5. Kelsey Grammar as Dr. Frasier Crane from Frasier. I think the neurotic over-analyzer would have at least been able to relate. Plus, amazing sarcasm from a staunch Freudian.
4. Gabriel Bryne as Paul from In Treatment. He seemed like a moderately intelligent, sometimes helpful guy. It'd be therapeutic just to sit across from him with an excuse to stare for a whole hour once per week. And that accent. Enough said.
3. Barbra Streisand as Dr. Lowenstein from The Prince of Tides. Actually, I'd like to just be a fly on the wall watching her and Robert Redford converse on matters of the heart in the same room. #katieandhubbelreunite
2. Lorraine Bracco as Dr. Jennifer Melfi from The Sopranos. Something about that blank stare and intentional long pause at the beginning of each session is strangely mesmerizing. She would get me endlessly chattering just to break the silence. But really, who wouldn't want to hear that amazing voice once a week?
1. Dianne Wiest as Gina from In Treatment. In all seriousness, if I could create a therapist in a bottle it would be Gina. She was smart as anything, calming while still immensely effective, nonjudgmental but unafraid to give her opinion. I could have used a Gina session or two when she exited HBO.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
A Glance Inside The Madrid
At this point, I think my stance on Edie Falco is pretty clear. She could pretty much do no wrong... on premium cable, on the stage, or veritably anywhere. I would be content watching her mop the floor. All that on the table, her portrayal of the lead character Martha in The Madrid, was good. If anyone knows me or my writing at all, the word "good" is not a word that typically exits either my lips or fingers. But in this case, the word is oddly appropriate. Falco played Martha, the mother-teacher-turned-seeming-fugitive-from-life, for all she was worth. Given the shallowness of the script that is. This surface-level-only character study came as a surprise from Nurse Jackie producer Liz Flahive. Throughout the 100+ minute show, we are invited to merely make the acquaintance of its main characters. We meet, we greet, and never get past that.
Within the first few minutes after the curtain goes up, Martha abandons her career as a teacher and her role as a wife and mother. She moves out of her family's house into her own run-down-piece-of-shit apartment in a building aptly called The Madrid. Falco makes Martha seem aloof and un-maternal... and from there, we are forced to draw our own conclusions as to why she has abandoned her entire life. Perhaps it is due to this forced subjective speculation or perhaps to my own biases but Martha seemed to bear an uncanny persona resemblance to the nurse/former addict/narcissist Jackie Peyton. Well, without the dyed blonde hair, pills and blood that is. Whether the similarity was intentional or not, I could not shake the deja-vu-esque feeling during the show's entire duration. But I digress.
Flahive's unstrategic use of time/scenes throughout is also questionable. Why she spends any amount of effort delving into neighbors Becca and Danny and their "giant boy" son remains a mystery. I, as I suspect most of the audience as well, would have much preferred an incremental ten minute look into Martha's psyche. What was she thinking? Why did she get married or pregnant in the first place? These are all questions that would have shed much-needed light on the otherwise dim plot. On the plus side, Martha's mother, Sex-and-the-City's-Trey's-Waspy-too-close-for-comfort-mother-Bunny, provides some consistent quality acting and comic relief. Unlike many others, her character feels connected, clear, and real.
Well, so much for keeping it concise. Overall, I did quite enjoy Edie Falco, er, The Madrid.
It was thrilling to watch a dark-haired Carmela slash Jackie at her craft a mere few feet in front of me. (Cheers to that fabulous man who invited me to sit with him in the first row!!). Oh yeah, and then casually chat with her on the street. No biggie. It was a thrill of a lifetime. Really. Suffice to say, though, if you were to take the woman out of the apartment, it would be just another big empty space. Let's hope when Edie vacates the premises, The Madrid does too.
Overall rating: Edie A-. Liz C+.
NBA Player Jason Collins Comes Out
On Monday, Washington Wizards NBA center Jason Collins publicly came out to the world as gay. His admission makes him the first openly gay athlete in a major U.S. professional team sport.
Collins had already been out to his friends and family and although he had never outright stated in public that he was straight, nonetheless felt he was not being totally honest. With a simply stated sentence on Sports Illustrated's website yesterday, he changed that. He commenced his first-person article with a straight-to-the-point utterance. "I'm a 34-year-old NBA center. I'm black. And I'm gay."
Just like that, he became a trailblazer, altering the long-held straight-only stereotype of professional athletes.
Throughout the bulk of the article, Collins went on to describe his reasons for coming out now, his journey of self discovery, family reactions, and how it felt to be the first athlete to come out. "I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport. But since I am, I'm happy to start the conversation." Now that the road to openness has been paved, Collins hope is that other athletes will follow in his footsteps.
Collins says he always knew he was gay but tried to hide it for a long time. A black man, a professional athlete, a Christian with a religious family background and friends who were getting married and having children. None of these factors made him feel all too comfortable coming out as the different one... and for years he didn't. At one point, he even got engaged to a woman. Realizing the depth of his misery, he ultimately called off the wedding and began his journey down the road of honesty and self-discovery. Throughout everything, though, he always had basketball. And the love and devotion to the sport, Collins says, was a saving grace.
Collins is a seasoned NBA player. He has been a player for six teams over twelve years, including the the L.A. Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, New Jersey Nets, and currently, Washington Wizards. While his team did not make the current playoff season, Collins is starting to focus his attention on next season. And with his admission out to the public, he can really do so with a clear mind. This summer, Collins will officially become a free agent - he does not have a team in mind but knows he wants to stay in the NBA. Here's to hoping he does.
Photo courtesy of SportsIllustrated.com
http://thewire.sheknows.com/2013/04/30/nba-player-jason-collins-comes-out-as-gay/
http://thewire.sheknows.com/2013/04/30/nba-player-jason-collins-comes-out-as-gay/
Monday, April 29, 2013
Michael Jackson Wrongful Death Lawsuit to begin today
Roughly four years after the death of the incomparable King of Pop, a wrongful death lawsuit against concert promoter/powerhouse AEG, is set to begin. The late Jackson’s mother, Katherine, and his three children, are accusing AEG of “threatening to end Jackson’s career if he failed to deliver on a series of comeback concerts in London and hiring the doctor (Conrad Murray) who was later convicted of giving the singer a lethal dose of the anesthetic propofol.”
