THE LITTLE MERMAID

No reason. I just really like this picture.

A DIRTY SHAME

Finally, a major studio is giving the MPAA the middle finger, by ignoring the "NC-17" rating slapped on the upcoming release, Shame.

The film is still going to be released, without being given the requisite cuts to bring in an "R" rating.

This is exciting. Why, this is could be the start of something big. The start of moviegoers possibly being treated as adults who aren't all interested in seeing stupid "Rom-Coms" or washed up 80's comedians and rappers in family films.

The early buzz is positive, as well, so I can't wait to see it this weekend.

SPELLCHECK

Hmm, I'm thinking that Idalia might want to get an ESTIMATE from another window sign artist.

(thanks, Christine, for the picture)

LIPSTICK ON YOUR COLLAR

" . . . this appears to be an accusation of private, alleged consensual conduct between adults – a subject matter which is not a proper subject of inquiry by the media or the public. No individual, whether a private citizen, a candidate for public office or a public official, should be questioned about his or her private sexual life. The public’s right to know and the media’s right to report has boundaries and most certainly those boundaries end outside of one’s bedroom door."

This is an interesting response to the latest allegations against republican presidential candidate and douche bag Herman Cain. So basically what's being said here, as I see it, is that he didn't have the affair, but if he did, it isn't any of our business.

Oh man, what a dick.

ENDORSEMENT DEAL

Really, New Hampshire Union Leader, REALLY?

What's the matter, was Jon Huntsman too smart and reasonably conservative for your seemingly ridiculous tastes?

Ooooh, I'ma scared!

JACK OFF

You'll have to forgive me, but I was quite amused when I came across some old physique photos of the late fitness guru, Jack LaLanne, circa 1950's.

MY OZ - LOST EDGE

Two sights you will never see again in a town that's become too clean and too safe for it's own good.

PARISIAN VIEW

Awesome Shot.

Ok, Paris, you're right. It's been way too long since we last saw each other, so maybe I'll drop in and say hi next year.

BEDTIME STORY

I need to get me some new bedding.

SPELLBOUND / WISHLIST SMASH-UP

Look directly into the swirl and repeat to yourself:

"Scott loves everything about this outfit. He wears a medium shirt, a 31 (okay, a 32 waist) and size 9 shoes, I should will go ahead and buy him the entire ensemble for Christmas."

Thank you.

TURKEY SHOOT

Monroe and a lucky, or unlucky, turkey

Happy Thanksgiving from the staff of The Steaming Poop blog.

Oh, and try not to eat so damn much this year!

EAT SHIT AND DIE

The frozen food industry, sodium producers, and some some conservatives in Congress say the federal government shouldn't be telling children what to eat.

So the Republican-controlled congress went ahead and let the lobbyist from those industries stick it straight up the asses of school children who participate in school lunch programs, by allowing frozen pizza to be declared a vegetable (because of the tomato paste).

Republicans on the House Appropriations Committee said the changes would "prevent overly burdensome and costly regulations and to provide greater flexibility for local school districts to improve the nutritional quality of meals."

So they're going to call frozen pizza a vegetable?

They might as well call it the "Eat Shit and Die Pizza."

I think it's time to raise the white flag on the so-called "War against Childhood Obesity," because it's clear we've lost.

BABY FORMULA

Wow, really?

This is hilarious AND scary. I knew someone when I was growing up who's mom used to put Sprite in his baby bottle.

GOOD NUTRITION

Bananas are a good source of potassium.

FORTY SHADES OF GREEN

I didn't take any of these pictures, but wish I had. They're pretty awesome.

FOLLIES

Screen legend Gloria Swanson, in the ruins of the Roxy Theatre on October 14, 1960.
This picture is said to have been the inspiration for the Sondheim musical, Follies, currently
playing at the Marquis Theater in New York City

"Tonight is an important night in your musical theater education."

That's what the late, great theater critic for the Associated Press (and friend of mine), Michael Kuchwara, told me as we made our way to Millburn, New Jersey, back in 1998. It's where a revival of the Stephen Sondeim musical, Follies, was opening at the Papermill Playhouse, a production he was going to review for the venerable news wire. There was a hope that the production was Broadway-bound, but alas, it wasn't to be.

It has since found it's way back to The Great White Way (officially opening back in September), and has been favorably reviewed by New York Times critic Ben Brantley.

I'm not sure why I'm writing about it, since I'm now left coast-based. Maybe it's because I would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to see it in its current incarnation (which stars Bernadette Peters). Maybe it's because I still fondly remember that night with Mike, who passed away about a year and half ago.

Or MAYBE it's because I've been thinking about MY OZ a bit lately, and I feel like it's time to fly back for a visit.

NATASHA

Over the last few months, I noticed on several blogs out there, that pictures of actress Natalie Wood were starting to show up with some frequency. I thought it that maybe she was on the cusp of a rediscovery, because she seems to be a bit forgotten.

