Hopefully some of my usual readers still check in from time to time and maybe you’ll see this…maybe not.  But don’t worry, I will do my best to complain and rant as well as praise and rave with the best of them.

So…bookmark this fantastic page and comment often.  The more (read:real) comments I get, the more I will write.

Until then…  *hearts and whatnottery*

I am sorry for my absence and I look forward to returning very soon.  Due to many, MANY things going on I have not been able to update much lately.  I do enjoy writing my random rants and raves, so I look forward to a quick return.

Until then, please keep checking the blog for updates and keep up with your pop culture and current events.

-hearts and whatnottery-

Aline:

Can you write a rant about how Madonna says that Kabbalah is the teaching of Jesus?  As I recall, it is a JEWISH thing. http://www.imdb.com/news/wenn/2006-11-01/  And she’s teaching her new adopted son about it?  Kind of like taming the heathen, huh?  What a joke…

Me:

“Studying Kabbalah doesn’t mean you can’t be a Christian or a Buddhist or a Muslim or a Jew or whatever.”

Um…no.  “The essence of the Kabbalah is the teachings of Jesus,”…what??? You cannot be a part of a religion that says ‘hey, Jesus rocks…’ and then turn around to say ‘I can believe any religion I want while still thinking Jesus rocks.”  No, you can’t.  You cannot be a part of a religion that is the offset of a religion that does not see Jesus as the Messiah and then say I follow the teachings of Jesus.  It is the whole “having your cake and eating it too” idea…it just doesn’t work like that my friend.  I don’t care if you are Madonna or Jim-Bob Jones.  So Aline, I’m a Christian, but I am also a Buddhist.  Forget that whole First Commandment thing – “Though shall put no other God’s before me”…it doesn’t matter, because the essence of Christianity is the teachings of Jesus! 

Aline:

Ha!  Well put, ma’am.  And people who choose to think of Kabbalah as a cult religion conveniently forget that Kabbalah is basically Jewish mysticism and really has nothing to do with Jesus or even Judaism for that matter.  Some rabbis practice Kabbalah and everything, but they do not believe in Jesus, they are not Buddhists, and they are still Jewish and follow all the traditions.  Kabbalah is a bonus, not a religion in itself.  Stupid pop stars and movie stars exploit Kabbalah and make it a “real” religion with the stupid red string bracelets, and people in Podunk County, USA believe them and decide they’re gonna get them some red string bracelets, too!  They’re ruining the ancient tradition so completely that it will be centuries before people look at the tradition of Kabbalah with any ounce of sincerity or dignity.  So, there, Madonna.

Me:

“Kabbalah is a bonus, not a religion in itself.”

Thank you for that.  That is the simple and easy way to describe what Kabbalah actually is.  It is not something of itself, it is something higher than the basics of the religion.  You practice the Jewish faith and if you want more from it, you do more to achieve something higher…in this case, Kabbalah. 

Let’s make something trendy…you and me.  Lets start wearing purple and green string bracelets and start the ministry of puppets.  Not a puppet ministry because that already exists.  We will just do the exact same thing puppet ministries do, but we’ll say it is completely different. 

I don’t know, that was just off the top of my head…but still…you can’t just change something like this to make it whatever you want it to be. 

Aline:

The Ministry of Puppets sounds great – heck, we could do anything – fill in the blank.  Ministry of Puppy Dogs and we wear collars, Ministry of Rainbows and we dress like Leprechauns, Ministry of Ugly, Hairy Things and… well, you get the picture.  The point of all this insanity (and this is not only Kabbalah, but also every religion) is that religions are here for a purely comforting reason.  Being Christian or Jewish means that this is what your family believes, but you can choose to take some things and mix them with others.  I am Jewish, yet I believe and do not believe in many aspects of my religion.  But my religion is there, and that’s what matters to me.  I have something to turn to when everything goes to shit.  The people who “turn to” Kabbalah are turning to a bastardization of something that does not really mean anything, and if they did this privately, that would be fine with me.  But the fact that Madonna, Britney, Ashton, and Demi are shoving their thoughts into the public eye (and now onto an innocent baby) is ridiculous and horrifying.  Why are we turning to stars for religious advice, rather than our clergy or ourselves?

