Why Mad Men is important

This Vanity Fair photo is all you need to know about Mad Men. The show is brilliant (if a bit uneventful)--I've been watching since episode one in 2007--and is making huge waves in American style and culture. It's phenomenal when something "small" (Mad Men doesn't garner half the viewers of The Hills) makes such an indelible impact in trend direction.

Racy? More like brilliant

I am sure everyone has noticed the new Gossip Girl ads. They're all over FOX News, each and every kind of Parental Council has jumped them, and if you've opened a recent magazine with the ad you may have thought--for just a split second--you had picked up Maxim.

Yeah, yeah, so they're racy. I've heard reviews of the campaign ranging from "It's what the show's all about!" to "It encourages teen sex!" I, for one, do not give a flying rat about Gossip Girl, nor will I ever care. However, these ads are fantastic. And I'll tell you why.

Gossip Girl, as I understand it (and that is quite little, indeed) is like a teenage version of Sex and the City (yet another show I have never watched). So it's a copy cat. And, from pictures of the show, the main characters (bitchy blond lead character, brunette loser, some guy with an emo haircut both girls like) are just as stereotypical. These ads could change that image. They are provocative, eye-catching, and combine the youthful nuances of textspeak and an elegant design. The Hills is currently mutilating the charts for preteen girls and the 20-25 year old female market. I would wager this campaign will sway more than a few viewers.

Obviously, the racier of the two is the better ad, but it's far more raunchy than the make-out shot. But it is my favorite. To whoever designed this campaign: Bravo. You are promoting your show and--most importantly--altering Gossip Girl's image in a--I say this loosely--mature way.

Simon, you SUCK

Okay, first off, I LOVE American Idol. I'm not ashamed. I think it's a great show, and I have no problem with pop stars borne by such a frothy medium. This is America.

However, as of tonight, I no longer "like" Simon Cowell. His judgment of Carly Smithson, my favorite contestant by a mile, has been consistently unfair and, well, wrong for the last month. Her performance tonight was brilliant and easily the second-best of the night. Simon even criticized her clothing. Her clothing. As someone with considerably better taste than Simon, I believe I can better judge her outfits. She's fearless. She's awesome. She's got tattoos. That's better than Cowell's ever done.



So how can I deem myself a better critic than Simon? Because I'm an American pop consumer.


And, of course, I'm the Happiest Activist.

Lesbian Chefs

So Top Chef was awesome. I actually like the lesbian chefs. I support their relationship--one of both professional and romantic means. Kind of cool, in an urban, post-modern kind of way.

Here's what I think about the state of the democratic race:

First of all, to anyone who thinks Obama or Hillary should drop out because they are risking a division of the democratic party: ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? Politics have not been this interesting in decades. The tight race is spurring young voters and bringing in tons of publicity for the party (granted, it's not all good).

Anyways, Hillary made a big mistake with her Bosnian sniper comment. Not simply that she recalled the event, but that she stated she took "pride" in surviving the event. Come on, Hillary. If you are going to "falsely recollect" something due to "campaign stress," you could at least take a few seconds retract the statement. Or come up with a better story.

As for Obama, I am really bothered by his asking for Hillary to release her daily schedules as First Lady. She did some amazing things, even if it is not as extensive as she lets on. No one can deny Hillary has consistently fought for human rights. And what could be more important? Just because she was busy making public appearances and dissuading Tipper Gore's sexual advances does not mean she was not an activist for expanded rights around the world. She's no Laura Bush.

The bottom line is that Obama has shied away from so many controversial events in his campaign--the interview walk-off ("I've spent enough time on the grill"), his shady connections to Reverend Wright--and to call out a political veteran like Hillary on her daily schedules is insulting.



REGARDLESS, I am completely Obama-Hillary neutral as of this stupid Bosnian sniper fiasco. I voted for Hillary, but I like them both (or dislike them both, I'm not sure).

Listen to "Lights Go Out" by Foxy Brown. It wasn't a hit, but it's worth a Youtube listen.