Both in life and death, matters around M.J. were anything but straight-forward. His seeming plastic surgery addiction countered by his unwaivering claims he “only had my nose done”. The child molestation charges that went away nearly as quickly as they came (well, perhaps not quite as quickly) and at the heart of it, his utter dichotomy. Was he an innocent child-man or a deranged, drug-addicted abuser? His actions and persona were always an enigma.
Both in life and death, matters around M.J. were anything but straight-forward. His seeming plastic surgery addiction countered by his unwaivering claims he “only had my nose done”. The child molestation charges that went away nearly as quickly as they came (well, perhaps not quite as quickly) and at the heart of it, his utter dichotomy. Was he an innocent child-man or a deranged, drug-addicted abuser? His actions and persona were always an enigma.
The case will take place in civil court starting today and could very likely stretch out for months into the summer. The Jackson case is neither a simple one nor one lacking witnesses or evidence… from both sides of the fence. Since the case is civil versus criminal, evidence from both sides will be allowable.
The lawsuit does not seek a definitive dollar amount as this point but it is speculated the figure could veritably reach the billions. Between Jackson’s family and estate and one of the largest entertainment powerhouses there is, the dollars will not be insignificant. The case pits the responsibility of hiring of Dr. Conrad Murray on the two sides of the fence. The Jackson family alleges the doctor was hired by AEG to keep Jackson in “top form”, thereby allowing him to perform money-maker-career-comeback shows while AEG claims he was hired by Jackson himself in an effort to help him sleep. At the heart of the trial lies the ultimate question: did Michael Jackson seal his own fateful demise or did they?
It will be an undoubtedly painful, uncomfortable road to reach that answer. Awkward chapters that, during M.J.’s life, had been seemingly closed, will be re-opened, once again exposing his family and the world to his unconventional antics. Doctors will take the stand on matters of his frail health, financial experts and accountants on his money troubles and at the core, the financial stakes AEG had in the would-have-been-concerts.
As with all things Michael Jackson, both good and bad, the trial will unquestionably receive immense publicity while it lasts.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Long Island Woman's Cancer Scam Exposed...Today's Wire Post
Twenty-one-year-old Brittany Ozarowski had all the makings of a sick, battling-chemo cancer patient. She was frail, limp, pale and severely underweight. She walked around her New York city home and town with a cane, openly talking about how sick she felt from "cancer and chemotherapy."
Who wouldn't feel bad for a young woman in this condition, right? What a horrible, tragic situation. The hearts of neighbors and those in the community went out to her. They wanted to somehow help so badly that they began a community-wide effort to raise money for this poor unfortunate soul. Donation jars were placed on neighborhood counter tops, fundraisers were held and thousands of dollars raised in her name to "help save her life." Brittany raked in more money with each day that passed.
Although Brittany's outward appearance maintained its sickly-looking state, there were questionable instances that made those around her start to wonder. If she was in chemo, why hadn't she lost any hair? Why would she turn down a free doctor exam? And perhaps most incriminating, why on earth would she refuse a charitable donation paid directly to a hospital for her "treatments"?
When revealed by prosecutors, the answer was a sickly simple one — no pun intended. Brittany did not have cancer at all. She had never been through chemotherapy, never diagnosed with any malignant diseases, tumors or anything of the sort. She was a healthy 21-year-old girl with a terrible heroin addiction and not enough money to fund it.
"There was no cancer, no chemotherapy or radiation," Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota revealed in a Long Island press conference. "All there was was heroin and more heroin."
Brittany had scammed her community out of thousands of dollars. The total amount cannot be confirmed due to many donations given in off-the-record cash form. In addition to money, caring neighbors had also donated thousand of dollars worth of food to her during her "sick months", new clothes to "raise her spirits" and free doctor examinations. All a colossal waste of resources that could have been given to those who actually needed them.
Needless to say, the news of her dishonesty nearly sucked the wind out of those around her. They felt duped, scammed and betrayed both financially and emotionally. One community resident, Elizabeth Petricola, was particularly disturbed. "It was about the principle and the caring, the faith that we have in people. Everyone came together as a community to help. It broke my heart." And rightfully so.
Ozarowski has a record of previous drug arrests dating back to 2010. She is currently held on $75,000 bail after pleading not guilty to acts of larceny, forgery and other charges. A court date is not yet set, but if found guilty, Ozarowski could face up to seven years in prison. The Associated Press requested an interview from her jail cell, but she declined.
Who wouldn't feel bad for a young woman in this condition, right? What a horrible, tragic situation. The hearts of neighbors and those in the community went out to her. They wanted to somehow help so badly that they began a community-wide effort to raise money for this poor unfortunate soul. Donation jars were placed on neighborhood counter tops, fundraisers were held and thousands of dollars raised in her name to "help save her life." Brittany raked in more money with each day that passed.
Although Brittany's outward appearance maintained its sickly-looking state, there were questionable instances that made those around her start to wonder. If she was in chemo, why hadn't she lost any hair? Why would she turn down a free doctor exam? And perhaps most incriminating, why on earth would she refuse a charitable donation paid directly to a hospital for her "treatments"?
When revealed by prosecutors, the answer was a sickly simple one — no pun intended. Brittany did not have cancer at all. She had never been through chemotherapy, never diagnosed with any malignant diseases, tumors or anything of the sort. She was a healthy 21-year-old girl with a terrible heroin addiction and not enough money to fund it.
"There was no cancer, no chemotherapy or radiation," Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota revealed in a Long Island press conference. "All there was was heroin and more heroin."
Brittany had scammed her community out of thousands of dollars. The total amount cannot be confirmed due to many donations given in off-the-record cash form. In addition to money, caring neighbors had also donated thousand of dollars worth of food to her during her "sick months", new clothes to "raise her spirits" and free doctor examinations. All a colossal waste of resources that could have been given to those who actually needed them.
Needless to say, the news of her dishonesty nearly sucked the wind out of those around her. They felt duped, scammed and betrayed both financially and emotionally. One community resident, Elizabeth Petricola, was particularly disturbed. "It was about the principle and the caring, the faith that we have in people. Everyone came together as a community to help. It broke my heart." And rightfully so.
