How much do I HATE the Kardashians? Let me count the ways.....

Recently, to my dismay, the vomitous name KARDASHIAN has been given top billing and feature stories in recent entertainment news.  In my view, the Kardashian skanks are one of the worst things to come out of California and pollute the airwaves since Ronald Reagan came to power.

“Who are the Kardashians” some of you may ask.

The Kardashian spawns – er, I mean sisters – Kim, Kourtney and Khloe (how original with the spelling) – are fame whores who reside in Beverley Hills.  They are daughters of lawyer Robert Kardashian (who was on the OJ Simpson defense team) and step-daughters of Olympic decathlon champion Bruce Jenner.  Kim, the elder of the sisters, rose to fame when a sex tape she made with (unknown) R&B singer Ray J was circulated on the internet.  

How classy

Kim used this scandal – opps, I mean, OPPORTUNITY to promote herself and ended up with a reality series on the E! Channel called ‘Keeping Up with the Kardashians’.

Why people will watch a show that espouses the plastic superficiality of Hollywood life where the Kardashian brats prowl, pout and push their breasts in any willing male face just to get their way is beyond me.  The sad part is that there are teenage girls who aspire to be like them….and then society wonders why this generation of young girls have such low self esteem when it comes to self-worth and self-image.

According to Wikipedia Kim Kardashian is an American businesswoman, socialite, television personality, model and actress.  If you can call flitting from paparazzi to paparazzi camera flashbulbs socializing, making forgettable appearances in third-rate sitcoms acting, or classify selling video tapes of your vee-jay-jay on the internet for publicity as a business transaction…..then they’re probably right.

The head skank…opps, I mean, elder sister Kim got married this summer after a whirlwind courtship by NBA basketball knucklehead Kris Humphries (okay, what the eff is up with the use of the letter ‘k’ with first names with this circle of clowns?!) in an $18 million wedding extravaganza that was taped for the second season of the Kardashian’s upcoming reality series “Kourtney and Kim Take New York”.

But why the sudden focus on the Kardashians this week?  Because after only 72 days of marriage head slag Kim has filed for divorce, citing the standard Hollywood cliché - “irreconcilable differences”.

Oh, the HORROR!!!!  How will the sanctity of marriage – that bastion of society that the mere presence of gays threaten – every rebound from this development?!  It must be a really, really serious issue for them to divorce and not honor the Holy Sacrament of Marriage….

Yeah – a serious monetary issue.  Kim-Skank saw the marriage as a way to promote her reality show and garner uber publicity, after which she dumps the Neanderthal spouse once the cameras have stopped rolling, the director has called “CUT!”, and the check has been cashed.

Bitch.

In previews for the yet-to-be-aired show, fans have already gotten a peek at the short-lived marriage.

"How am I going to have my career and live in Minnesota?" Kim asks Kris when he suggests in one show that they move away from Hollywood to his hometown.

His response? "Baby, by the time you have kids and they're in school, no one will probably care about you."

No one will care about you – HAH!  That tactless knucklehead is beginning to grow on me…..

Michael Jackson's THRILLER

This video will never, EVER, get old.....enjoy!!!

Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf: VIDEO

I don't know what to think of this video- do you?

HOT MEN SUNDAY

POLITICAL CARTOONS

American football goes British: Chicago Bears plays Wembley Stadium on Sunday October 23rd

This Sunday, October 23^rd, the United Kingdom will get a taste of American football when a regularly scheduled NFL game is played at Wembley Stadium.  The Chicago Bears (currently 3-3) will be playing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-2) in what has now become an annual event on the NHL roster. 

Wembley Stadium has hosted an NFL regular-season game each of the past four years with the Giants edging the Dolphins 13-10 in 2007, the Saints beating the Chargers 37-32 in 2008, the Patriots crushing the Buccaneers 35-7 in 2009 and the 49ers defeating the Broncos 24-16 in 2010.

“Continuing London's love affair with the hugely popular stateside sport, we are proud to once again welcome two of America’s top NFL teams to the capital,” said London mayor Boris Johnson at a press event held earlier this year  “With a growing local fan base, it is a fantastic opportunity for enthusiasts from London and beyond to experience the unique thrill of a live game in one of the most iconic sports venues around, Wembley Stadium.”

