The Week That Was...

Any period of time that is leading up to a holiday always knows how to drag on endlessly. This is the first Sunday in awhile that I'm not sad to see end. The weekend being over is sweetened by an upcoming short work week. Hooray!

While the country collectively perused their Pinterest boards and planned what to chow down on over Thanksgiving, this is what else was going down in the world.

Ham and Turkey

Watching itty bitty hands grabbing a little pumpkin pie and a wee turkey and gobbling it down is all anyone could want this Thanksgiving.

Political Roundup

There is still plenty of drama to come out of D.C., even after the recent elections that caused a shake up in both the House and the Senate. President Obama took to the airwaves on Thursday night to announce an executive order he has planned that will make changes to our countries current immigration laws.

He voiced some very practical terms, acknowledging that there are a large amount of illegal people living in the US. It is senseless that the only plan is kicking them all out. They are here, so we've gotta make it work somehow. Republicans didn't see it that way, and controversy arises. Was everything Obama suggested a perfect plan? Or does it account for every situation? No and no. But at least it's something that is moving in the right direction.

Obama's speech was focused on the lack of voting done by congress in the last couple years, but the Senate was actually working on a bill this week. This vote was about the Keystone Pipeline.

Either I've been completely zoning out on this topic, or it came out of nowhere, because I had to do some research. SO, what is the keystone pipeline? It is a pipeline that already exists, running from Canada through the US to Oklahoma. The vote was to expand the pipeline to the gulf coast. Some say it would create jobs, the other side said it would harm the environment. That's always the debate, right? Either way, the senate voted the bill down. After the failure, it seems like this topic is dropped...for now at least.

The Life Of Nichols

I love him for the film, but Mike Nichols was way more than just the guy who directed The Graduate. When I wrote about him the day he passed away, I really only mentioned his other fine moments as a director. Frankly, that's because I only knew of him in that role.

All week through reading other features on the iconic man, I learned a lot about him. Before going behind the lens, in the late 50s and early 60s he could often be found doing comedy bits with Elaine May. They had three albums and would perform on late night shows, as well as tour around the country.

Most importantly, Nichols is one of the few that could illustriously say they had an EGOT! I wonder if he had a necklace that proclaimed his achievement?

Let's break down that EGOT -  

E: Emmy  for Best Directing of both Wit (2001) and Angels In America (2003).

G: Grammy  for Best Comedy Album, An Evening with Mike Nichols and Elaine May (1961).

O: Oscar for Best Directing of The Graduate (1967).

T: Tony for...he won 9 times! Best Directing of Barefoot in the Park (1964), The Odd Couple (1965), Plaza Suite (1968), The Prisoner of Second Avenue (1972), Annie (1977), The Real Thing (1984), Spamalot (2005), and Death of a Salesman (2012).

Holy cow amazingness.

The Big Bucks

Earlier this week, a Georgia O'Keefe painting sold for 44 million dollars. The piece, "Jimson Weed/White Flower No 1", set a record for the biggest sale for work done by a female artist.

It's gorgeous and all, but where would you hang this kind of expensive piece of work? More than likely it will end up locked up in a safe or in a museum, but it's just more fun to imagine the person who bought the painting hanging it in their hallway or bathroom like it's no big deal.

Top 'O The Box

Once again Katniss and the gang are dominating movie ticket sales. The Hunger Games 3 and 1/2, aka Mockingjay Pt. 1 came out this weekend and is on top of the box office with the largest movie opening of the year.

Reviews haven't been as stellar as the other installments, but really, what can you expect from chopping a book into two movies? Everybody just wants to know how it ends! The movie company doesn't mind - they'll just be rolling in their giant pile of moolah.

Baby, It's Cold Outside

As the coldest November morning since 1976 fell over the entire country last week, all 50 states dropped below freezing. Yes, even Hawaii and all those other places that are believed to have hot weather 365 days a year.

This was all part of the cold front that brought over seven feet of snow to the area of New York around Lake Erie. The snow storm made everyone aware of the possibility of "lake-effect snow", something I have never heard of. Excuse me while I put on my lab coat to explain the science: when cold air travels over long bodies of warmer water, vapors of water can be picked up. That water then freezes and is deposited as snow in the closest area surrounding the lake. Buffalo was the lucky winner this time around.

It has been devastating for that region of the country. At least thirteen people have been reported dead and many have found themselves trapped in their cars or in their homes. One such lucky group was the band Interpol, who live tweeted the storm while being stuck on I-90. They were there for at least 40 hours, but had booze and food to keep them warm.