Ozarowski has a record of previous drug arrests dating back to 2010. She is currently held on $75,000 bail after pleading not guilty to acts of larceny, forgery and other charges. A court date is not yet set, but if found guilty, Ozarowski could face up to seven years in prison. The Associated Press requested an interview from her jail cell, but she declined.
http://thewire.sheknows.com/2013/04/23/long-island-womans-cancer-scam-exposed/
Reese Witherspoon and Husband James Toth Both Arrested...Yesterday's Wire Post
For most of us, the celebrity we would last imagine with a mug shot under her belt would be the typically squeaky clean Oscar-winning Southern mother of two, Reese Witherspoon. On Friday, though, she proved us wrong, when she was arrested and sent to jail for disorderly conduct toward a police officer.
After not staying in his lane while driving, Witherspoon’s husband, James Toth, was pulled over and charged with a DUI. State troopers began to give him a field sobriety test to assess the extent of intoxication. Before the test commenced, Reese exited the car in what she non-soberly saw as a “helpful defensive act” for her husband and was promptly told by officers to get back in the vehicle.
She cooperated once, but as the test ensued, “Mrs. Witherspoon began to hang out the window and say that she did not believe that I was a real police officer. I told Mrs. Witherspoon to sit on her butt and be quiet,” Trooper First Class J. Pyland told Fox News.
She watched as her husband was arrested for driving under the influence and failure to maintain the lane while driving early Friday morning. Husband first, wife next. Witherspoon was then herself put under arrest for disorderly conduct against police.
Upon realizing she was actually on the cusp of going to jail, Witherspoon made a futile attempt to play her celebrity card. “Do you know my name?”
The police officer could have been a die hard Legally Blonde/Walk the Line fan — yet he could not have cared less about her name. She was taken, alongside her husband, to the Atlanta city jail… and bailed out promptly the next morning. They are set to be in court this morning.
Witherspoon has since publicly apologized for her seemingly out-of-character confrontational behavior. ”…I do want to say, I clearly had one drink too many and I am deeply embarrassed about the things I said. It was definitely a scary situation and I was frightened for my husband, but that is no excuse. I was disrespectful to the officer who was just doing his job.”
I would say so.
Celebrity or not, drinking plus driving equates to the same result. The pair were lucky neither they nor anyone else was injured.
http://thewire.sheknows.com/2013/04/22/reese-witherspoon-and-husband-both-arrested/
Monday, April 22, 2013
My Top 7 Favorite Daily NYC MTA Lines
7. "Assaulting a bus driver is a felony." I'm pretty certain that a bus riding patron with intentions of assaulting the driver is prooobably not going to abort mission due to the MTA lady's gentle little reminder of the legal repercussions. Just a thought.
6. "This is a reminder that the fare on local buses is $2.50 and select bus service is $5.00." Really, MTA lady, because I ride the select bus every single day twice per day and every single time the fare is $2.50. Price check please.
5. "Please move away from the doors. Please move away from the doors." At first I felt threatened by this ominous-from-above-seeming booming... as if, if I didn't move away from the door, closer into the confines of the sardine can (er, bus), we wouldn't move. Then I learned. Even when no one is near the door, when it's just me and the driver on the lonely stupid M34A after hours, the manly MTA robot is still not satisfied with the door to human space ratio.
4. "You are the eyes of New York." Yikes, if that's really true, I fear for the five boroughs. My vision royally sucks. I probably couldn't spot a killer if he whacked me in the back with a weapon.
3. "Touch yellow handle to open doors." It seems pretty simple, doesn't it? She just said, TOUCH the handle to open the door, she didn't say shove the door with all your might or kick the door. She didn't even say aggressively push the door. And yet every single time I'm patiently waiting my turn to exit by gingerly touching that yellow handle, someone in the mass ahead of me nearly breaks the door. Geez people, try cardio kick-boxing instead.
2. "Please exit through the rear doors." But my subway stop is closer to the front door, I don't wannnnna exit through the rear doors, I wanna get to my destination in as quick a manner as possible and that means exiting through the front door. Can't I please just go out the front door?
1. "If you see something, say something." Now, does that include too-close-for-comfort contact from that homeless looking but potentially not homeless guy at 9a? Does creepy staring count? If I said every single questionable thing that I saw on the bus/subway every day, I'd be hoarse by the time I got to work.
6. "This is a reminder that the fare on local buses is $2.50 and select bus service is $5.00." Really, MTA lady, because I ride the select bus every single day twice per day and every single time the fare is $2.50. Price check please.
5. "Please move away from the doors. Please move away from the doors." At first I felt threatened by this ominous-from-above-seeming booming... as if, if I didn't move away from the door, closer into the confines of the sardine can (er, bus), we wouldn't move. Then I learned. Even when no one is near the door, when it's just me and the driver on the lonely stupid M34A after hours, the manly MTA robot is still not satisfied with the door to human space ratio.
4. "You are the eyes of New York." Yikes, if that's really true, I fear for the five boroughs. My vision royally sucks. I probably couldn't spot a killer if he whacked me in the back with a weapon.
3. "Touch yellow handle to open doors." It seems pretty simple, doesn't it? She just said, TOUCH the handle to open the door, she didn't say shove the door with all your might or kick the door. She didn't even say aggressively push the door. And yet every single time I'm patiently waiting my turn to exit by gingerly touching that yellow handle, someone in the mass ahead of me nearly breaks the door. Geez people, try cardio kick-boxing instead.
2. "Please exit through the rear doors." But my subway stop is closer to the front door, I don't wannnnna exit through the rear doors, I wanna get to my destination in as quick a manner as possible and that means exiting through the front door. Can't I please just go out the front door?
1. "If you see something, say something." Now, does that include too-close-for-comfort contact from that homeless looking but potentially not homeless guy at 9a? Does creepy staring count? If I said every single questionable thing that I saw on the bus/subway every day, I'd be hoarse by the time I got to work.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Sopranos Post-Mortem
The theme here as of late seems to be widespread TV tardiness on my part, doesn't it. Yeah, even I'm beginning to notice. Seems I am a late-broadcast-bloomer. Only in my thirties have I really come into my own with TV preferences. It was a long road but I'm finally here. Okay, okay, that's enough with the dramatic intro. I know, I'll stop.