“Our past four games in London have demonstrated the tremendous passion for NFL football that exists in the UK,” said NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.  “We hope by staging another extraordinary game at Wembley that we can continue to grow our existing fan base and attract even more new fans.”

Sunday’s game come straight on the heels of last Sunday’s game where the Bears beat the Minnesota Vikings 39-10.  Kickoff will be at 6 pm UK time, or noon CDT, and broadcast live on Fox (check your local listings for times and details). 

For more information on the upcoming game visit http://www.nfluk.com/.  

Asshole of the moment - HERMAN CAIN

I’ve been trying for the past few months not to go on personalized rants on various members of the GOP political  platform (too many targets, too much energy), but this weekend the current darling of the conservative movement pushed me over the edge – GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain.  He is one of the most arrogant, ignorant, asshat blowhards that has graced the political consciousness…..which now leads me in need of a wet-wipe for my brain. 

“Who?” some of you may ask.  “What’s his claim to fame?”

EXACTLY. 

Cain – a former business man who worked for Coca-Cola before switching to Pillsbury, is mostly known for his role in the successful management of regional Burger King stores in the Philadelphia area, and turning regional pizza chain Godfather’s Pizza from a struggling company into a regional success story. 

However, he’s never run a national corporation, never held public office, has no stance on foreign policy, no plans on how to deal with the occupation in Iraq or the war in Afghanistan, no viable job creation plan, and dodges questions on social issues. 

But he has absolutely no qualms on being an ignorant braggart staking his claim on the US presidency.

What pushed my buttons this weekend?  One were the reports regarding his statement to a group of supporters in Tennessee last Saturday on proposed border fences.  "It's going to be 20 feet high," Cain said. "It's going to have barbed wire on the top. It's going to be electrified. And there's going to be a sign on the other side saying, 'It will kill you -- Warning.'" The crowd cheered, joining the apparent movement of partisan GOP crowds enthusiastic about state sanctioned killing.

When confronted about his statements the next day on NBC’s ‘Meet the Press’ he claimed he wasn’t serious.  "That's a joke," he said. "That's not a serious plan. I've also said America needs to get a sense of humor."

So proposing that killing immigrants is a solution to serious immigration issues was just a joke?  To whom?  And because we didn’t get it we need to develop a sense of humor?

When asked in another interview if he was ready for hard-hitting policy questions he responded with “when they ask me who is the president of Ubeki-beki-beki-beki-stan-stan I’m going to say, you know, I don’t know. Do you know?” 

Well, he’s right – I do NOT know who is the president of Uzbekistan, but as a (rather unpleasant) candidate for president you shouldn’t be making fun of a neighbor of Afghanistan where we currently have thousands of troops fighting a tough war that has claimed the lives of many patriotic US soldiers. 

Idiot.  Moron.  Ass-wipe. 

He stated in another interview that the current Occupy Wall Street protests are being orchestrated by the White House.  “I don’t have facts to back this up, but I happen to believe that these demonstrations are planned and orchestrated to distract from the failed policies of the Obama administration.”

He doesn’t have the facts but he’s making the claim anyway? Facts –  who needs them, right?!  (Cors truth…….)

He is proposing a “9-9-9” tax plan whereas all federal taxes are eliminated and everyone pays a flat tax of 9%.  Why his simplistic-for-idiots tax plan appeals to some is beyond my comprehension.  Not only have the majority of economists, business groups, independent and financial analysts say that this proposal is not viable and will throw the country into serious decline, but also that it will further reduce taxes for the rich while placing MORE tax burdens on the poor and working middle class. 

When pressed that his proposed tax plan will raise taxes on common food items such as bread, milk, etc., he said that the poor should just “eat used food and buy used goods.” 

USED FOOD?!  USED FOOD?!  What the FUCK is used food – human shit?  So he wants the poor to pay taxes for the rich and eat shit?

That was the final straw that broke this bitch’s back.  My blood pressure is critical at just writing this (must……calm……down…..).