We have learned a lesson today: always travel via a luxury bus loaded with snacks, as that will be the best place to ride out any emergency situation.

Ugly Christmas Tree

"If there was a squirrel right now looking for a place to live in the winter, it won't even go into the tree."

Folks in Reading, Pa. are acting just like you and your family at the time of year when everyone gathers to pick out the perfect Christmas tree. Some like the bushier type, others strive for that perfect triangular shape, and some just want a tree with a little more character.

We can all agree though that if the branches are already falling off, that's not a good sign. This is why the people of Reading are upset with the 50-foot spruce the city decided to put up this year. Besides branches falling off, it does look like the tree has had a hard life, now featuring many thinning limbs.

At first this story seems ridiculous - don't these people know the real meaning of Christmas? Those kids in Charlie Brown land turned a slumped over stick into the perfect tree, because, after-all, everything in life is just how you decide to look at it.

But if the town wants to raise money for something better, all the power to 'em. It is a little sad looking.


Until next time.

The Week That Was...

Hello there again you old so-and-so! We've all come back together again to regale in a fresh batch of current events.

As is always expected, it's been another bonkers week out in the world. Without any further ado, let's indulge in those special idiosyncrasies that will forever make the last seven days unlike any other week that could happen this year.

"Shawl We Dance"

Earlier this week all of the news outlets were talking about women's accessories like it was an episode of Project Runway. "Vlad, please utilize the Piperlime accessory wall tastefully."

Vladimir Putin did not listen to Tim Gunn, instead deciding to ruffle some feathers and show his gentlemanly side at the APEC summit, which was being held in China over the past week. (It was also the same place where Obama got picked on for being twinsies with another leader.)

Putin decided to get a little friendly and placed a shawl around the shoulders of Chinese First Lady Peng Liyuan. This did not go over very well - the media in China quickly censored his grand act of gallantry.

Was he really concerned for Ms. Liyuan's chilled shoulders? Or was he schmoozing like no one has ever schmoozed before? 

Guess what, he's single ladies! For now anyway...

Top Of The Box

What sounds like something entirely implausible happened over the weekend - Dumb and Dumber To was a huge success!

It was the number one movie of the weekend, making 38.1 million dollars.The critics roughly ripped it to shreds, but they also don't really respect the original as a comedy classic either (it's a generational thing). None of that matters when fans show up to spend loads of dough on a sequel to a twenty-year-old movie.

To be honest, I couldn't be happier for Jeff Daniels and Jim Carrey. If this flick bombed it could have been something they wouldn't be able to shake for years, or ever. I may rent this eventually, purely for the extreme commitment that Daniels and Carrey throw into their wacky characters.The story doesn't look like it will top the original, but when these guys are all in, at least they can make most of the viewing experience enjoyable.

Don't Mess With Bossypants

I don't even want to even give any more attention to this, but alas, it can't be avoided.

There is a certain lady, I will call her "she who shall not be named", that spent some time trying to break the internet recently. Everyone has seen the pictures, but this publicity stunt hasn't ended yet.

Now, somehow Tina Fey has been dragged into this mess, for something she wrote in 2011. Part of her book Bossypants mentions "she who shall not be named" in a segment about female body image. Many media outlets are posting the quotes from her book because it is timely,. Ha ha, let's all laugh because Fey is being satirical and fun.

Oh, no, that's NOT what everyone is thinking?

What made me horrified was the large amount of postings showing up in my Facebook feed and tons of comments posted in articles by those who took Fey's words literally. For examples, just peruse any of the articles, or maybe your Facebook friends went a little ragey too. 

Y'all, she's a smart comedian, let's move on. There are more important things in the world. Which leads to...

Mission Accomplished

Philae, the king of all space probes right now, has landed on a comet! The baby of the European Space Agency, spent over 10 years up amongst the stars trying to catch up to the comet, officially making its landing earlier this week.

Merely the journey should be fascinating enough, but the actual purpose of the mission is where things get real interesting. Could comets hold the origin story of life itself? That is what Philae is hoping to dig up in samples. Basically NBD. Although, it hasn't all been completely smooth orbiting, specifically since the probe landed with a few bumps, causing it to be in a location that is more difficult to have solar rays charge its battery pack.

Oh, and just so it's clear, I definitely imagine Philae as Wall E, putting samples in his little red cooler and buzzing around to the tunes of Hello Dolly. 

