ruben and Clay are the very definition of consistent. If she is "on" next week, she has a chance- I think there are a lot of people voting for her out there.

But would america allow two black finalists? Is fox gonna rig things so we have a boy-girl finale? that fox attempted to float a beard in Carmen for Clay (an underage mormon- how perfect for Clay! He would never have to bang her) was weird. But a Clay, Kim final two would be grossly unjust. And I would hate to miss the opportunity to see a musical called From Clay to Ruben With Love.

AI Results
 

It's okay that you like Clay. He has a wonderful voice and he would do well to follow Frenchie to Broadway.

(She just signed a 6 mo. contract for Rent.)

I think it will be a tight race between the two, if it goes to Ruben and Clay. If it goes to either and Kim L, she is toast.

I would definitely pay top-dollar for that. They should be sure to include the BeeGees medley from last night. Oh, and speaking of the BeeGees, why did they not sing any of the great songs from last night during the two song competition?

Even(my mother is a Ruuuuuuuben fan)Odds

AI Results
 

My mother and I rarely discuss television, but one day out of the blue she asked me about AI. I had seen bits and pieces of it so I told her what I knew. She told me she couldn't believe how awful everyone was (my mom was something of a singer in her youth.) I realized that she had seen one of the early shows where they were showing who they had cut and told her so.

She mentioned it to me again maybe a week or two later, and I learned on that day, that my mother is Barely's sock.

Oh the humanity.

AI Results
 

I cant believe that there is anyone not in the 0 to 18 or 10 to 34 market watching this show. Do not tell me your mother called in. But at least the woman has taste.

I am needing to hear Ruben sing Nights on Broadway again. That was so, so good. I always liked that song but he out beegeed the bee gees. Perhaps, in From Clay to Ruben With Love, Ruben can be invited backstage by Clay to Clay's broadway premier Clay can sing some godawful Elton John ballad about how much he loves Ruben and then Ruben can sing back "nights on broadway" to explain why he is there. Then Clay can sing "dont let the sun go down on me". It would be a sad sad movie about unrequited love.

AI
 

I tried to watch this last night but could not bear the ceaseless commercial breaks and the bullshit manufactured suspense. Since y'all are such fans of the singers and actually look forward to the music, doesn't that crap make you want to reach through the TV and strangle Ryan Seacrest?

This nonsuspense (plus the constant use of such phrases as "the bond between him/her and I," "the bond between s/he and I," and "the bond between s/he and myself") also takes the bachelor/ette series over the line from amusingly stupid to unbearable. Oh, those tense moments while we look from one bachelor/ette to another, wondering which one will get the remaining rose. My heart can't take it!

Is anybody else totally fucking tired of "cliffhangers"? Damn that J.R.

American Juniors and the Dog Beauty Pageant
 

Is anyone planning to watch either of these? At first I was horrified at the thought of American Juniors, but then I realized that the first episodes, where they show the tryouts, will have to be hilarious given how insane stage moms are, so I will tivo them. Of course, after watching the first episodes, if I'm not completely bored I will probably fall in love with one of the stupid little snots and be forced to watch the rest of the season.

As for the dog pageant thing, I will do what I did with The Family. That means I will record it, but somebody here has to watch it first and tell me if it's worth seeing before I actually commit to watching it. I'm counting on you people, don't let me down.

Physician, heal thy_____
 

Can you blame me for misunderstanding? What you've said, basically, is that little babies cry when they need something because they haven't learned how to communicate on anything more than the most basic level. I thought this was understood.

As far as you not caring about whether a child (why discuss babies? what's the point?) cares about how you feel, I don't get it. If you want well behaved children, a concern and understanding for how others feel and how their actions affect those feelings makes for well behaved kids. Of course, you can have well behaved children or adults who don't give a shit about anything or anyone, but I doubt this actually occurs in nature too often.

TM

AI
 

I like the commercials and the campy nonsense, so I can flip over to the playoffs, make dinner, and have a conversation with the OM and know I am not missing anything.

Three minutes of content in thirty minutes of time . . . perfect!

Even(go spurs!)Odds

AI
 

Why would you watch AI for the first time on an elimination night when they are not actually competing against each other? And honestly, at this stage of the series, I doubt you are going to enjoy it like us retarded diehard fans b/c you haven't invested the time into watching it and suffering through the agonies of the crappy camera whores and diva-impersonators, most of whom are gone now. The way AI works for me is that I start watching it so that I can hate people because hating people on tv and wanting bad things to happen to them is fun. But somewhere along the way I accidentally start liking someone and end up watching to see them succeed.

You will only be able to get into AI now if you really hate someone who is left.

AI
 

I have actually seen snippets of the show before -- on one of the audition nights, and on the night when Paula had just gotten her upper lip injected and Simon was mocking her for it and the cameraman wouldn't shoot any close-ups of her. But somehow I never seemed to catch it when there was any singing going on.

AI
 

I was out drinking last night unti l850 and came home just to catch the end of the show. Perfect. Except I missed the BG medley which sounds like it was not to be missed. As for Ryan Seacrest, he is the television equivalent of a short motherjumpin hugester carrying a gucci umbrella while cracking gum. He needs to go back to his career as a Universal Studios tour guide.

As for Bachelor, I watched it again last night (missed the second date). The problem with this show is that each bachelor is told to talk like they are seriously considering marrying one of these broads, when history and incompatibility tells us there is not a fucking chance. Like I am supposed to believe that Andrew thinks either of these not quite pretty (bad nose job on kirsten and something is just wrong with Jen's face) gals with probably not too impressive education/career/background/whatever is "Mrs. Firestone" material. Especially when he bangs all three of them? It was a novelty the first time around and it works for the Bachelorette bc you would believe that the gal wants to wed one of the guys (assuming its a vice versa stich like with Ryan). But it is not believable on the Bachelor and it is an insult to my intelligence that they are trying to bring that off. I would like it better if the bachelor just spoke in terms of dating. More believable.

at least tina classy is being shipped back to wisconsin where she belongs. the most fabulous fish in a teeny tenny pond. This gal seems to think she is the fifth gal on Sex and the City but what she doesnt get is that there is no Sex and the Great Lakes.

