Tag Archives: chicago

Dear Nerd Girls: A Young Nerd Girl Needs Your Support

Posted on November 28, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Comments Off on Dear Nerd Girls: A Young Nerd Girl Needs Your Support

I tweeted about this last night, but it's important enough to me that I want to mention it here. It's about a young girl named Katie, whose mother happens to be a blogger for Chicago Now. Here's what her mother posted on Monday: At summer's end, Katie and I went to Target to pick out her backpack, lunchbox and water bottle for the new school year. After great deliberation, she chose a Star Wars water bottle to match her Star Wars backpack. ” Katie loves Star Wars, and she was very excited about her new items. For the first few months of school, she proudly filled her water bottle herself and helped me pack her lunch each morning. But a week ago, as we were packing her lunch, Katie said, “My Star Wars water bottle is too small. It doesn't hold enough water. Can I take a different one?” She searched through the cupboard until she found a pink water bottle and said, “I'll bring this.” I was perplexed. “Katie, that water bottle is no bigger than your Star Wars one. I think it is actually smaller.” “It's fine, I'll just take it,” she insisted. I kept pushing the issue, because it didn't make sense to me. Suddenly, Katie burst into tears. She wailed, “The first grade boys are teasing me at lunch because I have a Star Wars water bottle. They say it's only for boys. Every day they make fun of me for drinking out of it. I want them to stop, so I'll just bring a pink water bottle.” ” OH, HELL NO. Look, I'll poke fun at people who fill their rooms with merchandise or want to take a bullet for fictitious characters, but Katie here isn't obsessed, isn't insane — she just likes Star Wars. These little bastards have broken Nerd Commandment #3, which is to revere the nerd girl, and this aggression will not stand. added by: Darevalo

Comments Off on Dear Nerd Girls: A Young Nerd Girl Needs Your Support

Posted in Celebrities, Hot Stuff, News

Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Kanye West Performs Rousing ‘Lost In The World’ At Thanksgiving Day Parade

Posted on November 25, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Comments Off on Kanye West Performs Rousing ‘Lost In The World’ At Thanksgiving Day Parade

Despite appearing to be lip-synching, rapper delivers spirited performance at annual Macy’s event. By Alvin Blanco Kanye West (file) Photo: Ben Hider/Getty Images The Kanye West promo march continues, so naturally the Chicago rapper took his show to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Amidst marching bands and balloon versions of Kermit the Frog, SpongeBob SquarePants and Spider-Man, Yeezy performed a rousing though shortened rendition of “Lost in the World” from his just-released fifth album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. As more than two million people lined the parade route and millions more watched from home, West performed in front of Macy’s flagship location near Manhattan’s Herald Square on 34th Street at around 11:20 a.m. West kicked his verse from “Lost in the World” along with its chorus atop the Big Apple float, which was adorned with a giant apple and a New York taxicab coming out of a tunnel below it. Wearing a long fur vest, leather pants and a gold V-neck shirt, West delivered a spirited performance despite the fact that he appeared to be lip-synching. Interestingly, Matt Lauer was one of the NBC broadcast’s hosts of the parade. Lauer interviewed West during his infamous appearance on the “Today” show that led the rapper to cancel a scheduled performance on the program. West also compared Lauer to a child abuser during a speech at his not-so-secret show at New York’s Bowery Ballroom on Tuesday night. Nevertheless, it was Lauer who introduced West. Other performers at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade included the casts of the Broadway musicals “Memphis” and “Elf,” Jimmy Fallon with the Roots, folk singer Arlo Guthrie and Keri Hilson, who performed on the My Princess Academy float. Related Artists Kanye West

Read the original post:
Kanye West Performs Rousing ‘Lost In The World’ At Thanksgiving Day Parade

Comments Off on Kanye West Performs Rousing ‘Lost In The World’ At Thanksgiving Day Parade

Posted in Celebrities, Gossip, Hollywood, Music

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,

Graph of the Day: Comparing Modes of Transport

Posted on November 24, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Comments Off on Graph of the Day: Comparing Modes of Transport

The Infrastructurist points us to Matt Yglesias, who posts a chart comparing the energy use of different transport modes in BTUs per passenger mile. He notes: Today there seem to be almost 30 flights daily between Seattle and Portland. Clearly a lot of people are making the trip. If you built a high-speed rail connection, a lot of people would take tha… Read the full story on TreeHugger

Read more:
Graph of the Day: Comparing Modes of Transport

Comments Off on Graph of the Day: Comparing Modes of Transport

Posted in Hot Stuff, News

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Kanye West Gives Defiant Speech About Media During NYC Show