So since the inception of my Nurse Jackie / Edie Falco love affair last month, I decided that the existence of an unwatched-in-its-entirety series with Edie in a central role was too much to leave untapped. While I intermittently watched episodes over its seven years on air, I have not watched every episode of The Sopranos in chronological order and consequently have undoubtedly missed out on a lot of pertinent stuff. Unacceptable.
As of yesterrday, the sixteenth of April, two thousand thirteen, I pledge to dedicate myself to viewing all seven seasons (or 6B if we're being technical) of The Sopranos in order in their entirety. Last night was a two-episoder: Season one, episodes six and seven. I must say, episode seven was pure mafia-rific TV heaven. We saw a pint-sized Meadow (Jamie Lynn Siegler) kick off her journey to find the right college: the first Soprano to attend university, quite the feat. She and her mob-man father, Tony (James Gandolfini), embark on an east-coast road trip together while Carmela (Falco) stays home sick in Jersey. Well, not so sick that she couldn't spend a ziti-and-chianti-filled evening with a priest by the fireplace. But that's a whoooole other story. Meadow and Tony tour the preppy-Ivy-league east coast together in his somehow-mob-looking white Lincoln. While Meadow preps for college interviews, Tony plots a mafia murder. Just an ordinary day in the Soprano household.
Naturally the most intriguing storyline of the episode for me was that between Carmela and Father Phil Intinola...who BY THE WAY, just so happens to play Eddie on Nurse Jackie. Coincidence? I think not. But I digress. While nursing a cold with her husband and college-bound daughter traveling and her son sleeping out, Carmela spends a rainy evening in with Father Phil. Now not that I myself have much experience with priests, however I know enough to know this is no ordinary priest-female relationship. The two spend hours talking face to face just a little too close together, drinking wine by the fire, watching movies, and oh yeah... engaging in a casual communion. Then he "spends the night." Normal right? I'll leave that up for judgement. Suffice to say, the scenes between Carmela and Father Phil are intense, minorly uncomfortable, and amazing to watch. The chemistry between the two is fantastically powerful and electric. Watch it and trust me, it will spark you too.
My sincere apologies to those of you who finished The Sopranos like five years ago and who are surely judging my TV tardiness if only just a little. I suppose I was busy. Either way, be sure to check back with me on my subsequent viewings and reviews whether you've watched or not. Until then, kiddos, be good and stay safe.
So since the inception of my Nurse Jackie / Edie Falco love affair last month, I decided that the existence of an unwatched-in-its-entirety series with Edie in a central role was too much to leave untapped. While I intermittently watched episodes over its seven years on air, I have not watched every episode of The Sopranos in chronological order and consequently have undoubtedly missed out on a lot of pertinent stuff. Unacceptable.
As of yesterrday, the sixteenth of April, two thousand thirteen, I pledge to dedicate myself to viewing all seven seasons (or 6B if we're being technical) of The Sopranos in order in their entirety. Last night was a two-episoder: Season one, episodes six and seven. I must say, episode seven was pure mafia-rific TV heaven. We saw a pint-sized Meadow (Jamie Lynn Siegler) kick off her journey to find the right college: the first Soprano to attend university, quite the feat. She and her mob-man father, Tony (James Gandolfini), embark on an east-coast road trip together while Carmela (Falco) stays home sick in Jersey. Well, not so sick that she couldn't spend a ziti-and-chianti-filled evening with a priest by the fireplace. But that's a whoooole other story. Meadow and Tony tour the preppy-Ivy-league east coast together in his somehow-mob-looking white Lincoln. While Meadow preps for college interviews, Tony plots a mafia murder. Just an ordinary day in the Soprano household.
Naturally the most intriguing storyline of the episode for me was that between Carmela and Father Phil Intinola...who BY THE WAY, just so happens to play Eddie on Nurse Jackie. Coincidence? I think not. But I digress. While nursing a cold with her husband and college-bound daughter traveling and her son sleeping out, Carmela spends a rainy evening in with Father Phil. Now not that I myself have much experience with priests, however I know enough to know this is no ordinary priest-female relationship. The two spend hours talking face to face just a little too close together, drinking wine by the fire, watching movies, and oh yeah... engaging in a casual communion. Then he "spends the night." Normal right? I'll leave that up for judgement. Suffice to say, the scenes between Carmela and Father Phil are intense, minorly uncomfortable, and amazing to watch. The chemistry between the two is fantastically powerful and electric. Watch it and trust me, it will spark you too.
My sincere apologies to those of you who finished The Sopranos like five years ago and who are surely judging my TV tardiness if only just a little. I suppose I was busy. Either way, be sure to check back with me on my subsequent viewings and reviews whether you've watched or not. Until then, kiddos, be good and stay safe.
Britain Officially Bids Farewell to the Iron Lady
http://thewire.sheknows.com/2013/04/17/britain-officially-bids-farewell-to-the-iron-lady/
Great Britain said goodbye to its former first-woman, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, on Wednesday in a funeral fit for a queen. Or aptly, a Prime Minister in this case. Even posthumously, the colloquially dubbed Iron Lady was met with mixed reactions: honors, tears, hymns… and a few resounding boos. Somehow oddly apropos.
Mrs. Thatcher’s coffin made a regal entrance, carried in by a horse-drawn carriage to St. Paul’s Cathedral, where the service took place. Queen Elizabeth, eleven former prime ministers along with 2,200 others attended the grand funeral. Thatcher’s 19-year-old granddaughter, Amanda, read a passage from the New Testament for her deceased grandmother while British hymns resounded throughout. Britain’s current finance minister, George Osborne, was noticeably upset, with visible tears streaking his face during the funeral ceremony.
Those British Thatcher-supporters who were not allowed inside the funeral stood outside to show their support and love. “Margaret Thatcher came along and sorted everything out. Her legacy is that she put the word ‘great’ back into Great Britain,” one man told a camera crew outside.
While those inside paid their respects, there was simultaneously a characteristic-for-MT slew of opponents lining the streets outside the cathedral booing and holding up anti-Thatcher signs. It seems a bit late for these passion-filled acts of hate… but Thatcher always had her crew of opponents. Both while alive and now dead.
