Friday Round-Up!

Happy rainy NYC Friday to you all! The Oscars are over, but there are still reasons for life to go on! I hope that you enjoyed our little taste of spring time this week. I’m watching NY1 right now and they’re saying its’ going to rain all weekend but be semi-cloudy next week so that’s not too bad.

Speaking of NY1 Let’s get into it:

1. It was noted during that last hockey game at the Olympics that 80% of Canada was watching (math skills are telling me that’s like 27 million people) pretty impressive, Canada. Our beloved Pat Kiernan posted this graph to his blog this week, looks like 80% of Canada had also broken the Molsen seal.

2. Maybe this deserves a longer post, but did you know that “Remember Me” is a 9/11 movie? Not really a spoiler because it’s all over the internet now. As a New Yorker I’m pretty offended that they couldn’t manage to scrounge up two mediocre American actors to play the main roles. Also of course, I’m mad about them taking the worst day of my life and making it a shitty ending to a shitty movie. I know I’m taking it personally, and I’m not going to see it (I wouldn’t have anyway because I don’t watch sad things) but it just grosses me out and I think that’s worth noting.

3. This week Lindsay Lohan filed suit against Etrade for using her “image” in their most recent baby commercial. The whole situation is mind-boggling, I’m sure she needs $100MillionDollars to spend on leggings and shredded jeans but she’s just being silly. Part of the argument is that she’s known by one-name only… ummmm no she isn’t. She’s Lindsay Lohan (that’s not even a bad thing, would you ever say Sigourney? No.) To compare her first-name fame to Madonna or Oprah is hysterical. You miss, are no Oprah.

4. Speaking of crazy ladies, Sarah Palin thinks that God wrote on his hand so it’s ok for her to write on her hand too (I’ll give you a second to drink that gem in). Maybe I should read The Bible so I can hand-pick passages to excuse my own behavior? Huzzah! I found one: No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.—1 Timothy 5:23. My head hurts, off to the bar! My my, that does feel vindicating!

5. Got some money burning a hole in your pocket today? Why not throw it away!?

6. Sharpie this in: Betty White’s SNL date is set for May 8^th! It’s been one of the most popular subjects on Facebook since the Super Bowl and it better include some tap-dancing! I wonder which Golden Girl Kristen Wiig is going to play?! I think I’m hoping for Sophia!

7. I don’t know about you, but I’m on about a gazillion mailing lists and I get a ton of emails. So picking which ones I open and which ones I read is a split second decision. This week my inbox has been filled with the most genius of subject lines, I don’t know what’s in the water but people are getting better! Moveon sent me one that said “hey, you’re in this video.” Jobs.com just sent one “Hawkes, become a CSI!” The Clinton Foundation said “President Clinton would like to meet you” well played everyone!

8.  Slate has a great article about that Korean couple who let their real life baby die (news that I brought to you last week).

The problem isn’t that you’re a bad or weak person. It’s worse than that. The problem is that all of us are susceptible to being drawn into other worlds, and other worlds are becoming ever more compelling. In the old days, imaginary friends had to be imagined. Now you can see and interact with them. In cyberspace, they exist. They’re more alluring and less flawed than your friends in the physical world. And thanks to artificial intelligence and three-dimensional graphics, they’re becoming quite lifelike.

The people that I know who spend time inside virtual worlds know the difference between the computer and real life, and they do not ignore their real responsibilities. It’s terrifying that this happened, it’s terrifying that it could happen again. This month the future fails to impress.

9. Did you know that “Green Eggs and Ham” was written because Dr. Seuss’ publisher bet he couldn’t write a book using only 50 different words? How cool is that?

10. I HOPE YOU MAKE IT DOWN HERE BECAUSE THIS IS AWESOME. Say what you will about Lady Gaga, the girl is talented, and she’s doing something that nobody has done before. WATCH THE TELEPHONE VIDEO HERE I can’t embed it, it’s 9 minutes long and slightly NSFW (there’s certainly language). The video is stunning, the costumes, the scenery, the dance sequences. Sigh. Color me impressed.

Happy weekend!