So it is with seething anger and utter disgust that I award GOP presidential candidate Herman McCain (opps, I keep getting assholes mixed up), I meant , I award Herman Cain the honor of being ASSHOLE OF THE MOMENT!!!!!

Chaka Khan - THROUGH THE FIRE

I don’t know why, but this song has been STUCK in my head for the past three weeks. 

Yeah, you read right – three weeks. 

Can’t stop listening to it.  At least three times a day. Constantly. 

*sigh*

I think I need an exorcist….

POLITICAL CARTTONS

HAVE AMERICAN VOTERS GOTTEN TOO STUPID TO VOTE?

Have American voters gotten too stupid to vote?

This question has plagued me on and off over the years.  I mean, to me – a registered Democrat –can it be anymore painfully obvious that the policies of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) are what’s best for the country?  Both socially and fiscally?

On the other hand, to registered Republicans, they are looking at us and thinking the same thing.  THEIR social and fiscal policies are what’s in the best interest of the country….curse you lefties and liberals!!!.

But that’s not the question.  Are American voters really too “stupid and vapid”, incapable of rationalizing the debates, thoughtfully mulling over the issues, making an informed decision when casting their vote?

Unfortunately – they are.

Google the phrase “are  American voters ignorant/stupid” and the plethora of answers examining the issue is scary.  Reading through the search results one arrives at the general consensus that there seems to be a lack of curiosity of voters to voluntarily educate themselves about the issues.

But there are rational (?) explanations as to why this is so.

Americans are getting what little information they have about political candidates from 30-second campaign commercials that's insufficient as a basis for deciding how you're going to vote and what you think about politics and policies. Previously, people got most of their information from newspapers – a much better source than opinionated cable news networks that operate solely on ratings and a 24-hour news cycle.

In the past when voters were members of large mass groups like political parties or labor unions, a voter’s party bosses or labor bosses helped guide their thinking about politics, and they had a better grasp of who or what was going to best help them butter their bread better.

However, in today’s deregulated competitive capitalistic society like ours where there is a great emphasis on entertainment, people are not inclined to sit down and study a newspaper and figure out what's actually going on in politics. That leads to very superficial politics.  (Source: http://www.usnews.com/news/national/articles/2008/06/03/the-ignorant-american-voter?PageNr=1)

Also, there is a great lack of knowledge or understanding of America’s very complex political system.  The first is that a certain amount of political ignorance is an inevitable by-product of America's unique political environment. One reason Americans have so much difficulty grasping the political facts of life is that their political system is the world's most complex. No European country has as many elections, as many elected offices, as complex a maze of overlapping governmental jurisdictions, as the American system. Most Americans do not know enough about the different branches of government, how they work, and how bills are legislated and passed.  It is simply harder to "read" U.S. politics than the politics of most nations.  (Source:  http://www.princeton.edu/~ccameron/KoreaIIE/IIE337/Schudson.America.pdf)

But should these explanations help us forgive the mass ignorance?

NO.

If we are waging costly wars and taking innocent lives in the name of democracy then the burden of responsibility is also on us to practice that democracy to its fullest.

American voters are some of the laziest in the world.  Of the total amount of voting age citizens in the USA only 71% are registered to vote.  Of that number of registered voters only 41% voted in the 2010 elections – the lowest turnout in the developed world.  However – that does NOT stop the US from having the nuttiest and most vocal political extremists.  They are the ones who are turning out in droves and casting their votes for their equally nutty candidates who get elected to office and propose and enact extremist politics.

Remember the entire debt-ceiling debacle?  That’s a walk in the park compared to legislature that will be proposed in the near future.

But back to the American voter.  Ignorance is not bliss.

We have a responsibility to thoroughly exam the candidates and their response to the issues.  Catchy slogans and simple (probably too simple) answers to revenue and tax collection is NOT the solution.   In the past decade American voters have proven themselves easily swayed by simplistic answers and wanting to “have a beer with the guy” as criteria for selecting their next president (George ‘Dubya’ Bush).

