Tag Archives: occasional

In California, pot not just for stoners and sick anymore

John Wade, 43, a San Francisco commercial lighting specialist, takes a quick hit from a marijuana cigarette on the golf course to steady himself before putting. Sarika Simmons, 35, of San Diego County, sometimes unwinds after her children are asleep with tokes from a fruit-flavored cigar filled with pot. And retiree Robert Girvetz, 78, of San Juan Capistrano, recently started anew — replacing his occasional martini with marijuana. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2012632446_potlife16.html?prmi… added by: JackHerer

Mark Halperin Signs On at MSNBC; But Wait, He Used to Bash ‘Irresponsible Partisan Niche Media’

TV Newser and other sites reported yesterday that MSNBC has named Time’s Mark Halperin to be its “senior political analyst,” continuing his regular gigs on the set of Morning Joe, but also adding his observations to other programming. Would that include the hard-core opinion shows like Olbermann and Maddow? Not if those stars read Halperin’s comments about our “irresponsible partisan niche media” from the Jewish newspaper Forward in 2006. ”It’s going to take citizens, whether they have strong ideological views or not, to appreciate the necessity, in a free democracy, of a powerful, responsible, unbiased press,” Halperin continued. “If the country doesn’t care if we have that, if the view of the people of America is, ‘We want irresponsible, partisan, niche media,’ that’s what we’ll have. It’s going to take consumers of news, voting through their subscriptions and their eyeballs, to have an unbiased press. Most of the trend lines are bad.” Halperin was offering one of his occasional admissions of liberal media bias that so frustrate the left-wing blogosphere. (Typical was Salon.com’s Alex Pareene, with the headline “Mark Halperin now paid to be wrong about everything on MSNBC.” He contrasts him as far inferior to MSNBC’s other recent addition, David Weigel.) Halperin argued in 2006 that conservative new media was dominating the discussion (which, er, made Obama’s election impossible?):  “We’ve gone from a system with major national news organizations strong enough to umpire, but who did it in a way that Republicans saw as liberally biased and in important ways was liberally biased,” he said. “That system has been replaced by one that favors conservatives through the new media, which masquerades as a referee but is simply part of the partisan shouting on one side or the other. The old system favored liberals but was a better referee. The new system favors conservatives but is no referee at all. Best would be if we could strengthen national news organizations and eliminate liberal bias.” So perhaps Halperin meant that only conservatives are responsible for creating “irresponsible, partisan niche media.” That would make him a nice match with Bill Press, who thinks only the conservatives engage in “toxic talk.” He may want to avoid Olbermann in the hallway with that talk of how it would be “best” to eliminate liberal bias.

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Mark Halperin Signs On at MSNBC; But Wait, He Used to Bash ‘Irresponsible Partisan Niche Media’

Nikki Reed Talks ‘Breaking Dawn’ Negotiations, MTV Movie Awards

‘I still won’t be nominated for Best Kiss, because I never kiss anyone!’ she laughs about her ‘Twilight’ character. By Ryan J. Downey Photo: MTV News When it comes to believing rumors about the “Twilight” cast, Nikki Reed has some simple advice straight out of the ’80s hip-hop playbook: Don’t believe the hype. “I think it’s kind of an obvious thing that we would all come back to do [‘Breaking Dawn’],” the 22-year-old actress told MTV News on Tuesday, addressing a rumor to the contrary that said salary disputes threatened to sideline one or more of her castmates. “The media gets involved. I mean, I didn’t really read anything that was printed,” she said, adding with a laugh: “At least the things that were printed about me.” While Reed isn’t reading the blogs, trades or tabloids, sometimes her parents are. “I get the occasional phone call from my mom or my dad going, like, ‘Hey, is this true? I heard that.’ And I’m like, ‘No! No, I’m not having a baby. No, I’m not! And yes I’m doing “Breaking Dawn”!’ [ Laughs. ] It’s always random.” A collective sigh of relief came from Twilighters worldwide when it was confirmed that Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner and the rest of the cast would, in fact, reunite for director Bill Condon’s take on the fourth and final “Twilight Saga” book, “Breaking Dawn.” “Of course we’re all going to do the fourth movie. We did the first, second and third, and it makes sense, because we love the books and we want to make these movies,” she said. Perhaps wary of contributing to complicated reports herself, Reed quickly added: “I mean, I’m speaking for myself, I guess.” Reed first caught the attention of moviegoers in “Thirteen,” the 2003 teen drama she co-wrote when she was just that age herself. Reed’s “Thirteen” co-writer and director, Catherine Hardwicke, went on to cast her in the first “Twilight” movie, which launched the franchise just two years ago. Last year’s “New Moon” is nominated in multiple categories at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards , including Best Movie, but Reed insisted, “We should all win,” noting, “I’m very diplomatic.” While it seems assured that all the “Twilight” movies will end up nominated at future Movie Awards, there’s one category currently featuring two of her co-stars she’s confident she’ll never appear in. “I still won’t be nominated for Best Kiss , because I never kiss anyone!” she laughed. Are you rooting for “New Moon” at the Movie Awards? Let us know in the comments! Don’t miss the live red-carpet coverage, exclusive movie clips and fist-pumping action on MTV News’ “Jersey Shore Blow-Out at the MTV Movie Awards,” airing live from Los Angeles this Sunday, June 6, at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Then stay tuned for the 2010 MTV Movie Awards at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Related Videos Get Ready For The 2010 MTV Movie Awards!