Margaret Thatcher, due to her own self-motivation and strong will, rose from nothing to greatness. Throughout dense brick obstacles, glass ceilings, sexism, prejudice and bad hair, she remained persistent and tough as nails. “I fight on. I fight to win.” Mrs. Thatcher was the first woman to become prime minister of Great Britain. Although she had to push harder than any man undoubtedly would to get there, she served for 11 years, longer than any other prime minister in the 20th century. And while there, her contributions were anything but bare minimum. Her unstoppable (and some would argue, impossible) determination in foreign policy, British territory and, equally importantly, social attitudes instilled both admiration and fear in a country of Brits. On the day she left office, she left behind a vast footprint. Great Britain would be forever stamped with Thatcherism, and although no longer draped in blue, definitively a changed state.
Rest in peace, MT.
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Jackie's Back
Nurse Jackie returned for the premiere of its fifth season Sunday night on Showtime. And thank the lord it did. Nurse Jackie remains one of the few shows that has been successfully able to ease into five seasons without becoming rote, predictable, annoying, or straight-up bad. The characters, most notably Edie Falco's Jackie, Eve Best's Dr. O'hara, and Zoey (only one word needed), have remained fresh throughout four straight seasons and judging from Sunday's premiere, will continue that streak for a fifth.
We saw Season four close out with a sober, job-less, what-do-I-do-next Jackie. Gloria Akalitus was also fired from All Saints along with former-pharmacist Eddie, leaving the once densely populated ER a veritable ghost-town. I must admit that while I love every single episode of Nurse Jackie, the last episode of Season 4 did leave me with a moderately uncomfortable feeling of what was to come next. No Gloria? No Eddie? Zoey's great and all but she's no Jackie. So needless to say, when the first five minutes of the premiere plotted these All Saints faves back in their beloved ER, I was relieved. The episode gingerly triggers our memories of the events that occurred last season. The divine-rich-Brit O'Hara's baby son makes an introduction (what a munchkin) as she breaks the news she is leaving All Saints to spend time with "the one person who depends on her." Not to be unfeeling/anti-feminist but really now...we all know that plotline simply cannot last. She will come back. Right? Coop is just, well...Coop. And Dr. Mike Cruz is noticeably absent from both the episode and the hospital, his position reclaimed by Anna Deavere Smith's Gloria. While a welcome swap indeed, we are left with no explanation as to why this took place. We assume Dr. Cruz was fired or more likely quit due to the tragic death of his alcoholic/addict son... however that is at our subjective discretion. Two new characters grace All Saints, a brash new male head-of-ER-doctor and a what-seems-to-be-ditzy Dr. Blonde Barbie.
And then, of course, there's Falco's Jackie Peyton. Jackie is still clean and sober and has clearly reclaimed her position as All Saints head nurse. No surprise there. After all, it would be pretty difficult to write off the title character's title. Although sober (for now), her cutting demeanor and hard edges are still in tact, but we do begin to see a softer side. Note the sandwich hug with O'hara and her Gerber-looking baby. Whether or not Jackie can stay sober is going to be the clear consistent theme throughout this season. We begin to see hints of this current when, after a Victor Cruz-esque football player swallows pill-stuffed condoms, Jackie secretly takes a few of the pills home with her. Just for safe keeping of course. Ultimately, she dumps the lot down the toilet at episode end... except for one. "Sobriety is a bitch indeed."
What will ultimately unfold at All Saints for Jackie and the crew this season remains to be seen. And where Jackie lands is anyone's best guess. In the meanwhile, let us all clear our DVR's, relish the coming eleven Sunday nights and look forward to the next chapter in Jackie's ever-tumultuous book of life.
Boston Marathon Shootings Likely Linked to Terrorism (Reporter Rachel here)
In the initial hours following the two deadly bomb explosions that took place at the finish line of the Boston Marathon yesterday afternoon, it was uncertain whether the explosions were acts of terrorism or otherwise. Although suspects have still not been definitively confirmed, CNN in conjunction with Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, have reported that the FBI has taken charge of the investigation and is actively working to confirm whether the tragic event is linked to terrorism. The FBI is bringing critical, substantial resources in to aid with the investigation. They have labeled it a criminal investigation with potential as terrorist investigation on both a national and local level. Police identified two additional bombs in the area that did not go off and are continuing to monitor for further evidence.
CNN is also reporting that at the current time, officials have been told to be on the “lookout for a darker-skinned or black male with a possible foreign accent” carrying a black backpack in the Boston area.
President Obama spoke last evening on the national tragedy, at the time remaining cautious to confirm that the act was definitely one of terrorism, but stating in an official White House statement that “we will find out who did this and we will hold them accountable.” The tragedy has since been labeled as a potential act of terrorism. The President has assured the country that he will increase national security due to the attack, promising to protect the American people in the face of any potential threats. He stated that today “all Americans stand with the people of Boston.”
Three people have officially been declared dead with 17 currently in critical condition and more than 140 injured from the deadly bombings.
A third explosion that took place at the JFK Presidential Library in Boston was initially speculated to be related to the marathon. CNN reports that it has since been confirmed that explosion was related to mechanical problems. No one was killed or injured and all library patrons were safe post-blast. One tiny trace of light in a day of darkness.
http://thewire.sheknows.com/2013/04/16/deadly-boston-marathon-explosions-likely-linked-to-terrorism/
Monday, April 15, 2013
Check Out My First PUBLISHED Post...Justin's Barely Belieb-able Act Abroad
During a stop in Amsterdam this past weekend while on his European tour, 19-year-old Justin Bieber caused quite a ruckus. This is just another rung on his ladder of socially inappropriate public behavior. While in Amsterdam, Bieber visited the Anne Frank Museum… which would have been a kind, positive gesture if left at that. Before exiting the museum, however, he wrote a message in the public guestbook reading, “Anne was a great girl. Hopefully she would have been a Belieber.”
Not surprisingly, since then, the bubble-gum-turned-punky teen idol has received a fair share of criticism in the social sphere and the public at large. Anne Frank spent her last years starved and tortured in a Nazi concentration camp, ultimately dying at the hands of Nazis for her Jewish faith. Pop music was nowhere in the realm of her tragic life at any point, and Bieber’s suggestion that she would have “been a fan of his” has been touted as both self-centered and inappropriate. Pop culture and whimsical language should not be used anywhere in conjunction with a tragedy of mass proportions.