Me:

Why is every star jumping onto a religious ban wagon?  I want to know what it is about Kabbalah that stars feel like they have to latch onto.  Nothing against the religion of course, you know that.  Why Kabbalah?  Is it because they actually know what the religion stands for and because of it they have found their reason to get up in the morning?  Or is it because it comes with pretty accessories?  I personally think other religions have much prettier religious accessories and decor.  String bracelets are so last season!

Seriously though, I think it is all for publicity.  Madonna found out about a religion that nobody really has anything against because not a lot is known about it.  She can basically say whatever she wants and those that are sheep will follow.  Those that are truly seeking something higher will just use her religious “outing” as a jumping off point to learn more. 

I don’t understand how Madonna can bastardize Kabbalah into what she wants it to be and yet Tom Cruise is considered crazy because he physically expresses his beliefs.  Yeah, I think Tom has gone nuts, but at least he talks about his beliefs and why he believes them.  At least he has a reason to be jumping up and down on Oprah’s couch…Madonna just has a string.    

Aline:

True about Tom Cruise – as ridiculous as he is, he still actually believes what he is saying.  The same goes for John Travolta and Kelly Preston – they also believe in Scientology, and they don’t seem too screwed up.  Even Mel Gibson – and I hate myself for saying this – has convictions about his religion that go deeper than a string accessory.  And even though they make him a Nazi, anti-Semite asshole who has a “drinking problem”, he has convictions and beliefs to go along with his religion.  What does Madonna have besides a string, a desire to crucify herself at every concert (so not Kabbalah – and if you ask me, it’s a way to attract a crowd and sell more tickets), and a new adopted African boy to play with (attagirl, Angelina – you teach Madonna about the joys of having enough money to adopt 12 children).  It’s getting to be a little unbearable, and I think that she just needs to shut up.

Me:

There isn’t much more I can say here.  We’ve pretty much agreed to agree. 

It all boils down to what a celebrity can do to get themselves in the limelight and stay there. 

Madonna was the girl that everyone paid attention to in the 80’s as a rebel.  Well, she’s trying to raise a family now and she’s in her 40’s so she can’t really get away with rolling around onstage in a wedding dress any longer.  This is her way to stay in the limelight or she is done with.  This is the reason I was upset that Reece and Ryan called it quits.  Not upset in the way of crying, but just a little bummed about it.  So it didn’t work for them, okay, that happens.  But they made it work when they were together.  They kept themselves out of the limelight until it was necessary for movies and whatnottery (that was for you!).  It is sad the things celebrities will do to make sure no one forgets their names.  No one has forgotten Reece and Ryan and they are not going to.  Sure Reece’s career is bigger than Ryan’s now, but he still gets decent roles.  You don’t have to kiss girls during video award shows, you don’t have to hang yourself on a cross during concerts, you don’t have to jump up and down on Oprah’s couch, and you don’t have to take an actual religion and change it around to fit your life so you don’t look like a bad person.  Guess what folks…THAT is what makes you the bad person. 

Oh wow…guess there was more I could say.  Hrmmph.

Thanks Aline! 

-hearts and whatnottery-

What has happened to the classics? I remember coming back from a night of trick-or-treating, emptying my loot onto the living room floor, and watching Halloween specials and movies. I would watch It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown every year. Did it even come on TV this year? I know they have it online to watch but it just isn’t the same. I would beg my mom to let me stay up late so I could watch Night of the Living Dead, Halloween, Nightmare on Elm Street, and many others. Now I see advertisements for movies and shows that just don’t seem to cut it. I was watching ABC Family today (don’t judge, it is where I get my Gilmore Girls re-runs.) and they were showing movie advertisements for their original films for Halloween. They looked awful! Then I thought, well it is cable television so I don’t expect Citizen Kane or anything, but the commercial break brought an advertisement for The Grudge 2. I just don’t get it. There have been a few films lately that have had a similar effect like those of the past, but it just isn’t the same anymore.

-Rave-

Speaking of classics, George Romero’s Night of the Living Dead will soon be remade and released in 3D. I really liked what they did with the 2004 version of Dawn of the Dead so I am keeping my hopes up for, “Both an homage to and a re-imagining of the original 1968 film, this update follows a group of survivors trapped in a farmhouse battling a siege of undead zombies….in 3D!” Hopefully those hopes will not be shattered. I couldn’t handle the disappointment. I do not know what has brought on this fascinating rebirth of 3D movies, but I’m really not going to complain. First Nightmare Before Christmas (see The Directing Box…) and now Night of the Living Dead – it’s like they are reading my mind. There are so many films I would like to see done in 3D. I should make a list. A girl could get use to this.