She is back in the headlines again, however, it isn't for any celebration for her work. The case of her tragic drowning death has been reopened. It's real bummer that she's going to be more remembered for her death than for her body of work, because it's fairly impressive.

Here are a few suggestions for those of you interested in taking a look back at a star who certainly deserves it:

Miracle on 34th Street -  (1947) - An AWESOME Christmas movie classic.

Rebel Without A Cause - (1954) - This is a no-brainer for true film buffs, plus she received her first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

Splendor In The Grass - (1961) - Natalie received her second Oscar nomination, this time for Best Actress, for her performance as Deanie, who's unrequited love for fellow high school student Warren Beatty pushes her over the edge.

West Side Story - (1961) - Yeah, I know she doesn't sing her own songs, but she's fucking awesome as Maria. besides, everyone else was dubbed as well. I could go on and on about this film, since it's one of my favourites. The recently released Blu-Ray edition is in my collection.

Love With The Proper Stranger - (1964) - Natalie received her second Best Actress Oscar nomination for her role as a woman who gets pregnant after a one-night stand with Steve McQueen. She could do A LOT worse than Steve.

PICTURE THIS

"Cold Feet"

Just something I came across earlier this morning.

DEEP SEA

Oh man, what I wouldn't give to be able to spend a little time in there.

This is Fingal's Cave, on the uninhabited island of Staff, just off the western coast of Scotland.

Beautiful.

GOOD WILL HUNTING

Even though this film isn't in my collection, sometimes I think it should be. Dialog like this makes Good Will Hunting such a good movie.

SOAPY GIFT

Umm, I can only hope that's anti-bacterial soap.

THE HELP

I think I need to hire someone to come in and cook for me, because I would love to have had this brought to me on a bedtray for breakfast this morning.

WORDS OF WISDOM

Yup.

SOLE DESIRE

I'm not sure when I developed this footwear fetish, but I'm gonna go ahead and own it. I'd also like to own these boots.

Me likey a lot.

THE RAINBOW CONNECTION

The last time I saw Jim Henson's creations on the big screen was at the Coddingtown Cinemas in Santa Rosa, with fellow Liberty Five member Ken, back in 1978.

The early buzz on the newest film in the series, The Muppets, is pretty good. It also has Jason Segel and Amy Adams (a past girl crush). That's some excellent casting, so I think I'm down with a revisit.

GOOD BURGER

I am in SERIOUS need of a good burger this weekend, who's in?

You drive, I buy.

MAKIN' BACON

Ok, so when I came across this dandy little product on Meg's very fine HeyRedHey blog, it nearly induced a need to vomit so intense that it would have put Linda Blair to shame.

So, of course, I had to share it with all of you.

Enjoy.

ZOOM ZOOM

Oh man, I would look so good pulling up to Sol Food in this.

THIS HOUSE IS EXQUISITE

I'd like to make an offer.

Seriously, I need to get to Bear Run, Pennsylvania, and check out what could be argued as one of Frank Lloyd Wright's finest (if not his finest) piece of architecture.

Love.

REINDEER GAMES

It was some of the most uncomfortable and embarrassing ten minutes of television that I've seen in a long time.

However, it wasn't as uncomfortable and embarrassing as having to sit here and admit to you all that I watched it yesterday on the morning whine-fest, The View.

Anyway, back in February, comedian and political commentator Bill Maher made on his HBO show Real Time with Bill Maher, what I personally thought, was a HILARIOUS joke with Elizabeth Hasslebeck as the punchline:

New rule: now that Hosni Mubarak has released Lara Logan, he must put her intrepid hotness on a plane immediately. In exchange, we will send Elisabeth Hasselbeck"

(for those who don't remember, Lara Logan was the CBS correspondent who was viciously raped by a crowd in Cairo, during that country's uprising)

Elizabeth was not amused.

So, nearly one year later, Bill was invited to plug his new book, The New NEW Rules. Instead, the segment was hijacked by Ms. Hasslebeck, so she could show everyone how tightly she holds her grudges, how immature and thin-skinned she is, and lastly, how she really has no business being on television.

Unfortunately, ABC has seen it fit to take all clips off the internet (I don't know what the networks do this, so stupid), but here is a transcript of how some of it went down (courtesy of RadarOnline):

After talking about the Jerry Sandusky case, she credited him for talking positively about women and then quickly changed the subject. "I just wanted to go back to a time that bothered me, not for my personal reasons but for women.

"Forgive this idiotic Republican for bringing this to your brilliant mind, but in February of last year, Lara Logan was in Egypt and she was brutally attacked there," she went on to repeat the offensive joke and said coldly, "You can't sit here right now and tell me I'm wrong for saying, 'That wasn't that funny.'"

Unfazed and refusing to back down, the HBO host replied: "We do a comedy show for an audience that's perhaps different than your audience," he said. "You are a public figure. It was not aimed at you personally, but when you are a public figure, you are out there and your fodder for comedians to make comments on." When asked if he draws the line anywhere, he said: "I do draw the line, but I also live on the line."

