Talented kids – 9 year old Noelle

Check out Noelle as she rocks Christina Aguilera’s “Hurt.” This is a talented young girl. What bothers me… is looking at the YouTube comments. Some people are just plain mean, complaining about her “pitchiness,” her being “fame hungry,” and that every parent seems to be pushing their kids toward stardom. Here’s the rub: if I had that voice at nine, I would have sung it to the world. I’d love to hear the naysayers sing a verse or two. Heck, I’d like to see them try to memorize a verse or two.

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Gossip! – Glee Does Rocky Horror

Finn, also known as Brad, for Glee's Rocky Horror episode

After Glee’s so-called “mid-season break” (i.e. this week Fox re-ran “Hairography”, a season one episode), the cast will come back strong next week with their Rocky Horror Picture Show episode. Let’s see if the cast can take on Tim Curry. Rumor has it that the show spent upwards of $30,000 in costumes. Personally, I think they should have spent a little more money on clothes for the Glee GQ photoshoot in the November issue. Lea Michele seems to have forgotten her pants in, um, all of the photos. That’s naughty.

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American Pets – IKEA 100 Cats

Kitties sit pretty for their TV debut

What happens when a herd of 100 cats are let loose inside of a furniture store? A new IKEA commercial, of course. The stunt was tagged as an “experiment”, but the results were so full of feel-good furriness and cuddles, a new commercial was born. The kitties are utterly adorable, but I wonder if the commercial makes someone with cat allergies want to sneeze. I certainly hope that the furniture was discounted, if it wasn’t dis-cat-ed.

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American Fun – Vintage Halloween Costumes

Extra-super creepy vintage Disney.

We’ve only got 11 days to figure out our Halloween costumes! These days costumes are all about hot celebs and pop stars (how many Lady Gagas will we see this year?) but once upon a time, the creepier the better. I love this slideshow of legitimately creeped-out costumes. Unicorn dad, anyone? Personally, I’m kind of obsessed with the vintage Disney princess masks and also with the shrunken tuxedos and spat shoes in Janelle Monae’s new music video. What will YOUR costume be this year?

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Pop Culture Pop-Up – Happy Days

It seems to be the week of the death of our TV parents. First, Mrs. Cleaver now Mr. Cunningham. (Florence Henderson please call your doctor!) I spent many a Tuesday night of my childhood watching Happy Days, followed by Laverne & Shirley, and was sad to hear that Howard “Mr. C”. Cunningham (Tom Bosley) passed away yesterday at the age of 83. Here’s to the memory of a good husband, father, business owner, and lodge member. In his honor, I think I’ll grab a hard copy of the newspaper and read it in my easy chair while listening to the Happy Days theme.

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Dinner Party Talk – Rent Is Too Damn High Party

Only in New York could we have a gubernatorial candidate as heinous as Carl Paladino, as notorious as former Madam Kristin Davis, and as spectacular as Jimmy McMillan. Last night, Andrew Cuomo, the man who should be governor, held his own against 6 opponents, but it was Jimmy, representing the “Rent is Too Damn High Party” who commanded headlines. On the deficit: “It’s like a cancer. It will heal itself.” On gay marriage he: “feels if you want to marry a shoe, I’ll marry you.” And on negative campaigning: “As a karate expert, I will not talk about anyone up here.” Gawker has his outrageous opening 30 seconds. And, by the way, my rent is too damn high.

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Talented kids – Willow Smith

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith must be thrilled with their kids talents. First, son Jaden shines as an actor in the Pursuit of Happyness, and now daughter Willow is rockin’ the music scene. Take a looksie at Willow’s music video for Whip My Hair. I did, which has thus far resulted in me whipping my hair back and forth all morning. Though I haven’t come up with any Jackson Pollack-style paintings, I do feel kinda happy. And if that doesn’t work for you, try the Willow vs. Sesame Street Fraggle Roc Nation remix.

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Life 101 – RIP Barbara Billingsley

June Cleaver, always in her pearls and immaculate lipstick.

Barbara Billingsley, also known as June Cleaver, also known as the woman who made vacuuming in pearls a cultural phenomenon, died Saturday at her home in Santa Monica. She was 94. Billingsley appeared in a few movies in the mid-40’s and 50’s, but it wasn’t until the premier of Leave it to Beaver that she became a star. In honor of Mrs. Cleaver, we all must break out our pearls this week.

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Travel – iPhone in Space

If you’ve never personally been to outer space, this video is definitely worth a watch. Luke Geissbuhler and his 7-year-old son Max successfully sent an iPhone into space attached to a weather balloon. They launched from Newburgh, NY (a stone’s throw from my farm) and their craft captured the upper stratosphere, recording the curvature of the earth and the blackness of space. The coolest part is that when the balloon burst the camera parachuted back to earth 30 miles northwest of launch (spitting distance from my backyard!) and they retrieved it using the iPhone’s GPS tracking. That’s much cooler than the science fair project my dad and I built. The aquarium I designed for the Space Shuttle didn’t get picked, making the top shelf of my closet was the farthest it ever got off the ground.

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Life 101 – Part of Your World

In my continuing efforts to bring a huge happy smile to your face, here’s “Part of Your World” shot underwater (and brilliantly lip synched) by a real life Mermaid playing Ariel! Created by brother and sister team Or and Shir Parag, the video took 6 months of planning and 2 days of shooting to make magic. The song by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman for the film Little Mermaid is, of course, performed by the enchantingly voiced Jodi Benson.

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