-hearts and whatnottery-

Mr. Britney Spears, aka Kevin Federline, said in a recent CNN article, “If you want to hate me, cool, hate me…You know why? Because all it is going to do is help me.” I never thought I would say this, but ladies and gentlemen, K-Fed is right. Stop talking about him. Stop thinking about him. Pretend like he doesn’t even exist. As long as he is getting attention, good or bad, he will be around. He will never go away. I know it is hard to do. We live in a media saturated society and it is hard to ignore anything that is given a spotlight (even if that spot light is on your partner and you are standing beside their shadow). He is not only vomiting lyrics onto our airwaves, he is appearing on shows like CSI. He has four fans people…his wife and his two children. Once the children are old enough to realize what they are having to listen to, I’m sure they will be trying to stick their legos in their ears.

-Rave-

In a recent epsiode of South Park, Satan hosts a My Super Sweet 16 party for himself in Hell. Guests included Biggie Smalls, Princess Diana, Hitler and Steve Irwin, among others. The phrase ‘too soon’ does not really hold much presidence with the creators of South Park, which is why so many people watch it each week on Comedy Central. Television watchdog Mediawatch (based in the UK) seems to disagree with their choice of showing Irwin on this weeks epsiode. “This is such bad taste and the makers of ‘South Park’ should review their decision to show it. Steve’s family are still grieving. To lampoon somebody’s death like that is unacceptable and so soon after the event is grossly insensitive.” You call yourself a media watch dog and you do not expect something like this from South Park? I am actually surprised they didn’t take it any farther than they did. This episode was pretty mild compared to some of their ‘shock value’ stunts in the past. South Park fans expect these things each week. Mediawatch should just grab a tissue, wipe their tears, and find someone else to pick on. It’s just like K-Fed said, “If you want to hate me, cool, hate me…You know why? Because all it is going to do is help me.”

-hearts and whatnottery-

-Rant-

The latest Harris Interactive survey shows that Paris Hilton is the celebrity that people would like to watch get killed in a horror movie. When Hilton was told that she had topped the survey (21% above second place finisher Lindsay Lohan), she took the news as a compliment. “My death scene is really cool. It’s the coolest death scene in [House of Wax].” Seeing Paris Hilton get a metal pole through the forehead was a very exciting moment in my life and I would get a lot of enjoyment seeing it happen again. Of course the downside would be seeing her try to act again. Only she could ruin one of the greatest moments ever! Seriously, is nothing sacred anymore? Why can’t Paris Hilton just be a hotel location like it was 30 years ago?

-Rave-

I love VH1’s Best Week Ever Blog. Recently Michelle Collins wrote a letter to PETA demanding that they concentrate more on live animal torture and less on old ladies with fur coats. These live animals she wishes to protect are those that have become celebrity accessories. When did it become okay for someone to carry around a live animal in a bag? I really hope Collins sent this letter to PETA. If they are actually for the ethical treatment of animals, they will spray paint Paris Hilton the next time she walks down Rodeo Drive. Now that’s hot!

-hearts and whatnottery-

Any Simpsons fan knows that is that time of year again…time for Treehouse of Horrors. The ending segment of this years show includes some obvious references to the conflict in Iraq. Treehouse regulars Kang and Kodos make plans to attack the town of Springfield before they find the “weapons of mass disintegration.” My problem is with Al Jean, executive producer, who has said, “the line may be too obvious and not make it into the episode.” There are multiple shows on television that parody parts of the conflict. Why should it matter who does it? There are going to be jokes and parodies about anything our government does. I trust the writers of The Simpsons more than some of the other media outlets using their show to get their opinion across. Considering how long The Simpsons have been on television, I’m sure anyone who watches this episode will not be so easily offended by it.

-Rave-

I present to you, the moment every child of the 80′s has been waiting for…Fraggle Rock, the movie. This full-length film is being developed by the Jim Henson Co. and Ahmet Zappa. All of the Fraggle regulars will be featured in this live-action film. “The Fraggles didn’t really get into the human world on the series, so we plan to make the movie more about the intersection between the Fraggles and the humans,” Lisa Henson, co-CEO of the Jim Henson Co., said. I really don’t know if I could be anymore excited about a pre-production film. With the original shows being released on DVD now, I’m sure we will be able to witness a whole new wave of Fraggle fans. Dance your cares aways…*clap, clap*.