Posted on November 24, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Comments Off on Kanye West Gives Defiant Speech About Media During NYC Show

After performance celebrating the release of his new album, ‘Ye turns defiant. By James Dinh Kanye West performs at his secret show at Bowery Ballroom on Tuesday Photo: Erez Avissar Judging by the critical response to his new album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Kanye West’s love/hate relationship with the media has had little impact on how they view his music. But while concluding his secret New York concert on Tuesday night, the hip-hop heavyweight turned attention away from his performance for a defiant speech about his public image. After the encore of his Bowery Ballroom set, West took time to reflect on the recent era in his life. “As you know, it’s been an extremely hard year for me,” he said. “But getting back to music, G.O.O.D. Fridays, and the album … I never thought I’d say this, I wanna thank the

Comments Off on Kanye West Gives Defiant Speech About Media During NYC Show

Posted in Celebrities, Gossip, Hollywood, Music

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

My Chemical Romance Fans Get Batty, Battered At L.A. Gig

Posted on November 23, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Comments Off on My Chemical Romance Fans Get Batty, Battered At L.A. Gig

‘I got kicked [and] hit on the head, but it never felt so good,’ gushed one fan at MCR’s Danger Days release party. By James Montgomery My Chemical Romance’s Gerard Way performs in Los Angeles on Monday Photo: MTV.com HOLLYWOOD — My Chemical Romance threw a party on Monday night at the House of Blues on the Sunset Strip to celebrate the release of their brand new album, Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys , and the members of the MCRmy showed up in their Killjoy finest. Both inside and out, the House of Blues was transformed into a Day-Glo diaspora, part postapocalyptic fashion spectacle, part bizarre performance-art piece, as My Chem fans donned neon masks, brightly colored bandanas and a variety of blinking accessories (glasses, necklaces, bracelets, etc.), all in the name of Danger Days. They strolled through the “Zone 5 Carnival,” scarfed down cotton candy, avoided the menacing Draculoids that patrolled the grounds and — perhaps most importantly — witnessed one heck of a concert. “It was amazing. They’re my favorite band, so I was just completely stoked the whole time,” 17-year-old MCR fan Ryan Johnson said. “There was a lot of moshing going, and it was kind of crazy. The energy was amazing.” And that energy was matched only by some MCR followers’ dedication … they came from miles around (and a half a world away) to be here on this night, to be with their fellow fanatics and say they were there on the night their favorite band released its most ambitious album to date. “It was one of the most amazing concerts of my life … the utter energy that MCR puts out to the fans and the love all of us have for them, we all come together and it’s like one big family having an amazing get-together,” 15-year-old Matt Jennette said. “I came all the way here from Chicago because this is the album-release party and I love them with an unholy dedication. I had to see ’em. I paid like $200 for the tickets and it was worth it without a shadow of a doubt.” “I came from Italy, just because I love them more than my life. Their music makes me feel happy,” Stefania Fiorese, 24, added. “We were in the first row and it was amazing. I saw them a couple of weeks ago in Paris, and it was so good, but this one was better. The crowd was pushing so hard — everyone was jumping, everyone was trying to reach them. Tomorrow I will be purple all over my body but I don’t care.” That sentiment was echoed by pretty much every MCR fan who MTV News spoke to on Monday, many of whom limped out of the House of Blues a little battered, but completely, totally, blissed out of their minds. “They never cease to amaze me, they’re always great shows,” John Conaty, 20, beamed. “I got kicked, crowd surfed on, got hit on the head numerous times, but it never felt so good. At every My Chemical Romance show, getting crushed feels the best.” “I got kicked in the face! I didn’t even see it coming!” 16-year-old Savannah Hill laughed. “There was a crowd surfer and then they just came out of nowhere and whammed me in the face, but then I continued to watch the show. It was awesome.” Have you seen My Chemical Romance live? Tell us about your concert experiences in the comments. Related Videos Live In LA: My Chemical Romance Related Artists My Chemical Romance

See the original post here:
My Chemical Romance Fans Get Batty, Battered At L.A. Gig

Comments Off on My Chemical Romance Fans Get Batty, Battered At L.A. Gig

Posted in Celebrities, Gossip, Hollywood, Music

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,

Is A Green Parking Garage Like A Kosher Ham?

Posted on November 22, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Comments Off on Is A Green Parking Garage Like A Kosher Ham?

