Pop Goes the Culture - AprillBrandon's Blog - Victoria Advocate http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/AprillBrandon Shoulder pads, slap bracelets, Sinead O'Connor, streakers, sideburns, Sex and the City, string art, sea monkeys, SUVs, the Slinky. The best part about trends and passing fads (besides blackmailing your friend with the picture you have of her in that 1986 poodle perm) is the insight it can give us about our world. Sure, at the time a rat tail and listening to New Kids on the Block may have just seemed like harmless fun, but trends are more than just being able to say "Yes, I too tried the Adkins diet." And so this blog is devoted to finding all the latest trends and passing fads our culture can come up with and trying to figure out what they say about us other than at one point, we too thought the Emo look was cool. Shoulder pads, slap bracelets, Sinead O'Connor, streakers, sideburns, Sex and the City, string art, sea monkeys, SUVs, the Slinky. The best part about trends and passing fads (besides blackmailing your friend with the picture you have of her in that 1986 poodle perm) is the insight it can give us about our world. Sure, at the time a rat tail and listening to New Kids on the Block may have just seemed like harmless fun, but trends are more than just being able to say "Yes, I too tried the Adkins diet." And so this blog is devoted to finding all the latest trends and passing fads our culture can come up with and trying to figure out what they say about us other than at one point, we too thought the Emo look was cool. en-us Homemade Christmas gifts for the craft-impaired http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/AprillBrandon/9550 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/AprillBrandon/9550 <p>Well, it's that most wonderful time of the year again (almost...I'm a firm believer in the Christmas season not starting until after Thanksgiving). </p> <p>But even though I don't like to discuss the &quot;C&quot; word until my turkey is fully digested, I'm making an exception this time considering &quot;C&quot; is already stressing me out. In particular, the gift giving part. </p> <p>We all know the economy is in the crapper currently and my wallet is stretched so thin, it's flatter than Jennifer Aniston's abs. And so this year I'm getting&nbsp;a jump on my gifts by&nbsp;making my own homemade gifts to give out.</p> <p>Smart, right? Yes, let's do away with all the rampant consumerism and go back to the good old Yuletide days.</p> <p>But there is a problem. I'm about as crafty as...um...something that is not crafty at all. So, in the spirit of the American we know and love, I decided to make my problem your problem. </p> <p>What can someone like myself (re: the undomestic goddess who once glued her hands together with a glue gun) make as gifts this Christmas? Any ideas out there? I'm sure I'm not the only one looking to cut down on spending costs this Christmas, so any help would be freakin' fantastic for us all. </p> <p>Plus, I may just send you a homemade gift for your troubles (just once I figure out how to unstick my hands). </p>


Title: santa-w-toys[1].jpg
Caption:
Credit:


Title: santa-w-toys[1].jpg
Caption:
Credit:

santa-w-toys[1].jpg Nobody puts Grandma in the corner http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/AprillBrandon/9529 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/AprillBrandon/9529 <p>Okay, while this may not have much to do with pop culture, I just couldn't help but share this recent news story with you. </p> <p>In So-Weird-You-Have-To-Read-It-Twice news today, a 56-year-old grandma was banned from a local community hangout because of her...wait for it...wait for it...dirty dancing. </p> <p><a href="http://www.mlive.com/flintjournal/index.ssf/2008/11/woman_accused_of_dirty_dancing.html">According to the Associated Press</a>, Rebecca &nbsp;Willis of Marshall, NC, was accused of &quot;gyrating and simulating sexual intercourse with her partner while wearing a skirt so short it exposed her underwear. Willis described her dance style as 'exuberant and flamboyant' but not obscene.&quot;</p> <p>But it gets better, folks. Willis was just recently awarded a $275,000 settlement from the town for the act of banning her from the community center. However, Willis is still not allowed back at the center. And I quote:</p> <p>&quot;They said they'd burn the place down before they let her come back, so we decided to see if they'd put a monetary price on the right,&quot; Willis' attorney said. </p> <p>It's things like this that make me excited to grow old. You go, Grandma! </p> eAffair: Adultery has gone digital http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/AprillBrandon/9492 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/AprillBrandon/9492 <p>Oh sure, us&nbsp;singles out there think we're so special because&nbsp;we have our eHarmony and Soul Mates R' Us dating Web sites. </p> <p>But now you married people can get in on all the fun. You can thank my good friend DeDe for passing on this little tidbit to me (who is a lovely young lady despite all those Internet rumors floating around). </p> <p>Welcome to the Web site <a href="http://www.ashleymadison.com/">www.ashleymadison.com</a>, the (brace yourself) married dating site. I'll allow some time for you to swallow the disgusted bile that just entered your mouth. </p> <p>...(scratches nose)...</p> <p>...(cracks knuckles)...</p> <p>...(checks watch)...</p> <p>Better now? Okay, good. </p> <p>I wish I was making this up, folks. Sadly I am not. Boasting the motto of &quot;Life is Short, Have an Affair&quot; the Web site allows married folks to search for other married folks for some, ahem, discretionary fun. Of the Biblical kind, if you catch my drift <em>(hint, hint, wink, wink, narf, narf). </em></p> <p>Now apparently this Web site has been around for quite awhile but it is now going more mainstream. Rumor has it they may even have a commercial&nbsp;next year during the Super Bowl. </p> <p>According to Noel Biderman, President of AshleyMadison.com, &quot;partnering with the Super Bowl is the perfect fit because over 50 percent&nbsp;of all men in the U.S. watch the Super Bowl just like over 50 percent&nbsp;of all men will have an affair at some point in their lives.&quot; </p> <p>Man, I feel like I need shower now. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> Where were you when... http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/AprillBrandon/9477 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/AprillBrandon/9477 <p>No, not when the world stopped turning. Where were you when you first heard &quot;Smells Like Teen Spirit?&quot; That's the question popping up all over those wacky Internets thanks to <a href="http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1598985/20081110/nirvana.jhtml">an article by MTV</a> on the infamous Nirvana baby. </p> <p>Spencer Elden was just an infant when his parents dropped him into a pool where an awaiting photographer snapped one of the most recognized album covers of all time: Nirvana's &quot;Nevermind.&quot; And in the&nbsp;News-To-Make-You-Feel-Ridiculously-Old category, little Spencer is now a 17-year-old high school student (Someone quick! Grab my prune juice and Metamucil!). </p> <p>Spencer recently recreated that iconic photo by jumping into the pool again as his 17-year-old self (although this time he is wearing swim trunks, in case you were wondering...you little pervert you). </p> <p>Spencer is just a regular kid (although he has some rather creepy pick-up lines thanks to his famous&nbsp;past as&nbsp;a baby) but an interesting side effect of the story is it's causing all of us old Gen X and Y-ers&nbsp;to reminisce about how wicked awesome life was back then in the early 90's. </p> <p>I myself will never forget riding in my friend's older sister's car and hearing those first guitar riffs of &quot;Smells Like Teen Spirit.&quot;&nbsp;I remember instantly falling in love and passionately arguing with my friends&nbsp;over what the lyrics actually were. </p> <p>&quot;I'm alive though?&quot; or &quot;A mosquito?&quot;&nbsp;</p> <p>A few times, it almost came to blows, people. (Note: I was wrong approximately 97 percent of the time). </p> <p>And I also remember the chaos at school when we heard lead singer Kurt Cobain died (a death that had all of us crying into our flannel shirts and wiping snot on our wide-leg, torn up jeans). </p> <p>So my question to you is, where were you when you discovered Nirvana? Or the band that defined your youth? </p>


Title: 281x211[1].jpg
Caption:
Credit:


Title: 281x211[1].jpg
Caption:
Credit:


Title: nirvana_nevermind_front[1].jpg
Caption:
Credit:


Title: nirvana_nevermind_front[1].jpg
Caption:
Credit:

281x211[1].jpg nirvana_nevermind_front[1].jpg Consider the vote rocked http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/AprillBrandon/9427 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/AprillBrandon/9427 <p>Even before I was old enough to vote, I remember being constantly bombarded with messages of &quot;<a href="http://www.rockthevote.com/">Rock the Vote</a>,&quot; &quot;<a href="http://voteordie.net/">Vote or Die</a>&quot; and &quot;Insert other-catchy-voting-phrase here.&quot; All of them were aimed at Gen X and Gen Y to encourage us to get off our duffs and uh, well, vote. </p> <p>And I don't know whether the slogans finally paid off or it was just the historic election or even a combination of the two, but us young'uns did finally rock the vote. We came out in droves to vote, more so than ever before. </p> <p>According to <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27525497/">MSNBC, an estimated 22 to 24 million</a> young people voted in this election, an increase by at least 2.2 million over 2004. The article also states that these young voters may have proved to be the key to Obama's victory, preferring him over John McCain by 68 to 30 percent. That's the highest share of youth vote obtained by any presidential candidate since they began tracking such things in 1976. </p> <p class="textBodyBlack">And since 2000, young voters have been coming out more and more. In 2004, 20 million 18- to 29-year-olds voted (a 4.3 million increase from 2000), according to the U.S. Census Bureau. In this year&rsquo;s primary elections, at least 50 percent more young people voted than they did in the 2004&nbsp;and&nbsp;in some states, youth voter turnout doubled&nbsp;and in some cases&nbsp;tripled. </p> <p class="textBodyBlack">Whatever prompted us slacker 20-somethings to get out of our bean bag chairs, put down the pizza and the remote and get out and actually vote, I hope this momentum continues. I'm a firm believer that if you didn't vote, you can't complain. So it's good to see my peers finally taking a vested interest in politics and in their future. </p> <p class="textBodyBlack">And now maybe Sean Diddle Puff Doodle will give it a rest with those in your face commercials and T-shirts. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p>


Title: 628133318_2d21a8a754[1].jpg
Caption:
Credit:


Title: 628133318_2d21a8a754[1].jpg
Caption:
Credit:

628133318_2d21a8a754[1].jpg For all you health nuts out there... http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/AprillBrandon/9389 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/AprillBrandon/9389 <p>Death and taxes, right? Those are supposedly the two things that are certain. But in my oh-so-humble opinion, I believe that statement should be amended to include dieting. </p> <p>For so many of us, it seems we are always on a diet (even as we are stuffing our faces with brownies on Sunday night, vowing that our diet starts tomorrow...not that I know or anything...*awkward silence*). </p> <p>Ah yes, the never-ending quest for so many of us to fit back into our jeans from high school is a bane of many existences (I built a shrine around my size six Guess jeans I bought back in 1997...and they are getting D-U-S-T-Y). Americans are obsessed with dieting and skinny celebrities and the latest miracle pill that claims the pounds will just melt off (along with some rather disgusting side effects endured in the privacy of your own bathroom). </p> <p>Of course, at a certain point, most of us come to realize that crash dieting with the coffee and grapefruit diet and taking pills with a name something like &quot;Metabo-Miracle-X470&quot; just can't compare with&nbsp;living healthy.&nbsp;As the old joke goes, we'll do anything to lose weight, except eat healthy and&nbsp;exercise. </p> <p>And that's why I love this new site I discovered called <a href="http://www.melslife.com">www.melslife.com</a>. Basically, it's a social networking site (a la Myspace or Facebook) that&nbsp;is devoted to healthy living. </p> <p>From nutritional facts, to medical advice, to exercise, to even social activism, it's a one-shop stop for those of us out there who are sick trying to wade through the latest fad diets in the hopes one will stop the runaway growth of our rear. </p> <p>Just perusing it for a few minutes, I've already discovered why even though I'm eating healthier and far less than I used to, I'm not losing weight. Apparently, eating salads and lean meat won't help you if during the rest of the day and night you are sucking down million calorie gourmet coffees, smoothies and cocktails (all three are my kryptonite, if you will). </p> <p>Plus, the site gives you a way to connect with other people going through the same struggles and nothing gives you more help in the battle of the bulge than knowing you are not alone. </p> <p>So check it out and let me know what you think. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>


Title: resize_article_photo[1].jpg
Caption:
Credit:


Title: resize_article_photo[1].jpg
Caption:
Credit:

resize_article_photo[1].jpg And now for something really scary... http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/AprillBrandon/9374 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/AprillBrandon/9374 <p>Happy Halloween, everybody! In honor of this festive, sugar-laced holiday, I wanted to share with you a Web site that was passed onto me from my good friend Terry (thanks, Terry...you are a scholar and a gentleman, despite what is written on bathroom walls throughout the region).</p> <p>Being a huge fan of really bad movies (and I mean bad not in the 1980's good sense), <a href="http://www.badmovies.org/">http://www.badmovies.org/</a> is a God send. Even if you think you&nbsp;have extensive knowledge of&nbsp;bad movies, this Web site has movies that will blow your mind. </p> <p>For instance, one of the first movies listed on the home page is &quot;Please Don't Eat My Mother,&quot; which is about a 40-year-old man living at home with his mother who accidentally grows a talking man-eating plant. </p> <p>One word. Two syllables. Awesome. </p> <p>Not to mention, it also lists a little-known Chuck Norris movie. Now being a fan of the Chuckster myself, this in my eyes lends the Web site total street cred. (Gratuitous Chuck Norris joke: The only person who can kill Chuck Norris...is Chuck Norris). </p> <p>So, if you're looking for some Halloween fun today, go to the Web site and check out some ridiculously bad movies. Hey, it beats sitting around waiting for trick-or-treaters. </p> <p>P.S. On a side note, National Novel Writing Month kicks off tonight at midnight. Let the games begin! </p>


Title: chuck_norris_age_49[1].jpg
Caption:
Credit:


Title: chuck_norris_age_49[1].jpg
Caption:
Credit:

chuck_norris_age_49[1].jpg Kevin Smith: What's so wrong with the word porno? http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/AprillBrandon/9363 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/AprillBrandon/9363 <p>Oh that crazy Kevin Smith is at it again. With curse words and sexual references galore, he is getting people's knickers in a twist with his latest movie &quot;Zack and Miri Make a Porno.&quot;</p> <p>The movie opens Friday and just like so many of his other films (Hello &quot;Dogma&quot;) people are already raising a stink. Smith even ran into trouble with the marketing campaign, with some people complaining about the public display of the word &quot;porno.&quot; </p> <p>Of course, Kevin Smith being Kevin Smith, he's doesn't see what all the fuss is about. And frankly I don't either. I've long been a Smith fan and appreciate his ability to not censor himself. Whether you like his movies or not, the one thing you have to give him is that he is honest and refuses to sugarcoat things just because it makes some movie execs squirm over how middle America will react to it. </p> <p>And in my opinion, we have a lot more to worry about right now than getting upset over the word &quot;porno.&quot; </p> <p><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Movies/10/30/kevin.smith/index.html">CNN just published a great</a> (and rather funny, IMO) interview with Smith where he discusses the movie, his critics and his ability to wrap up a romantic story in a nice little curse-word ladled bow. </p>


Title: art.smith.gi[1].jpg
Caption:
Credit:


Title: art.smith.gi[1].jpg
Caption:
Credit:

art.smith.gi[1].jpg Heck, even Paris Hilton wrote a book http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/AprillBrandon/9317 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/AprillBrandon/9317 <p>(Although I use&nbsp;the term &quot;book&quot;&nbsp;loosely here...as in, yes, there are pages with words on them secured together with binding and her name is on the cover).</p> <p>And if she can then pretty much anyone can (heck, if she can, a monkey with a semi-functioning typewriter can). And it's in that spirit that I invite anyone who's willing and able to join me this year for <a href="http://www.nanowrimo.org/">National Novel Writing Month</a> (or NaNoWriMo for all you cool cats out there in the know already). </p> <p>Throughout the month of November, people across the country will be drinking copious amounts of coffee (or booze...or both) and staying up late to finally write that book they've been boring you with at dinner parties forever. The goal? 50,000 words (175-page) novel in 30 days (plot is optional, albeit preferred). The idea behind it is that everyone has a novel buried deep inside them, it's just no one has time to write it. And so, the goal is not so much quality with NaNoWriMo, but quantity. </p> <p>Last year, NaNoWriMo had over 100,000 participants (me included). Unfortunately, I only hit the 4,000 word mark but I am bound and determined this year to make it to at least 4,001 words. </p> <p>So, if there are any intrepid aspiring writers out there that want to join me, let me know. We can have writing parties (re: sit around at a coffee shop and gossip while typing a paragraph or two in between). </p> <p>You can <a href="http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/user/215362">check out my profile here</a> or sign up <a href="http://www.nanowrimo.org/user/register">yourself by clicking here</a>. </p>