So, does anyone have a favorite Treehouse of Horror episode or favorite Fraggle?

-hearts and whatnottery-

I know that a celebrity’s life is never their own.  Someone is always telling them what they need to wear, where they need to go, and what they need to do once they get there.  Therefore, they are never safe from the media eye.  Recently a photo of Anderson Cooper has made its way into the tabloids.  It is a picture of Cooper walking down the street in close proximity with another gentleman.  Websites like gawker.com are asking their readers to help them figure out who the mysterious man is.  My question is, would it be so bad if Anderson Cooper were homosexual?  Would his sexuality actually somehow discredit him as a journalist?  He is one of the most respected reporters on television and I find it very difficult to believe his sexual preference could really change that.  If people would just stop assuming things then maybe they would get the answers they are trying so hard to find.

-Rave-

AOL Salary Center has made a list of the salaries television characters would make (on average) if they held these positions in real life.  There are a few numbers I would double check because I just don’t know if I believe some of them.  The biggest one is Alison Dubois from the show Medium.  If a stay at home mom can somehow make over $130 a year, sign me up!  I like that they took the time to compile the list though.  They chose a good variety of characters and I love that they included Homer Simpson.  Some others I think they could have included: Lorelai Gilmore (Gilmore Girls), Jordan McDeere (Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip), Peter Griffin (Family Guy), Liz Lemon (30 Rock), John Stewart (The Daily Show).  Okay, so that last one is a little different situation, but wouldn’t you like to know?

So, who would you guys add to the list?

-hearts and whatnottery-

Only in America can a football star be tried for murder twice and end up with a $3.5 million book deal. According to the MSNBC article, OJ Simpson has been given a book deal that is tentatively titled If I Did It. The book will begin with details of the relationship between Simpson and his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson. From there he will go into what he feels is the “hypothetical” scenerio in which Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman were murdered. Again I say, only in the good ‘ole USA can a man like Simpson be found innocent only to turn around and make millions of dollars off of it.

-Rave-

Lucky for me, I found an article that is a total gem. In the same MSNBC article , Jeannette Walls quotes the National Enquirer article about the new OJ Simpson book with the following – “Simpson can never be retried for the murders because of double jeopardy laws, according to the Enquirer…”. Wait, did you just read that right? Yes you did.  Instead of quoting the fifth amendment, I guess Walls just found it easier to quote the National Enquirer. I know this might sound like a rant but I can assure you it is not. This is a good thing. If she can write for MSNBC and quote a tabloid instead of the US Constitution, I am going to do just fine.

So…does anyone know if MSNBC is hiring?

-hearts and whatnottery-

I like pretty things. I enjoy looking at a website that someone has spent time creating. Because of this, I tried to make my site pleasing to the eye. Then there is the opposite of that…the website that is overdone. Take mtv.com for example (WARNING: do not go there unless you have an ultra fast computer or the patience of Job). I look around online for ranting and raving inspiration. I got to mtv’s website because they are a music news outlet. It takes the website forever to load and once it does, it is the hardest thing I have ever tried to read. Then it crashed Mozilla and I had to start my search over again. Also included in the website design annoyance department are all the people on Myspace who add a million and one different things to their page. What is the point people? You could take two seconds and type “I heart Pugs” but instead, you go to glitterupmymyspacepagerightnow.com and make us wait. Enough is enough people. Simple. Smart. That is all a website needs to be.

To those at mtv.com – maybe you should be more about the music and less about the clutter.

-Rave-

If you all are really getting into the whole blog thing I am, you will be happy to learn about Bloglines.com . This site is amazing. It is very simple, easy to set up, and saves a lot of time. You sign up for an account (free!) and it will give you some popular blogs as suggestions. From there you can type in a specific blog address (example: http://rantsnraves.wordpress.com works just great!) or you can search for ones you enjoy. As far as I can tell there is not a limit to how many blogs you can add. It’s pretty amazing having the ability to access all of your favorite web blogs all in one place. It is a very smart and simple website. If I gave out gold stars for awesome, Bloglines would totally get one!

Does anyone have any blog sites you love? If so, leave ‘em in the comments. I need to read more entertaining blogs.

-hearts and whatnottery-
(NOTE- make sure you look around at the links in each of the posts…most are links to articles and other information…some are just for fun. look at the I heart pugs for example!)