Some argue, however, that Bieber was not totally in the wrong with his “upbeat” guestbook entry. Caroline Frost of the Huffington Post said, “In her diary, there are dreams of Hollywood and all the film starts. I’m sure that she would have been absolutely that age, and we hope living a normal happy life, which for any 13-year-old, does involve knowing what Justin Bieber’s up to.” Perhaps if Anne Frank had indeed lived long enough to have the luxury of following pop idols and Hollywood goings-on, Bieber would not have received any criticism for his comments. The fact is, however, she did not. By bringing celebrity and at the core, himself, into a commemorative establishment, he demonstrated a lack of respect and an over-bearing sense of egocentrism.
Bieber has not yet commented on the act nor the public reaction.
Though controversial right now, there is no doubt that the true Justin Bieber fans will be able to overlook this momentary misstep and get back to whole-heartedly “Belieb-ing”.
http://thewire.sheknows.com/2013/04/15/justins-barely-belieb-able-act-abroad/
http://thewire.sheknows.com/2013/04/15/justins-barely-belieb-able-act-abroad/
Friday, April 12, 2013
10 Reasons Taylor Swift Makes Me Want to Poke My Eyes Out
10. That "squeaky clean" thing isn't valid once your list of exes/hook-ups has surpassed ten. Sorry TSwizz.
9. Those bangs. Ick.
8. The lyrics to every single one of her songs resemble the speech patterns of my thirteen year old LA-inhabiting cousin. To be clear, that is not a compliment.
7. Her dance moves during awards season, particularly on the Grammy's when the cameras insisted on panning to her during actual quality songs, scarred me for life.
6. The cool factor of Diet Coke just decreased dramatically.
5. When she tries to make that pouty, I'm-seducing-the-camera-face that looks more like she's in serious pain or constipated.
4. Why do her arms always seem to be limplessly hanging or flailing about in the air?
3. The fact that, to my serious chagrin, the hummed sentence "we are never ever ever getting back together" inevitably enters my brain roughly once per day. Damn you, Pandora.
2. We get it, you were a nerd and are stilllll insecure. Yawn.
1. Her favorite and ONLY topic she has to discuss is herself.
9. Those bangs. Ick.
8. The lyrics to every single one of her songs resemble the speech patterns of my thirteen year old LA-inhabiting cousin. To be clear, that is not a compliment.
7. Her dance moves during awards season, particularly on the Grammy's when the cameras insisted on panning to her during actual quality songs, scarred me for life.
6. The cool factor of Diet Coke just decreased dramatically.
5. When she tries to make that pouty, I'm-seducing-the-camera-face that looks more like she's in serious pain or constipated.
4. Why do her arms always seem to be limplessly hanging or flailing about in the air?
3. The fact that, to my serious chagrin, the hummed sentence "we are never ever ever getting back together" inevitably enters my brain roughly once per day. Damn you, Pandora.
2. We get it, you were a nerd and are stilllll insecure. Yawn.
1. Her favorite and ONLY topic she has to discuss is herself.
It's Edie Day!
Well, folks, the day has arrived. It's a rainy Friday, the majority of my morning was spent soggy and rain-combined-with-subway-filth soaked, and I found an apartment I loved, only to learn it was taken. But none of that matters because...it's Edie Falco day! Since the day I purchased tickets to see Edie Falco live on Broadway (well, technically off-Broadway if we're being precise) in The Madrid, the countdown has been on. And now in just a few short hours, I will be sitting in a cozy little theater a mere 4 blocks away watching a brunette Carmela and/or Jackie, whichever you choose, on stage. The New York Times gave both Edie and The Madrid a ravishing review and I have no doubt so will the Bunnylogue. Be sure to check back for a detailed review of the show at a later point this weekend. Until then, y'all, have a wonderful weekend. Be good! ;)
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Rick Pitino's Shining Week
March Madness came to quite an exciting close Monday
evening, particularly for Rick Pitino, head coach of this year’s NCAA champions
the Louisville Cardinals. After a season rife with plentiful surprises,
game-changers, and buzzer-beaters, the University of Louisville’s basketball
team ultimately came out on top, beating the University of Michigan Wolverines
82-76. The game was a magical one to watch from the start. The first half saw
Michigan, for the most part, in the lead…and the second dominated by
Louisville. If at first Louisville appeared lackluster, it is because they were
saving their slick quickness for the end to bring it home. A strategy
that almost always results in success. And they have their fiercely loyal coach
to thank. Pitino trained his team to be seasoned pros and on Monday night, it
showed. Pitino has held the position of head basketball coach at Louisville
since 2001 after formerly coaching Boston, Providence and University of
Kentucky and brief stint in the NBA with the New York Knicks and the Boston
Celtics. Throughout his career, Pitino has been known for his passion, but 2013
marks the first year in twelve that he led the Cardinals to earn the national
championship title. Previously, he also led the University of Kentucky to the
national championship in 1996, making him the first male college basketball
coach in the NCAA to lead two teams to the championship.
The win for Louisville would have been an incredible victory
in and of itself. Earning the distinction of only coach with two NCAA
championships under his reign would have been doubly victorious. But these two
accomplishments merely capped off Pitino’s glorious week. Five days prior to
his emotion-filled acceptance of the championship medal, Pitino won another
merit worthy of tears. He was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame. “It’s a
pretty special distraction,” Pitino reported at the Hall of Fame announcement
in Atlanta, prior to watching his Cardinals clinch the win.* And boy, was
it ever special. On Wednesday, a hall of fame induction, Monday night a
national championship title, and Tuesday, a $425,000 bonus. Not a bad way to
start off a Tuesday. Pitino has absolutely earned his keep this year, and if
there ever was one shining moment for Rick Pitino, there is no doubt this is
it.
*Quote reported by New
York Times
Friday, April 5, 2013
#reliefinaction
After many months of uncertainly, changes in direction, meetings about meetings on tweaks to tweaks, the Advil #reliefinaction campaign finally kicked off at the Barclays Center last night in Brooklyn. Nets vs Bulls, branded in Blue and Yellow. Aziz Ansari (although I'm admittedly not much of a Parks & Rec fan) private stand-up show for 100 volunteers who have helped their communities. Happy agencies and happy clients. Relief in Action has been a labor of love for so many people for so many months and last night kicked it off in style and grace.