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Nikki Reed Talks ‘Breaking Dawn’ Negotiations, MTV Movie Awards

Silversun Pickups Revive The ’90s With ‘Royal We’ Video

Directed by famed photographer Matt Mahurin, clip features angsty, out-of-focus close-ups of the band and scenes of outstretched hands and skylines. By James Montgomery Silverson Pickups’ “The Royal We” Photo: Dangerbird Records You may have to take my word for it, but the 1990s were a totally insane decade. Especially when it came to music videos. It was a time when basically every artist got to do whatever they wanted when it came to making videos, no matter the cost, which meant that, sure, we got lots of super-epic “November Rain” types of clips and the occasional iconic “Smells Like Teen Spirit” kind of thing, but mostly, we got lots and lots of introspective, not-entirely-in-focus mood-pieces. Which wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. I have fond memories of watching hours and hours of angsty, obtuse videos featuring shadowy dudes peering ominously off into space, or brightly lit (yet totally blurry) actors doing things that were supposed to be “deep.” White flashes were frequently used between cuts. There was usually water involved. Or spooky trees. Billowing fabrics with images projected onto them. Grainy, purposely scratched film. Symbolism. Animals running in slow motion. It was all pretty amazing, in retrospect. The reason I’m bringing all of this up isn’t to kick-start your week with a dose of nostalgia, but rather because the Silversun Pickups — a band who are frequently compared to ’90s mainstays the Smashing Pumpkins — have just unveiled their brand-new video for the song “The Royal We,” and, wow, is this thing airlifted right out of the Clinton era. Directed by famed photographer Matt Mahurin (who made a whole lot of these types of videos in the 1990s for acts like Metallica, Bush, Soundgarden and Blind Melon), “Royal We” is like a four-minute walk down memory lane. Angsty, out-of-focus close-ups of the band (or, alternately, angsty, in-focus-yet-shiftily-lit close-ups.) Blurry, brightly colored scenes of outstretched hands and skylines and dudes sprinting towards something. Bizarre, presumably symbolic shots of stuff like a torso with a crumbling tower for a head. Oh, and as an added bonus, Mahurin makes most of the footage skip and stretch, sort of like you’re watching the whole thing on a VCR (adjust the tracking, stat!). Seriously, this thing made me feel 13 again. And that’s what I like best about it. I’m guessing that the guys — and gal — in SSPU are about the same age as I am, which means they undoubtedly grew up watching the exact same videos I did … which means that this is sort of a dream come true for them. It’s exactly the same kind of video I’d make, had I the budget or wherewithal. Perhaps it will inspire a ’90s revival, and I’ll get to enjoy even more really weird videos. My inner 13-year-old can still dream, can’t he?

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Silversun Pickups Revive The ’90s With ‘Royal We’ Video

Tila Tequila Tits Bore Me of the Day

I have said all I really need to say about Tila Tequila. It is now at the point of me actually getting annoyed of the shit. Before, I thought it was okay to point and laugh at her in her demise, but she’s dragging this shit on and on and someone needs to just put her out of her fucking misery. The world gets it, she wants to get noticed, she wants attention, she wants to think the peak is yet to come and that she still matters and will always matter, but she doesn’t matter, and no one does care, except for the occasional pervert who likes mini asian people with huge fake tits…. Pics via Bauer

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Tila Tequila Tits Bore Me of the Day

Jim Carrey and Jenny McCarthy Call It Quits

Jim Carrey’s Twitter is a strange place used mostly for emoticons, affirmations, and the occasional bit of sad news, like today’s announcement that he and comedienne Jenny McCarthy will be splitting after the dissolution of their five-year relationship. There is no vaccine for heartbreak, and if there was, at least we know that these two wouldn’t take it. Godspeed, kids. [ Twitter ]

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Jim Carrey and Jenny McCarthy Call It Quits

Katy Perry Hipster Upskirt Pictures

I think Katy Perry likes to confuse me with her occasional hotness. Here she is actually looking pretty good flashing some ass in her sexy heels and killer leggings. What the hell? No oversized neon pink hipster t-shirts of stupid polka dot bows in your hair? Who is this chick? Not that I’m complaining, I like when Katy dresses herself up like a real woman , especially if she’s going to give us a little peek at her bum bum. Anyhow, you know how the rest of this is going to play out, she makes my pants tight, all the blood is rushing away from my head etc etc. Enjoy.