Despite everyone except Elisabeth appearing eager to move on, she held on to her anger like a pitbull throughout the segment and after Maher threw a jab at Republicans, she said, "You're so brilliant, wow, I actually feel smarter sitting next to you."

"Really? I feel like I'm in high school next to you," Maher returned.

Well said, Bill, because that's exactly what it looked like.

Elizabeth, either toughen up or go home.

ADULT TOY STORY

Venerable toy maker Mattel announced yesterday, just in time for Christmas, that the Back-Door Barbie will be available at all Wal-Mart stores (Batteries not included, Ken doll sold separately).

CHIRSTMAS WISH LIST

Bow tie, long-sleeve button-down collar and an argyle sweater vest.

My likey a lot

DON'T KNOCK THE HUSTLE

Sorry, but I'm going to TOTALLY knock this hustle.

A few days ago, it was revealed that rap star Jay-Z seemed to be exploiting the Occupy Movement, by printing T-shirts printed with the phrase "Occupy All Streets" for his Rocawear clothing line. It was being called exploitative because the only place proceeds were going to end up was in his pocket, although it was never the intent to donate any proceeds to the cause in the first place.

Just for the record, there was never any misrepresentation about donations to the social movement.

Anyway, the T-shirts were said to have been pulled from the site after because of the controversy, but it has since been revealed that the shirts weren't pulled from his website because, they had, in fact, completely sold out.

This is America, and Mr. Z is certainly entitled to make a buck, but it seems pretty douchey to me that someone, who is probably one of the 1%'ers, to be making money off the back of the 99%'ers, which is the whole point of the protests, right?

MY OZ

Yesterday afternoon, I received a voicemail from my friend Steve, who is currently in Manhattan for a few days on business. He called from the street and then held the phone in the air so I could hear the hustle and bustle of the city I so love.

It was like a symphony, so beautiful.

BODY DOUBLE

As some of my more ardent readers know, I occasionally do Body-Double work as a way to get from paycheck to paycheck.

Well, just between you and us, I was Taylor Lautner's body double in the newest in the series Twilight: Breaking Dawn, Part One.

Mums the word, however, because I don't want my revelation to take away from I am sure is going to be a very successful film.

NO OCUPADO

It's kind of hard to have sympathy for the Occupy Oakland movement, which was finally cleared from the steps of Oakland City Hall, this morning.

Actually, I'm having a hard time giving the movement any kind of support and sympathy, although I would love to.

Maybe it's because these supposed protests seem to be nothing more than homeless encampments. I don't see how occupying a city park is the way to bring change. From what I've seen, at least in San Francisco, it's nothing more than just a bunch of people laying around in their own filth. The Oakland group suffered through it's first homicide last week, a situation that lead to this mornings police action. Local business suffered greatly from the loss of revenue when folks began to avoid the downtown area, as well. Also, it didn't look too good when protesters started attacking folks who were trying to access their money at ATM's

The Occupy Wall Street group is having it's own issues as well. Instead of calling the police when one female protester was raped, a group of protesters physically surrounded the alleged suspect, berated him for his alleged crime, and then let him go. He was eventually arrested in New Jersey when New York City police where notified of the crime. There also seems to be an issue of STD's spreading like crazy around that encampment.

This occupy movement is a great idea, but it has reached it's first fork in the road. Now is the time for those in the groups who SERIOUSLY are committed to real change, to sit down, take a look at what worked, what DIDN'T work, and relaunch.

Here's an idea, why not start occupying the areas where the 1%'ers (or .1%'ers) live. Protest in front of the companies who are raking in these billion dollar profits without paying the taxes they should (Cheveron, Bank of America, GE, etc.).

Just a thought.

PLEASE DON'T SQUEEZE THE CHARMIN

I don't know about this. It looks like it might hurt, just a little.

SUNDAY FUNNIES

CLASS OF '58

This is my high school (Petaluma High), as it appeared in 1958. It was torn down later that year, and replaced with the single-story structure that I attended back in the eighties.

ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

The Oakland-San Francisco Bay Bridge turns 75 today.

VETERANS DAY

Soldiers from the 728th MP Battalion, 18th MP Brigade at Camp Streicher in Iraq, May 2008.

It's a shame that more isn't done to encourage folks to pay attention to Veterans Day.

Thanks to all those who have served, currently serve, and will someday serve.

FOOT IN MOUTH DISEASE

"How do you fire Jo Pa? #insult #noclass as a hawkeye fan I find it in poor taste"

-- Ashton Kutcher, on the firing of Penn State football coach Joe Paterno.

This tweet was removed about an hour later, after Kutcher found out the reason behind the firing. It was particularly ironic, considering him and wife, actress Demi Moore, are associated with a charity that is working to end child sex slavery.

I know actors like to think that their high profile lives can bring extra attention to different issues, but sometimes, actors should just act.