Images Credit John Picken Blair Kamin, architecture critic for the Chicago Tribune , wonders if a green parking garage is really an oxymoron, like “kosher ham, a peacekeeping missile, or the World Series-winning Cubs.” He looks at the HOK designed Greenway Garage in Chicago and doesn’t think much of the idea, suggesting that it removes the guil… Read the full story on TreeHugger

See the article here:
Is A Green Parking Garage Like A Kosher Ham?

Comments Off on Is A Green Parking Garage Like A Kosher Ham?

Posted in Hot Stuff, News

Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

Enrique Iglesias To Perform ‘Raunchier’ New Single At AMAs

Posted on November 19, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Comments Off on Enrique Iglesias To Perform ‘Raunchier’ New Single At AMAs

The pop star says ‘Tonight’ is ‘a little bit dirtier’ than his previous songs. By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Matt Elias Enrique Iglesias rehearses for the AMAs on Thursday in Los Angeles Photo: Kevin Winter/ AMA2010/ Getty Images Enrique Iglesias will be making quite the statement when he takes the stage to perform at the American Music Awards on Sunday. The Spanish pop star will not only be singing his “Jersey Shore”-approved hit single, “I Like It,” but also his much naughtier new tune, “Tonight.” For those not familiar with the club jam, “Tonight” finds Iglesias making a very interesting offer to a lady, as he sings, “Please excuse me/ I don’t mean to be rude/ But tonight I’m f—ing you.” There’s really no subtext in the tune. “I’m singing my new single, which is called ‘Tonight,’ and it features Ludacris,” the singer explained to MTV News at his AMA rehearsal on Thursday. “It’s a little bit dirtier and raunchier than the things I’ve done in the past, but I like it. That’s what I feel. I felt good about it.” Most certainly, Iglesias will change the song’s catchphrase to the radio-approved “Tonight I’m loving you.” Regardless of the edit, he explained that the tune’s risqu

Comments Off on Enrique Iglesias To Perform ‘Raunchier’ New Single At AMAs

Posted in Celebrities, Gossip, Hollywood, Music

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Lollapalooza To Go International With Chile Shows

Posted on November 19, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Comments Off on Lollapalooza To Go International With Chile Shows

The alternative-rock festival’s first-ever overseas dates to take place on April 2 and 3 in Chilean capital of Santiago. By Gil Kaufman Photo: Lollapalooza Perry Farrell is a dreamer. And for the longest time, the Lollapalooza co-founder and Jane’s Addiction singer has had a vision of packing up his iconic alternative-rock festival and taking it overseas. In April, for the first time in the event’s nearly 20-year history, he will finally get his wish when Lollapalooza touches down for two days in Santiago, Chile . Though a lineup has not yet been announced for the April 2 and 3 gigs, Farrell promises that the Lollapalooza International shows at the downtown O’Higgins Park will live up to the platinum standard of the now-destination fest, which has taken place on the Chicago lakefront since 2005. “There are a series of prerequisites when selecting a destination. Number one is space. It must be open and lovely; scalable up to 100,000 patrons,” Farrell said in a release announcing the gigs, which will feature a mix of international talent and homegrown Chilean artists. “Second is the proximity to the city. We provide the entertainment. The city provides the culture, hotels, restaurants and clubs. Then, most important are the people. The people of Santiago have a passion for contemporary music and lead international lifestyles. Perfect.” Farrell described O’Higgins as a scenic location with a gentle-sloping grass viewing area that has a view of the Andes Mountains in the distance, as well as a “large round discotheque that houses up to 10,000 people.” The recreational area is also adjacent to an amusement park with a roller coaster. Working with a local promoter, Farrell said he intends to not only include indigenous Chilean artists, but to also explore a “musical foreign exchange” by bringing in some acts from Chicago as well. As for how he’s going to draw a large audience to the first-ever Lolla outside of the U.S., Farrell said he expects it will be no problem. “We are confident a massive music audience is awaiting us in Santiago,” he maintained. “What we are very interested to learn is how widely spread the demographic will be. In Chicago we have hipsters as well as young parents with children in attendance. It is one of the few places in the world where a generation gap doesn’t exist.” In the meantime, fans of the domestic version of the festival can start making their plans for the 2011 edition, which will take place August 5-7 in Chicago. It will be a challenge to top the list of stars from the 2010 Lollapalooza , which included Lady Gaga, Green Day, Soundgarden, Arcade Fire, MGMT, Phoenix, the Strokes and the Black Keys. Related Artists Perry Farrell

