Category Archives: pop culture

Review: Tiny Book of Tiny Stories by Joseph Gordon-Levitt et al

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Jenn

The Tiny Book of Tiny Stories: Volume 1 by Joseph Gordon-Levitt My rating: 3 of 5 stars This is a fairly twee and in many ways adorable book produced by Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s hitRECord open-collaborative creative arts company. The book’s cover … Continue reading →

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Next time on Downton Abbey (Mild Spoilers)

Posted on January 9, 2012 by Jenn

We watched the 2-hour (no commercials!) Season 2 premiere of Downton Abbey last night and, of course, loved it. What I love even more, though, is the little game that’s developed out of it: “Next Time on Downton Abbey.” It … Continue reading →

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Memo to Jeremy Renner re: Your Axe Fight

Posted on January 7, 2012 by Jenn

So, you’re Jeremy Renner, and you were just in Mission Impossible: Jumping Off Tall Buildings, and while Tom Cruise was doing his own stunts off the side of the world’s largest building, you were magnetically attached to a robot cart … Continue reading →

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Please imagine Clair Huxtable watching “Keeping up with the Kardashians.”

Posted on January 5, 2012 by Jenn

Yep. That’s the brain fracture I want you to have. Here’s the quote for the day, from an article on the breakout performance of Condola Rashad, Phylicia Rashad’s daughter: “She knows it’s the work that matters,” Phylicia Rashad said. “If … Continue reading →

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Holy crap: Rudy Ruettiger Charged with Fraud

Posted on December 18, 2011 by Jenn

I did not see this ending coming: The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged Daniel Ruettiger and 12 other participants in a scheme to deceive investors into buying stock in his sports drink company. Ruettiger is widely known for having … Continue reading →

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Stanley Tucci and Steve Buscemi, Together… At Last?

Posted on December 18, 2011 by Jenn

I’m fascinated and surprised to learn that Stanley Tucci and Steve Buscemi share a production company, Olive Productions. I don’t know why — it makes a certain amount of sense to see two dedicated character actors working together. Still, when … Continue reading →

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Better Christopher Hitchens obit: Ian McEwan on Hitch’s last days

Posted on December 17, 2011 by Jenn

The man died surrounded by books, talk of books, and love. Here’s a fitting tribute from a close friend (well worth a read just because, God, Ian McEwan. Must he nearly make me weep with everything he writes?): Consider the … Continue reading →

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Diana Nyad’s Awesome Adventure

Posted on December 4, 2011 by Jenn

The New York Times magazine has a profile of Diana Nyad that is by turns heartbreaking and, no, it’s all just heartbreaking. Nyad, at 61, will try again next year to swim from Cuba to Florida in open water. She … Continue reading →

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I had a point re: Arthur Christmas

Posted on November 29, 2011 by Jenn

It’s surprising to me how influenced I am by aggregates of reviews. The Tomato Meter (which shows, by percentage, the positive score given to a movie, with 100% being the best) pops up automatically next to movie times on my … Continue reading →

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The Emoticon Debate

Posted on October 24, 2011 by Jenn

I’m tepid on emoticons. I use them but only in certain conversations; I avoid them outright with certain correspondents. Why? Well, because of this: “To me, it’s like bad moviemaking, where as soon as Dad grabs the puppy, the shot … Continue reading →

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