And yes tina being barefoot and preganant on your own vineyard with your heir husband would be fabulous.

And you thought there was racism on AI
 

No, dumbass. I said, "When the verdict came down, white people were weeping in the fucking streets for Christsakes. Do these same people even pay attention when a black woman is murdered and someone gets away with it?"

I wasn't talking about publicity or how huge the trial was throughout the whole post. The theme of the post was how OJ wasn't the only one to make the case about race, not why the case was so huge.

TM

Smokin' Stork
 

Your last few lunatic posts.

TM

American Juniors and the Dog Beauty Pageant
 

Having watched a show recently on little-girl beauty pageants, where the once-pretty moms had all gorged themselves senseless (and enormous) on Snackwells and were now living their lives vicariously through their daughters as they seemed to have utterly given up on their own, I can't watch anything involving stage parents. And I always worry child stars will end up like the Diffrent Strokes kids. But we might see the next Justin or Britney or XTina...

I saw the promo for the dog show last night. Seeing some truly elegant breeds dressed up like idiots in Barbie fantasy outfits almost killed me (though I'd expect if of those useless toy dogs).

American Juniors and the Dog Beauty Pageant
 

Sounds like the perfect show for our own feline and canine posters . . .

American Juniors and the Dog Beauty Pageant
 

Sounds like animal abuse...

American Juniors and the Dog Beauty Pageant
 

With your avatar, you dare to speak about animals in awful grooming scenarios???

American Juniors and the Dog Beauty Pageant
 

Hey, I didn't shave the pussy.

American Juniors and the Dog Beauty Pageant
 

I think it's admirable that she champions the cause of cats with mange. They are, truly, the forgotten skin-diseased pet.

American Juniors and the Dog Beauty Pageant
 

Thank you.

American Juniors and the Dog Beauty Pageant
 

Well, you can see the kitty looks extremely pissed off. I have never seen a dog look happy to be wearing Christmas reindeer antlers or a cat seem pleased to be dressed up like a bride or groom for its owner-inspired 'wedding.'

And while we're at it, people who groom poodles of any size into those ridiculous topiary monstrosities should be shot. Or have their heads shaved indentically. Then shot.

AI Results
 

Man, was this waaay overdue. I agree that based on the performances, both Kim and Josh deserved bottom two. Since Kim has shown flashes of brilliance, she deserved to stay and at least live to compete another day. I'm glad it did not happen as I had feared it might, but I think FOX doesn't want to see no girls in the finals, either. That said, I think the best two -- Ruben and whoever-- will be left.

With regard to the possibility of two black finalists, as someone brought up, what's the big deal? We live in the 21st century, and if you're good, you deserve to be there, period. I think, or would hope anyway, that most people recognize this. If someone thinks the dorky white guy deserves to be there based on talent, then he does. Ruben will win. Mark my words. He deserves to.

A short comment about Josh's swan song. When he brought his cute little baby on stage, all that was missing was him wrapping himself in the flag. He far exceeded his shelf life in the competition for the very reason that he was a marine, a "good guy" and a loving husband and daddy.

I couldn't help but say to my wife when Josh started singing to his little girl and she started bawling, "see, Josh, your daughter, like the rest of America that is not tone-deaf, thinks you suck, too -- now go home." That was easily the most funny moment of last night's show.

Physician, heal thy_____
 

How would you know? You have no basis for judging what anyone else gives a damn about other than by their behavior.

"Good" behavior doesn't occur in nature EVER - it is a social construct, not a natural one, and it can be learned only through social interaction with others, who reinforce "good" behavior and penalize "bad." A natural inclination to respect others (if it exists at all) doesn't somehow program you to express thanks for favors, or cause you to sit still and not yell at the opera. The dirty looks & other punishment you get when you screw up does that. And even someone who doesn't care about you can want to avoid your censure, understanding that it is advantageous to do so. That is why sociopaths are often well mannered and charming: the disjunction between how they feel and how they know they are expected to act is great enough that they don't confuse their interior life and their expressions & behaviors to others.

I am actually of the opinion that forced conformity to social behavior expectations leads more often to actual feelings consideration and respect for other people than the other way around. But I always thought the noble savage thing was crap. I think that just reflects a fundamental disagreement we have about human nature, though.

American Juniors and the Dog Beauty Pageant
 

I said the exact same thing. The only reason I would watch this dreck is to see if one of the animals does the right and natural thing and attacks their handler for being such a publicity-seeking dumbass.

Edited to add: If there's any justice in this world, the wannabe child stars on American Juniors will do the same to their stage-parents.

American Juniors and the Dog Beauty Pageant
 

Unless you want to shave your poodle yourself, it is sometimes very difficult to find a groomer that will not shave those hideous pompoms onto your poodle. When I was a kid and we had a standard poodle (my mom's allergic to dog hair so it was either a poodle or another wooly dog like a puli, and they were hard to find then) we let her get shaggy all winter, but come summer she got so hot we had to get her trimmed. Some groomers fear their reputation will go down if they don't give you that ridiculous look and will refuse to do it otherwise (I'm not kidding). Eventually we found one that didn't care, but until we did, our poor puppy either roasted or looked silly.

So are you going to shoot me? Don't let your mouth write a check your ass can't cash.