Author Archive
16-Year-Old Girl Found Alive at Sea; Child Overachievers Almost Always Doomed
June 11th, 2010 by Amy Laviero
Abby Sunderland is 16. In January, she set sail to become the youngest person ever to circumnavigate the globe. She failed. No match for the choppy seas, her mast was knocked down by waves, damaging her satellite reception and putting her out of touch with officials for nearly twenty hours. Thankfully, a rescue crew spotted Sunderland floating in the Indian Ocean thousands of miles from shore. Rescue boats are now on their way to pluck her from the ill-fated vessel, although they don’t expect to reach her until tomorrow. Read the rest of this entry »
John McCain and Snookie: Bonding Over Twitter and the Tanning Tax
June 11th, 2010 by Amy Laviero
Twitter is arguably best place for celebrities to voice vague, passive aggressive comments about one another. Take Katy Perry’s recent tweet on Lady Gaga, for instance. The minister’s daughter dons a “Jesus” tattoo on her wrist and was less than pleased with Gaga’s “blasphemous” new video for “Alejandro.” Of course, there are also less subtle feuds such as Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson’s epically endless Twit-Fit. However, Twitter is also forging the most unlikely celebrity relationships. Former Republican Presidential candidate John McCain, and Snookie, Jersey Shore’s resident oompa-loompa, have bonded. The connecting topic? The tanning tax, of course. Read the rest of this entry »
Sufjan Stevens Recording New Album with the National
June 11th, 2010 by Amy Laviero
Nearly five years after the release of Come on Feel The Illinois, Sufjan Stevens is recording a new album in Brooklyn, at Bryce Dressner of the National’s studio. Stevens recently teamed up with the National to supply backing vocals on “Afraid of Everyone,” and made a guest appearance during their Letterman performance. According to Dressner, the National have “been listening to some of the stuff as he’s been working on it,” and “it’s going to be incredible. It’s going to probably blow people’s minds.” Not only is Stevens recording in Dressner’s studio, but it’s being reported that the National will make an appearance on a handful of tracks as well. This news may come as a relief to Stevens fans. Following the release of The BQE, his 2009 conceptual homage to the New York expressway, Stevens was quoted in Paste magazine as saying “I no longer really have faith in the album anymore. I no longer have faith in the song.” Either way, let’s be glad he’s finally trumped his self-described “existential creative crisis.” Click through to check out Stevens singing backup vocals during the National’s staggering performance of “Afraid of Everyone.” Read the rest of this entry »
Facebook Games Infiltrate The Real World Via Slurpees
June 9th, 2010 by Amy Laviero
Between our iPhones and iPads, laptops and desktops, TV’s and radios, it’s no secret that American’s are hooked on technology. I’d go so far as to say the entire developed world is hooked on technology. This Saturday, there were at least three articles featured in the NY Times on the topic. One discussed a family’s debilitating addiction to the media and another noted how the influx of technology has painted us more forgetful and less patient. The final addressed how those surveyed were aware of the interpersonal hinderances technology has had on their lives. Not only are we addicted but we’re well aware of it. Read the rest of this entry »
Smirnoff Drinking Game Is The Icing On Your Hangover
June 9th, 2010 by Amy Laviero
While I was pissing away time on Facebook the other day, I came across a friend’s photo album displaying multiple, grainy photos of our friends down on one knee chugging what appeared to be a water bottle. The caption underneath each picture? “ICED!” I was a little more than confused by the messaging, but I was happy my friends had finally learned the art of thwarting hangovers. However, I was mistaken. The bottles pictured were none other than Smirnoff Ice; the gag-inducing malt drink of choice for many underaged girls. Read the rest of this entry »
Google Maps Nearly Kills Woman
June 4th, 2010 by Amy Laviero
The other day I was driving from “Lawn Guyland” to NYC, and was psyched to be getting there with the help of my shiny new iPhone. I have a perchant for getting lost, so Google Maps was helpful, although halfway through the trip I realized manually written directions would have been easier to look at while driving. The phone’s small touch-screen was a hard to maneuver behind the wheel, but it’s proven invaluable while wandering city streets. If I were Lauren Rosenberg, however, I may hold a different opinion; while using Google Maps on her BlackBerry in January, Rosenberg walked onto a four-lane highway and found herself right in the path of an oncoming truck. She’s now suing Google Maps for their less-than-accurate directions. I’d say this may be worse than the woman who sued McDonald’s over her hot coffee. Read the rest of this entry »
National Doughnut Day; America Should Rethink Her Cuisine
June 4th, 2010 by Amy Laviero
Today marks the first Friday of June and, subsequently, National Doughnut Day. Celebrated since 1938, the day was meant to mark summer’s approach (88 degrees means the arrival of summer in my book) and was initially used to celebrate the women who served soliders doughnuts during World War I (because nothing spells appreciation like “doughnut”).