See the original post:
Lollapalooza To Go International With Chile Shows

Comments Off on Lollapalooza To Go International With Chile Shows

Posted in Celebrities, Gossip, Hollywood, Music

Tagged , , , , , , ,

Tony Parker Wasn’t Surprised By Eva Longoria’s Divorce Filing

Posted on November 18, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Comments Off on Tony Parker Wasn’t Surprised By Eva Longoria’s Divorce Filing

‘Eva and I have been discussing our situation privately,’ he says in a statement to People. By Mawuse Ziegbe Tony Parker and Eva Longoria Photo: WireImage Since news of Tony Parker and Eva Longoria’s divorce lit up headlines Wednesday, speculation about the collapse of their union has exploded, fueled by rumors that Parker’s alleged infidelity may have played a part. On Thursday (November 18), the San Antonio Spurs player released a statement addressing one rumor: that he didn’t know Longoria was going to legally end their marriage. “Eva and I have been discussing our situation privately,” he said in a statement issued by his rep to People. “I was aware that she would be filing for divorce in Los Angeles.” Parker also maintained that he had not lawyered up or filed any documents of his own. “I did not file for divorce in Texas and did not hire divorce attorneys in either Texas or California,” he says. “We plan to continue to keep our discussions of this matter private.” Longoria and Parker split after seven years together amid whispers that the athlete had been unfaithful. A source told TMZ that the actress is “devastated.” Despite his personal turmoil, Parker addressed the media before heading out onto the court Wednesday night. “This is a difficult time right now for me and Eva,” he told reporters before the Spurs’ game against the Chicago Bulls, according to San Antonio news station KENS 5. “Everything else is our private life.” Parker also added, “I’m getting great support from teammates and coaches. Right now, I just want to concentrate 100 percent on winning basketball games with the Spurs.” Related Photos Eva Longoria And Tony Parker In Happier Times Shocking Celebrity Couple Break-Ups

Originally posted here:
Tony Parker Wasn’t Surprised By Eva Longoria’s Divorce Filing

Comments Off on Tony Parker Wasn’t Surprised By Eva Longoria’s Divorce Filing

Posted in Celebrities, Gossip, Hollywood, Music

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

J. Cole Says Drake Initiated ‘In The Morning’ With Text

Posted on November 17, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Comments Off on J. Cole Says Drake Initiated ‘In The Morning’ With Text

MC talks to Mixtape Daily about Friday Night Lights collaboration: ‘It’s the perfect song for us to get on first.’ By Jayson Rodriguez J. Cole Photo: MTV News Celebrity Favorites: J. Cole The old adage is that great minds think alike, and regarding the J. Cole and Drake collabo “In the Morning,” the saying couldn’t be more true. The two young MCs finally linked up on the track from Cole’s recently released mixtape, Friday Night Lights . It happened as a result of a budding friendship between the two, despite blog fodder that the rhyme slingers don’t get along. “I got a text from Drake,” Cole told Mixtape Daily . “Now, I kind of just let people say what they say on the Internet or when they have discussions, but the real truth is me and Drake are cool, and have been cool and have been building a relationship. But he hit me when I was in Paris [on a tour], like, ‘Yo, I just heard this “In the Morning.” ‘ He had just heard it for the first time. He said it was so good that he told me some wild story, you know those exaggerated stories, like ‘I need better beats,’ just one of those type of things, giving me props.” Cole originally recorded “In the Morning” in 2007 in his bedroom, featuring three of his own verses. The track almost made one of the North Carolina rapper’s previous mixtape efforts, but he held onto it before it eventually leaked to the Web. When Drake sent him a message, however, he told the Toronto lyricist he had actually been thinking about reworking “In the Morning.” Cole said Drake responded: “Save me 16.” When Cole hit Stateside, he reached out to the song’s producers, L&X Music, and requested the file. He said he tweaked it with a breakdown and some other additions to “take it to the next level.” Drake sent Cole his verse earlier this month, Cole released the record Thursday, and was aflutter over the Roc Nation signee and the Young Money solider finally doing a song together. “The rumors of tension [between us] were so high, I thought it was cool to break the ice with that type of record,” Cole said of the slow burner. “And like [Drake] said, it’s the perfect song for us to get on first,” he added. “Because everyone is expecting ‘Brooklyn’s Finest,’ and I don’t know if it’s like that. [Drake] said it himself : We got a long time to do those records.” For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines . Related Videos Mixtape Daily: J. Cole, Twista, CyHi The Prynce Related Artists J. Cole

Continue reading here:
J. Cole Says Drake Initiated ‘In The Morning’ With Text

Comments Off on J. Cole Says Drake Initiated ‘In The Morning’ With Text

Posted in Celebrities, Gossip, Hollywood, Music

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,