Conan O’Brien Announces Tour

Former ‘Tonight Show’ host will kick off the ‘Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television’ tour on April 12. By Jocelyn Vena Conan O’Brien Photo: Bryan Bedder/ Getty Images Conan O’Brien is ready to take his act on the road. The former late-night funnyman will go on a 30-city, two-month-long tour along with a few friendly faces. Titled the “Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television” tour, a jab at the fact that he can’t appear on television until September in accordance with his exit contract with NBC, he will be joined by Andy Richter and his former late-night band. According to the Hollywood Reporter , O’Brien said of the decision to tour, “It was either a massive 30-city tour or start helping out around the house.” News of the tour first spread after a report popped up on TMZ last week. The tour kicks off April 12 in Eugene, Oregon, and O’Brien will play theaters in at least 20 states and two Canadian provinces. American Express is sponsoring the trek, and organizers say, “It promises to be a night of music, comedy, hugging and the occasional awkward silence.” O’Brien also took to Twitter to talk about the tour. “Hey Internet: I’m headed to your town on a half-assed comedy & music tour. Go to http://TeamCoco.com for tix. I repeat: It’s half-assed. Alert! Teamcoco.com is jammed with too much traffic. If you can’t get on, go to http://ticketmaster.com to buy your tickets. See you soon. We are now adding a second show in both NYC & Chicago. For that second show, I’ll be doing all Liza Minnelli songs.”

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Conan O’Brien Announces Tour

She & Him Channel ‘High School Musical’ In New ‘In The Sun’ Video

Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward act out teenage melodrama with dance and joyous pop. By James Montgomery She & Him’s Zooey Deschanel in their “In the Sun” video Photo: Merge Records On the surface — or any other level — Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward don’t have much in common with the Vanessa Hudgenses and Zac Efrons of the world. And yet, in the brand-new She & Him video (available on Pitchfork.com ), they seem very much to be channeling the spirit of Disney’s “High School Musical” franchise (sadly, Sharpay Evans does not make an appearance). The video for “In the Sun,” the first single off their upcoming Volume Two album (due March 23), is set in a fairly generic high school, has tons of dancing and mimics the Disney movies’ nostalgic tendency to portray teenage melodrama in various choreographed dance sequences. Deschanel plays the clear-eyed heroine, a sweet girl hopelessly in love with the bad boy (M. Ward, who actually looks like he’s enjoying the role) and trying in vain to win his affections. She does this, of course, with a dreamy dance routine full of shoulder shakes and sly winks — patented Deschanel moves, as seen in their video for “Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?” — plus hula-hooping and the occasional lift. The fact that both band members are dressed in outfits lifted from the 1950s strangely works here. Teenagers’ hearts are still the same after all these years. There’s a bright, joyous feel to the clip, thanks to the direction of Peyton Reed, who helmed the kinetic “Bring It On” (high school truly is his oeuvre), and the genuine look of thrill Deschanel sports throughout. She delights in each dance step, as if she can’t believe she’s pulling it off. Of course, the song helps matters too. It’s another crackling, sunny bit of retro-pop from a duo who have quickly become the leading progenitors of the stuff. At the end of the video, we’re not sure if Deschanel is any closer to wooing Ward, but at least she had fun trying. The politics of high school should always be this easy. Related Artists She & Him

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She & Him Channel ‘High School Musical’ In New ‘In The Sun’ Video

Hayden Panettiere Loves Her Vino

Hayden Panettiere admits she started drinking wine when she was 8-years-old. “I was raised Italian and we always had diluted glasses of red wine at dinner time from about the age of eight. That’s just what kids do in Italy. It wasn’t ever something bad.” The 20-year-old actress, who turns twenty-one in August, says despite hitting the bottle early, she’s not really a big drinker. “I have the occasional drink – of course I do. I don’t drink a lot, just a glass of wine or champagne every now or then.” Related Links: Hayden Ditches Her Blonde Locks

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Hayden Panettiere Loves Her Vino