Title: GetAttachment[1].jpg
Caption:
Credit:


Title: GetAttachment[1].jpg
Caption:
Credit:

GetAttachment[1].jpg Manscapes, Veepstakes and Guitarthritis, Oh My! http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/AprillBrandon/9261 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/AprillBrandon/9261 <p>Who knew? Americans love crazy slang words invented specifically to describe our current events. Time Magazine has recently named <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/">Urbandictionary.com</a> as one of the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/0,28757,1809858,00.html">50 Best Web Sites for 2008</a>. </p> <p>Pitting themselves as the &quot;slang dictionary that you wrote,&quot; the Web site is chock full of words invented to describe everything from the current presidential election (I Bush Doctrined him) to embarrassing social faux pas (The dude has lego hair). </p> <p>For your pleasure, I've listed some of my favorites below. If you need a good laugh or just want to figure out what the heck the kiddies are saying these days, I recommend perusing the site for bit (I mean, what else are you going to do? Work? Ha!). </p> <p><strong>Designated Texter:</strong> a passenger who reads and replies to any and all text messages received on the driver's phone, thus allowing the driver to focus on the road and not hit anything or get pulled over for reckless driving.</p> <p><em>Example: &quot;Hey dude, text back my chick and tell her we'll be there in five minutes. I have to concentrate.&quot;</em></p> <p><strong>Manicorn:</strong> a mythical male creature who is successful (re: pursuing his passion and can pay his electric bills/rent), funny, chivalrous, masculine (re: not chauvinistic), adventurous, artistic (re: not suicidal). </p> <p><em>Example: See any John Cusack movie</em></p> <p><strong>October Surprise:</strong> when, in a last minute effort to become re-elected, a political figure happens upon a bit of &quot;lucky coincidence.&quot; </p> <div class="example"><em>Example: &quot;Hey, we finally found Osama!&quot;</em></div> <div class="example"><em></em></div> <div class="example"></div> <div class="example"></div> <div class="example"><em></em></div> <div class="example"></div> <div class="example"><strong>Requestion:</strong> requesting something indirectly by way of a question <br /> (Note: This is distinguished from a regular question because the answer is usually obvious)</div> <div class="example"></div> <div class="example"><em>Example: &quot;Is that expensive steak any good?&quot;</em></div> <div class="example"><em>&quot;Yes, would you like to try it?&quot; <br /> &quot;Um...yeah.&quot; </em></div> <p><strong>The Spousal We:</strong> The opposite of the royal &quot;we,&quot; meaning you. Used by your significant other to get you to do something. </p> <p><em>Example: &quot;We should clean the bathroom today&quot; or &quot;We should really kill that freakishly large spider in the bathroom.&quot;</em></p> <p><strong>Hurrication:</strong> Evacuation from a major hurricane turned into a short holiday. </p> <p><em>Example: During Ike, we took a three-day hurrication to Dallas. </em></p> <p><strong>Mis-wave:</strong> To return a wave to someone you think is waving at you, but is actually waving to the person behind you. Usually results in embarrassment and introversion. </p> <p><em>Example: &quot;(Waving) Oh hey Helen, I was just...oh shoot, that's not Helen (walks away in shame).&quot;</em></p> <p><strong>Chairdrobe:</strong> The art of piling clothes on a chair to be used in place of a closet or dresser. If a chair is not available one can always defer to a floordrobe. </p> <p><em>Example: &quot;I searched through my chairdrobe for something to wear tonight.&quot;</em></p> <div class="example"><br /> </div>