However, hope seems to be on the horizon.  People are tired of their current quality of life and living standards and begun to explore their rights to gather and voice their concerns.  First was the Tea Party movement, now we have the Occupy Wall Street protests making it obvious to those who care to listen that it cannot be business as usual.

Things have got to change.  Sixty percent of the wealth can NOT be controlled by  one percent of society.  And people are tired of working two jobs just to pay the necessary bills, or struggling so hard just to make ends meet.

Maybe the American voters do get it after all.

Only the elections of 2012 will tell.

HOT GUYS SUNDAY

2011 CHICAGO MARATHON

 Today, a Sunday, I actually hauled my lazy ass out of bed before 8 am, left my hovel and went to watch the 34^th Annual Chicago Marathon – otherwise known as the Bank of America Chicago Marathon.

What – you thought I was going to tell you I participated?  Mi?!  Wid mi big belly?  Run inna dis ya hot weadda’?!  Is how long unnu know me? *kiss teet*  To rass….

[TRANSLATION FOR MY NON-PATOIS FRIENDS:  Me?  Run in a major marathon with my grotesquely enlarged stomach?  In these hot and steamy temperatures?  Don’t you know me and my diva ways and my refusal to perspire and ruin my foundation?!  I thought you’d have had enough time to know about my idiosyncrasies by now! *hissing sound*  Damn….]

The Chicago Marathon, along with the marathons of Boston, New York, London and Berlin, is considered one of the five World Marathon Majors.  This yearly event initially began in 1977 as the Mayor Daley Marathon and has grown since then from a mere 4,200 participants in its initial run, to its current limited participation of 45 thousand runners.  Participants of the marathon came from over 100 countries, for most of whom it was their first visit to the Windy City. 

The competition – with individual prize money of over $100 thousand for the top winners – generates $170 million towards the local economy on the race weekend, with  charities that participate in or are affiliated with the marathon raising up to $11 million and more for their institutions. 

The marathon, a 26-plus mile course that winds through the city of Chicago, goes through some 26 city neighborhoods such as Lincoln Park, Lakeview, China Town, Old Town, and Pilsen. 

(Pilsen?  Why does that name sound familiar?) 

Because that’s the neighborhood that I live in.  Yup, the marathon course runs no more than four blocks from my hovel.  It was time for me to stop bitching about having nothing to do, so I got out of bed and walked up the road to see what the hoopla was all about. 

I arrived at mile-marker 19 located on 18^th Street between Ashland Avenue and Blue Island a little after 9 am, an hour-and-a-half after the start of the race by Grant Park in Downtown Chicago.  The first lead runners were just coming by and the sparse crowd of spectators and I clapped and cheered them on.  Then, after 10 to 15 minute delays, there would be groups of five or so runners turning the corner.  These were the serious marathon runners – all lean and sinewy, not an ounce of fat in sight.  As time went on the delays grew shorter and shorter, and the groups of runners grew larger and larger until suddenly the street was teeming with runners.  All shapes and sizes.  Young and old.  Physically able and handicapped.  Running on two legs or on prosthetics.  As a group, as part of a club, or just solo.  Running for charities, running to raise funds for special causes. 

By this time the crowd has swelled, the neighborhood stores had cranked up the music, and the on-lookers were a’ hooting and a’ hollering. 

Some participants were running for personal bests.  Some were running for personal gains.  Others ran for a cause – whether it be for cancer, in memory of a deceased loved one, a personal triumph over illness, etc. 

One thing I noticed (besides the young, succulent and juicy 20-something corn-fed farm boys running with no shirt on) was the transition of the athletes physique as the race progressed.  The serious contenders in the beginning were all lanky, wiry and lean; the spurts of runners that followed were a little chunkier and fleshier looking.  Then the majority of the runners after that were all fit and came in all sizes and shapes but were mainly of average build.  I just thought it was an interesting flow that coincided with the progression of the race.

I left after nearly two hours – I mean, there is only so much you can do watching people run by you – and returned home with a positive feeling of community and participation.  I mean – isn’t this one of the reasons I live in a big city? 

Next on my agenda – should I or shouldn’t I participate in the Occupy Wall Street protest in Chicago……

POLITICAL CARTOONS