Does anybody else find dough fried in fat totally disgusting? Read the rest of this entry »
Debrahlee Lorenzana Is A Moron, A Vaguely Sexy Moron
June 4th, 2010 by Amy Laviero
No one said it was easy to be homely, but according to Debraalee Lorenzana it’s even more difficult being (vaguely) hot. The now former Citi-bank employee filed a lawsuit through the Manhattan Supreme Court against Citigroup claiming sexual harassment and unlawful termination. According to Lorenzana, she’s just too damn hot for the stiff suits over at Citibank. Despite her efforts, however, it’s unlikely the lawsuit will ever make it to trial thanks to a mandatory-arbitration clause Lorenzana signed upon being hired at Citibank. Womp, womp, womp. Read the rest of this entry »
Homeland Security Fail – Rene Gagnon Not A Terrorist
June 2nd, 2010 by Amy Laviero
Street artist Rene Gagnon’s self-portrait has been making appearances all over the world since 2005, although his most recent cameo at Reagan National Airport in Arlington, VA, has caused quite a stir among the Department of Homeland Security. After one of Gagnon’s stickers was found on a trashcan in the airport, DHS sent out an e-mail with a photo attachment, asking anyone with information to “please contact [a] local InfraGard Cooredinator and/or DHS SA.” Government Security News ran an article describing the sticker as “highly unusual,” with “a man clad in a long black jacket, all black pants, shirt, boots and baseball cap with his arms outstretched, his gaze pointed upwards and a bomb prominently attached to his chest.” Gagnon responded to the incident on his website: Read the rest of this entry »
Fixed-Gear Culture Starting to Grind Mine
May 26th, 2010 by Amy Laviero
Urban Outfitters’ moderately-priced, pseudo-hipster regalia has become a staple among suburbanites trying to achieve that “hip, urban” look. Stroll into any Long Island location and you will spot countless overprivileged kids donning sunglasses (inside), ready to pay for their goods with mommy or daddy’s credit card. UO is definitely self-aware; they first appealed to the suburban “hipster” culture with their vintage-inspired “Urban Renewal” line which takes vintage fabrics and repurposes them into new fashions. It’s a nice idea, and I guess it’s “green.” However, I still think it’s ridiculous that Urban Renewal also plucks items like bags and shoes right out of thrift shops, only to re-sell them at astronomical prices. I’d rather not pay $98 for a pair of beat-up oxfords Urban Outfitters got for five, but I guess it’s simply beneath some people to actually set foot in a thrift shop. UO has targeted subculture in nearly every way with their fashion, books, and home goods. It was only a matter of time before they graduated to the fixed-gear bicycle phenom, as well. Read the rest of this entry »
Banksy Paints NYC!
May 21st, 2010 by Amy Laviero
After stops in LA, San Fran, Detroit, Chicago, and Boston, it seems the world’s most famous anonymous street artist has finally arrived in the Big Apple. A multitude of Bansky imitations have been spotted in and around New York City, with artists such as Dolk adpoting a Banksy-esque approach to street art. Large, mono-chromatic pieces in busy NYC areas are usually mistaken for a Banksy, though there is nothing like his tongue-in-cheek approach to politics and social commentary. The “I Heart NY” piece was spotted on Cedar Street between Greenwich and Trinity on Monday. Banksy works are being spotted all over the U.S. as he promotes “Exit Through the Giftshop,” a satirical documentary about street art. His work is way more impressive in person than photos, so click through a full list of his New York locations! Read the rest of this entry »
Justin Bieber Eats It
May 21st, 2010 by Amy Laviero
Goddamn it. I swore I would never post about Justin Bieber. The level of adoration tween girls have for this kid is nothing short of disturbing. When everyone else was “aw-ing” over that video of the three-year-old crying simply because she loves Justin Bieber, I kind of wanted to vomit. Do none of these girls realize he looks like a chick and speaks like a total douche? Anyway, today marks the day when I put my foot in my mouth, but it’s all for a good cause, because the video after the jump is just great. I’d go so far as to say it was the perfect accompaniment to my morning coffee. Read the rest of this entry »