There is no one outside of the proverbial target consumer for Advil so I urge all of you to join the cause on Instagram and Twitter. Upload your own picture of how you demonstrate active volunteerism, how you rise above your own pain to help relieve the pain of others. Or anything else that so inspires you in the spirit of the campaign. It's @reliefinaction, #reliefinaction. Go there. Join the conversation. Upload. Be inspired. Get involved.
For a detailed professionally-written press release on the campaign, please refer below:
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Male vs Female Social Networking Observations
I have been keenly aware of some distinct differences in the habits of male versus female social networking as of late. Now clearly these are vast generalizations and are not intended to convey that all guys and girls exhibit the exact behaviors. It's 2013, there's all different types of gender roles yadda yadda. I know. Having caveated that, here we go:
- Girls engage in rigorous Instagram-esque photo editing prior to uploading. This is particularly the case with the ever-annoying widespread selfie. Guys' photos are misaligned, on a diagonal, and filled with red eyes.
- As it relates to engagement-related posts, girls post sparkly hands. Guys use the simple status change - XYZ has gone from being in a "relationship" to "engaged". Can't knock the straight-forwardness though.
- Roughly 50% of guys' updates in my feed are sports-team-related. Roughly 50% of girls' tout how awesomely fit they are, # of miles run, or how annoying their gym experience was. (Maybe that's just me actually). At least both genders see the value to being physically fit.
- Girls change their profile pictures on a consistent basis. Read, every time they post a new event album. Because surely there must be a more flattering picture this week than last. Much better outfit. Much better hair. All the profile pics of guys in my network are at least 2 years old.
- Girls shamelessly promote (yeah I know, me included). So do guys.
Guess the ultimate goal for all of us is to make our lives look super awesome...in the best ways we know how. That will be all for today's observation du jour.
- Girls engage in rigorous Instagram-esque photo editing prior to uploading. This is particularly the case with the ever-annoying widespread selfie. Guys' photos are misaligned, on a diagonal, and filled with red eyes.
- As it relates to engagement-related posts, girls post sparkly hands. Guys use the simple status change - XYZ has gone from being in a "relationship" to "engaged". Can't knock the straight-forwardness though.
- Roughly 50% of guys' updates in my feed are sports-team-related. Roughly 50% of girls' tout how awesomely fit they are, # of miles run, or how annoying their gym experience was. (Maybe that's just me actually). At least both genders see the value to being physically fit.
- Girls change their profile pictures on a consistent basis. Read, every time they post a new event album. Because surely there must be a more flattering picture this week than last. Much better outfit. Much better hair. All the profile pics of guys in my network are at least 2 years old.
- Girls shamelessly promote (yeah I know, me included). So do guys.
Guess the ultimate goal for all of us is to make our lives look super awesome...in the best ways we know how. That will be all for today's observation du jour.
9 Reasons I Heart SJP
9. Her kids are freaking adorbs. I love the whole girly little boy son of a celeb thing.
8. She's just a midwestern girl at heart.
7. She has the requisite "I've been in a movie with Bette Midler" notch on her belt. Excuse me. Two movies with Bette Midler.
6. Most. Amazing. Hair. Love a fellow non-straight-hair-gal.
5. She's married to a nice Jewish boy.
4. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.
3. Even though she insists she's not Carrie, she looks just as fashion-forward fabulous in every photograph as Carrie undoubtedly would have.
2. Um, she spent every single day with Chris Noth for years on end. And a lot more. Or actually, maybe I hate her for that.
1. She made writing look so fucking cool. Thanks Carrie.
8. She's just a midwestern girl at heart.
7. She has the requisite "I've been in a movie with Bette Midler" notch on her belt. Excuse me. Two movies with Bette Midler.
6. Most. Amazing. Hair. Love a fellow non-straight-hair-gal.
5. She's married to a nice Jewish boy.
4. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.
3. Even though she insists she's not Carrie, she looks just as fashion-forward fabulous in every photograph as Carrie undoubtedly would have.
2. Um, she spent every single day with Chris Noth for years on end. And a lot more. Or actually, maybe I hate her for that.
1. She made writing look so fucking cool. Thanks Carrie.
A Premium Worth the Premium
To commence, I have realized in recent weeks that I should probably stop calling myself a non-TV gal since, as you have probably ascertained from the B-logue as well, I have actually grown to be quite the premium cable addict. As it was happening, I was not consciously aware of my blossoming affinity for premium cable original series. (Read, Showtime and HBO shows inclusive but not limited to Homeland and Nurse Jackie. Detailed accounts to be discussed shortly.). I believe the rationale for touting myself as a minimal TV viewer in the past was actually rooted not in my TV viewing overall but in my network TV habits. And even to those who don't spend their days evaluating the merits and falls of network prime, cable, cable prime and the likes, believe me when I say this. There is an enormous differential between network shows, cable shows, and my clear biased preferred genre of the bunch, premium cable shows. The differences are noticeable and they are vast -- the acting and actors are of higher caliber, the plotlines generally stronger (and right from the onset), and the characters richer. There is definite eye rolling taking place right now from the Modern Family/How I Met Your Mother/Criminal Minds (and others of the sort) fans. I sense it all the way over here. But I digress.
I would say my network prime viewership started its progressive decline just about ten years ago. In pondering, this timing is actually anything but coincidental. It was approximately a decade ago when I graduated from my I'm-in-college-I-have-no-money-for-a-cable-subscription days and like any cultured "grown up" girl would do, moved to Manhattan. Not that I had any more money then but I did have priorities. And I felt it my rightful obligation and duty to subscribe to as many premium channels as I could. After all, I did work in media, right? So October 2003 marked a monumental month in the timeline of my life: it marked the first time I had my very own TV in my own room with my very own premium cable subscription. And how lovely it was. That momentous occasion commenced my evolution away from every-man TV shows to premium-only.