BRRRR It's Cold In Here

That line likely was uttered by of mostly everyone in the US this week. We saw bitter cold combined with bright sunny skies in Washington. Weather that makes for quite gorgeous conditions.

Not to sound braggy or anything since the rest of the country faced much worse over the last seven days. Many states in the country saw their first snow and colder than usual temps. Some places were up to 25 degrees lower than normal.

It has it be that El Nino, or something, that is still messing up all the weather patterns.

All Eyes On Adult Swim

"Too Many Cooks" is the whimsical video dujour. From news sites to podcasts to general banter to think pieces, anyone who is a crazy anyone was recommending this video that was first seen on Adult Swim before the internet took it under its wing.

Clocking in at over 11 minutes, it's a video that demands more attention than the usual popular internet clip. So far, over three million people have taken that challenge and spent a little extra time just to check out what is so buzzworthy.

I could explain what happens in the video, but why not just watch some wacky. Just a bit of intrigue for those you have yet to see it: some of those viewers/ mega appreciators are getting really obsessed with tracking the creepy bearded killer. He is real spooky. Interest piqued?


Until next time.

Newsworthy: Classy Acts

[nothing is classier than a monocle. though, he is missing a top hat.]

This afternoon, the essence of class, The Royal Family, is splashed all over screens around the world with the announcement that a new heir in the line for the crown has been born. Not gonna lie, I just  had an exaggerated British accent saying the words in my head as I typed that out. Words like "heir" and "crown" will do that.

Although nothing that has happened in the last week can surpass the level of bombastic excitement surrounding Kate, Will, and the new baby boy, I will attempt to bring forth some more news clips that are equally dignified and, by coincidence, U.K. centric.

Giant Darcy

Neither Jane Austen, or anyone for that matter, could have imagined that a 12-foot statue of one of the novelists most famous characters would be constructed. This unlikelihood only makes it a zillion times better that it has actually been done.
 
Seen as entirely appropriate by any BBC miniseries fan, the statue can be found ascending out of a Hyde Park lake, rocking one of culture's most famous wet t-shirts. Of course it is an homage to Colin Firth's interpration of the seemingly prideful character, who, befuddled with love, dove in a pond for a quick cooling off.

That's it, I'm on a plane heading to jolly ole England as we speak to go swimming with the towering Mr. Darcy. Not only did this make my week, it has partially made my life. Nothing is better than pop culture randomly showing up in real life. Nerds forever.

Helen Thomas

People of the older set and I have always just got each other. Some of the closet compatriots I've made at each of my jobs  have been with ladies over forty years older than me and I wish my grandma and I had matching BFF bracelets. I also can't help but root for those old zaney contestants on Jeopardy to take down those young whipper snappers.

I'm not sure if this is because I'm what they call, "an old soul", but nonetheless I can't help bonding with our world's greatest generation.

With all this in mind, nothing made me happier through the years than catching snipits of one elderly lady, sitting front row center in the White House Press Room.

Helen Thomas, who consistently covered the White House for over fifty years, from Kennedy to Obama, passed away over the weekend at the age of 92. It has been several years since she had given the press secretary hell (she retired in 2010 after she made some dicey comments about the Palestine/Israel conflict), but is passionately being remembered this weekend as a pioneer for women in Journalism.

Since becoming passionate about the news, I've admired Thomas' accomplishments, drive, and tenacity. Helen, we'll try to do you proud.

J.K.

Pseudonyms or pen names are not new to the world of writing, and are used for a variety of reasons.

Famously, Susan Eloise Hinton disguised her name as the gender neutral SE Hinton so that no one would know that a teenage girl wrote the novel about tough dudes in gangs - The Outsiders. For Stephen King it was more about hiding a famous name and his ulterego Richard Bachman was born.
 
After writing a world renowned set of stories, no one can really blame J.K. Rowling for doing the same.

This week the jig was up when it came out (via a tweet people) that The Cuckoos Calling, released back in April by first time author Richard Galbraith, had actually been written by none other than the creator of Harry Potter.

Obviously, the woman doesn't need any more dough, so it's actually quite sad that her secret couldn't remain that way.

Reportedly, before this sort of scandal, the crime novel had only sold 1,500 copies in England. Me thinks those sales are going to steadily pick up.


Keep your eyes and ears wide open for the latest interesting headlines - you know that's what I'll be up to. Until next time.