Seriously, Don't Drink The Water!

"I would not know how I am supposed to feel about many stories if not for the fact that the TV news personalities make sad faces for sad stories and happy faces for happy stories."

~Dave Barry

It's been a strange week for news. The IRS targeting the Tea Party. Yet another sex scandal rocks the Pentagon. The government spying on the Associate Press. And it's only Wednesday! All very interesting mind you, but I think my favorite story so far this week has to be the CIA agent caught in Russia with 2 wigs, a map of Moscow and $130,000 to be used to hire a Russian security officer to act as a spy for the U.S.!

Damn!

2 wigs, a map, and a relatively low amount of money? Hello? 1940 called, they want their spy back!

LOL. Sheesh!

I think this story needs to be made into a movie, with maybe Bradley Cooper in the lead! The whole situation reminds me of the amazingly funny, "Don't Drink The Water" by the great Woody Allen! So it just seems like a natural for him film it. Woody, if you do make the film, all I ask is a minor mention during the end credits. Just something simple like... "As suggested by the weird girl who took my picture on 20th and Lexington, while I filmed Blue Jasmine in San Francisco! I will know who you mean!



;)

Mood: Silly

~Me :)

Weekend Assignment #296: Scandalized

From For Ellipsis

"It isn't what they say about you, it's what they whisper." -Errol Flynn



Weekend Assignment #296: The press and the public always seem to be obsessed with one scandal or another, from Tiger Woods, to Balloon Boy. Do you eagerly follow such stories, try to avoid them, or something in between? Does the identity of the celebrity (or would-be celebrity) affect how interested you are?



Extra Credit: Have you ever purchased a supermarket tabloid?



-Karen, of the blog, Outpost Mavarin


Scandals... Well, there never really seems to be any short of them... does there? I don't know if it is a much more popular phenomenon in this decade, or if interest in the sordid seems that way because I am now on the Internet, and you can get the scoop in the blink of an eye? My AOL Welcome screen rotates between several sections including NEWS, LIFESTYLE, SPORTS, ENTERTAINMENT and sometimes, Travel. Oddly enough, I have seen what would count as "scandalous," on each of these screens! Can one really avoid the scandalous? Well I suppose, but it can be mighty difficult to do so.



I suppose my particular interest in such stories would fall into the "In between" category. I don't think I obsess, but there are some types of scandals that capture my attention more then others do. I tend to follow the political scandals much closer then... say... the latest he said/she said with John and Kate Gosselin. Although I have to admit, there is something about the Gosselin's that intrigues me on some level.



Maybe it is because their bickering reminds me of my own parents, and the horrible marriage they had. I don't know. I do know that I have for the most part shied away from most celebrity tabloids since the O.J. Simpson murder trial back in the mid 90's. That situation was so sad. It was infuriating at times, but most of all it was just plain sordid, and I found it, in it's entirety, completely depressing. Another thing that about tabloids that left a bad taste in my mouth, was the relentless pursuit of Princess Diana. Enough said.



I do glance through the occasional People issue, but I don't know if they count as a tabloid. I have never purchased a National Enquirer, not even for someone else. Once in a while, my pal Beth and I would pick up groceries for each other. We lived in the same apartment building and it was just what pals and neighbors did, but the one thing I wouldn't grab for her at the store was her favorite guilty pleasure, the latest issue of the National Enquirer. Period. Not in my cart! LOL. She reluctantly understood, but I think she considered it my main character flaw! LOL.



The truth is, I find pop culture interesting to keep up with, but I have a lot of interests beyond that. I enjoy a bit of a rumor about celebrities from time to time, but unfortunately the rags that start the rumors, or spread the sordid truth, never know when to stop. You know? Sometimes less really is more. I like to pick up a magazine to see what Michelle Pfeiffer is wearing because I love her style, or what the fashion trend will be for the winter and spring, but I don't really care if Chris Brown has hurt feelings because Rhianna doesn't like him anymore. It might be boring, but it's true.



Besides, sometimes real life can give you and up close look at what everyone else is thinking. Just look at this lady's costume from Halloween 2008. It was right before the election and she is dressed as Sarah Palin. This past Halloween the Kate Gosselin wig was all the rage. I suppose if you have a scandal during any given year, and the following Halloween sees a costume representing you, then you have truly made it!



-Carly

D'OH! Another Wayward Republican Caught With His Pants Down!

From For Ellipsis

"So I am getting into spanking her, yeah, I like it, I like spanking her. She goes, "I know you like spanking me,' I said "Yeah because you are such a bad girl.""

-Mike Duvall (Former California Assemblyman)

Great-Day-In-The-Morning... here we go again! Yet another Republican caught with his pants down. Yesterday, California lawmaker, Mike Duvall, resigned his office amid yet another republican sex scandal. I will say the same thing about this sex scandal that I will say every time something like this comes to light. Cheating on your spouse should not be grounds in itself for either dismissal or for resigning from public office, however, in this case I believe his resignation was appropriate because to woman... or women in question (it turns out he had two mistresses) were lobbyists, who just happened to have business before Mr. Duvall's committees.

Sheesh.

Don't you think it's about time the republican party stop pretending that they are anymore righteous then anyone else? Mike Duvall, who is married with two children, has been known for his "family values" so tell me, what could have possibly gone wrong? I don't know... maybe no one does, or maybe it is the oldest reason in the book, perhaps he couldn't live up to the perfect life he preached. Shrug. All I know is that perhaps it's about time that political parties rethink their own perfection. I think Mr. Duvall made things much worse for himself today, as he issued a statement denying the affair, describing his conversation as "inappropriate storytelling."

Oh.. ok... just a case of boys being boys?

So instead of being an adulterer... instead of having an affair with a married lobbyist... you merely lied?

Yeah... that's much better.

:(

Thanks for clearing that up. How about you just stand up... admit what you did... and then go away!


Opinions, opinions. Tell me what you think about this latest incidence of Republicans Gone Wild!

-Carly