My freshman premium cable favorite was, cliche I know, Sex and the City. Instead of going to my parental-funded-friends-with-cable's apartments to occasionally watch in college, I now had the luxury of watching the gals on Sunday nights in my own shoebox, er, room. It was a sad day when Carrie and crew left me with no fabulous company on Sunday nights. But I got the DVD's. From there, my next obsessive addiction was In Treatment. No psychological pun intended there for my beloved therapist-meets-patient program. Gabriel Byrne, Dianne Wiest and their vast array of emotionally disturbed patients had a steady fixture for roughly three years on HBO and in my life. In Treatment is for me, to this day, one of the highest quality thirty minute dramas to grace the small screen. The characters were real, they had no seeming pretenses, and, from an adoring psychology lover/major, the most genuine look at therapy outside of a real doctor's office I have seen. But of course the day came when HBO pulled the plug on that, too. *Tear rolling down cheek*. Thirdly, and clearly no less importantly, in my premium cable chronology...The Sopranos. Jersey mafia meets Real Housewives meets In Treatment. Starring Edie Falco and Lorraine Bracco. Enough said. I watched Girls out of some cultural sense of obligation and to my surprise, grew to quite enjoy the fucked-up-twenty-something chick dramedy. That whole Lena Q-tip thing was a little unnecessary and Marnie got a little too skinny to be believable in her role but overall...pretty solid.
If HBO was my premium cable infant, Showtime was my adult. (For those that get this, that line is pretty amusing). I am certain that I skipped a few along the way but I would like to move onto Showtime. I think one single word is sufficient here: Homeland. Since this is getting pretty long as it is, I will bypass going into my feelings of adoration on this hour long love-infused CIA seat gripper. Unrivaled, unpredictable, flawlessly-acted. Carrie and Brody had me at hello. And now to the present. In typical fashion, I was a little behind the times with this one when I started Season 1 of Nurse Jackie just last month. But allow me to indulge this for just a moment -- the wait was worth it. I recognize I've previously gone into great depth on the extraordinary caliber of this show but I will say it again. Nurse Jackie is undoubtedly the best character study I have witnessed on the small screen. And not just as a hospital show -- overall. Edie Falco's stunning portrayal of prescription-painkiller-addicted Jackie is nothing short of mesmerizing. Clearly she mesmerized me: I watched four straight seasons of the show in a week's time.
My current endeavor is Showtime's Shameless. I am trying to get full-fledged into it as I have with my aforementioned premium loves. I haven't quite gotten there yet; I'm still in the "it's okay I'm willing to give it another episode" stage. It remains to be seen whether a drunk William H. Macy and trying-to-be-trashy Emmy Rossum will reel me in. I'll be sure to report back on that one. In the meanwhile and in conclusion, I urge all of you out there who assert that "premium cable isn't worth the premium" to change your tune. Trust me, if this primetime sitcom bashing gal can be swayed, so can you. Do it - take the premium plunge.
I would say my network prime viewership started its progressive decline just about ten years ago. In pondering, this timing is actually anything but coincidental. It was approximately a decade ago when I graduated from my I'm-in-college-I-have-no-money-for-a-cable-subscription days and like any cultured "grown up" girl would do, moved to Manhattan. Not that I had any more money then but I did have priorities. And I felt it my rightful obligation and duty to subscribe to as many premium channels as I could. After all, I did work in media, right? So October 2003 marked a monumental month in the timeline of my life: it marked the first time I had my very own TV in my own room with my very own premium cable subscription. And how lovely it was. That momentous occasion commenced my evolution away from every-man TV shows to premium-only.
My freshman premium cable favorite was, cliche I know, Sex and the City. Instead of going to my parental-funded-friends-with-cable's apartments to occasionally watch in college, I now had the luxury of watching the gals on Sunday nights in my own shoebox, er, room. It was a sad day when Carrie and crew left me with no fabulous company on Sunday nights. But I got the DVD's. From there, my next obsessive addiction was In Treatment. No psychological pun intended there for my beloved therapist-meets-patient program. Gabriel Byrne, Dianne Wiest and their vast array of emotionally disturbed patients had a steady fixture for roughly three years on HBO and in my life. In Treatment is for me, to this day, one of the highest quality thirty minute dramas to grace the small screen. The characters were real, they had no seeming pretenses, and, from an adoring psychology lover/major, the most genuine look at therapy outside of a real doctor's office I have seen. But of course the day came when HBO pulled the plug on that, too. *Tear rolling down cheek*. Thirdly, and clearly no less importantly, in my premium cable chronology...The Sopranos. Jersey mafia meets Real Housewives meets In Treatment. Starring Edie Falco and Lorraine Bracco. Enough said. I watched Girls out of some cultural sense of obligation and to my surprise, grew to quite enjoy the fucked-up-twenty-something chick dramedy. That whole Lena Q-tip thing was a little unnecessary and Marnie got a little too skinny to be believable in her role but overall...pretty solid.
If HBO was my premium cable infant, Showtime was my adult. (For those that get this, that line is pretty amusing). I am certain that I skipped a few along the way but I would like to move onto Showtime. I think one single word is sufficient here: Homeland. Since this is getting pretty long as it is, I will bypass going into my feelings of adoration on this hour long love-infused CIA seat gripper. Unrivaled, unpredictable, flawlessly-acted. Carrie and Brody had me at hello. And now to the present. In typical fashion, I was a little behind the times with this one when I started Season 1 of Nurse Jackie just last month. But allow me to indulge this for just a moment -- the wait was worth it. I recognize I've previously gone into great depth on the extraordinary caliber of this show but I will say it again. Nurse Jackie is undoubtedly the best character study I have witnessed on the small screen. And not just as a hospital show -- overall. Edie Falco's stunning portrayal of prescription-painkiller-addicted Jackie is nothing short of mesmerizing. Clearly she mesmerized me: I watched four straight seasons of the show in a week's time.
My current endeavor is Showtime's Shameless. I am trying to get full-fledged into it as I have with my aforementioned premium loves. I haven't quite gotten there yet; I'm still in the "it's okay I'm willing to give it another episode" stage. It remains to be seen whether a drunk William H. Macy and trying-to-be-trashy Emmy Rossum will reel me in. I'll be sure to report back on that one. In the meanwhile and in conclusion, I urge all of you out there who assert that "premium cable isn't worth the premium" to change your tune. Trust me, if this primetime sitcom bashing gal can be swayed, so can you. Do it - take the premium plunge.