What a World

We all have those moments where you just ask yourself repeatedly, "What the...?"

This week has been FULL of those moments. Let's see...the most trusted car company of recent decades is taking even more heat for yet another manufacturing flaw. Now it seems you can add the Toyota Corolla to the list of "Don't Drive" models. After dealing with faulty accelerators and floormats with attitude, Toyota is now facing faulty steering wheels in their small sedan that I like to refer to as a roller skate. It's a bad day when you can't trust Toyota. I guess it's like my Grandpa said..."Don't trust the Japs. Buy American." Well, go ahead and email me some hate mail but before you do please realize that he fought in WW II.

THEN this BS happened: In honor of the newly redesigned Chanel.com, the French design house is introducing Les Trompe l’Oeil Temporary Skin Art. The graphic adornments, created by Global Creative Director Peter Philips, were first seen in the Chanel Spring-Summer 2010 runway presentation. “For the show, I wanted to play with the Chanel symbols: pearls, chains and wheat, as well as blossoms and small swallows that announce the arrival of spring,” Philips says. And now that they’ve made their way off the catwalk, the tattoos can adorn your skin for $75 for a package of five sheets, including a total of 55 designs. (People.com)
This makes me ask, "What the..." because if I want a tatoo, oh excuse me..SKIN ART, I will get one. If I want to wear some temporary skin flare it will be edible (love you Russ) and it damn sure won't be $75.00. Hey Chanel...get over yourself. I have to buy things like gas. WTF?

Then some wack job in Austin got pissed at the IRS and decided to take it out on innocent people. He left a six page suicide note online, set his house on fire with his family in it, stole a small aircraft at the local airport, and flew it into an IRS building. Wow. Now, we've all had fantasies of screwing big brother and I'm sure there are at least 10 people we all want to kill at work but the difference between us and the wack jobs of the world is we only fantasize. They live it. At least this time there weren't hundreds of fatalities. In my opinion that's the Universe saying screw ya right back buddy. Take yourself out but leave the rest of us alone.

A 15 year old boy shot up a church during service in Richmond, California. No motive has been established. WOW. I mean, I don't really want to go to church either kid but damn. All you have to do is pretend to buy it for mom and dad's sake and hold out for that free post service lunch. Calm down with the guns, kids. You're making me nervous.

John Mellencamp is being urged to run for the soon to be vacant Indiana Senate seat. I guess why the hell not. If a guy named Kinky can run for Governor I suppose the guy who champions the people with songs like Little Pink Houses can run for Senator. I'm sure Republicans everywhere are bending over and singing, "Come on baby make it hurt so good..."

And to top of a crazy week of news I just read that the Enquirer is up for a pulitzer prize. Hold on...I'll be right back.


Ok, I had to gather myself. The same trash mag that reports how dangerous "Batboy" (memba him?) is of the 90s and that Bill Clinton is actually an Alien is now in the running for a Pulitzer. Apparently the John Edwards story they broke has turned out good for them. You get ONE right out of millions and you can get a Pulitzer. I hope they win. I can't wait to tell my brother's kids (I'm not having any) about the days when the Enquirer WASN'T reputable. ;)

So that's the crazy news of the week. Oh, that and some PETA assholes protested the Westminster Dog Show. That was greatness. What a bunch of idiots. Leave the Scotty alone..and the rest of us for that matter.

I think for the rest of the weekend (THANK GOD it's here) I am going to turn the television off and enjoy some away time from this crazy world. I think the hot tub, husband, gym, wine, good food, and some LSS planning with my awesome colleagues and friends Larry and John is in order.

Until next time..."What the????"

Work Woes

Does anyone else wish they were famous in some way? Not just for the money but more for the freedom? Imagine getting up when you want to only to go DO whatever you want to. Yeah...if you're in the studio or shooting a film you're up and working for as much as 16 hours a day but think of the down time between albums/films. You don't answer to anyone. You are "The Boss." Even if you just narrated some show on Discovery or Animal Planet it would be 100 times better than the daily corporate grind of 8-5 Monday thru Friday. Right?

Right. At least, I'm pretty sure. ;)

Of course, we all have to start somewhere. I swear to God if I hear that one more time I'm going to go Predator on somebody's ass. But, here's some fun proof that even Mike Rowe didn't come out of the womb hosting Discovery Channel's Dirty Jobs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWEI-5t2m54&feature=related

Well, we can't all be Mike Rowe. So, how do we balance our lives with what we want to do with what we HAVE to do? If you have the answer to this age old question please let me know because I am totally LOST. If you know me you know that I work in what I refer to as "Nazi Germany". I have found myself in the most buttoned down corporate environment you can imagine and it is totally crushing who I am. I am not allowed to flourish, be creative, be myself, laugh, be a part of the team...I basically have one function and I'm chained to my desk for 8 hours a day with about a 15 minute lunch break so that I have plenty of time to perform that function. I spend my day trying to accomplish what I'm paid to do all the while dodging the Gestapo and the upper management otherwise known as the firing squad. On weekends I chase my dream of radio on the Larry Stanley Show here at Bigbadsportsdaddy.com. I also try to pack in as much LIVING as possible. I regroup, focus on WHO I really am, and let go just enough to feel alive so that I can get through the next Monday through Friday while I look forward to the next 3 day weekend or holiday. What the Fuck has happened to me? This was not supposed to be my life.

So, my question is this: Is this how the majority of the world lives? I mean, in my search for truth and my life's path I have run into alot of people who say the same things. Does anyone acutally like what they do? I mean...we all have to have health insurance and a paycheck so do we all just do whatever to get those things or are there actual people who leave work feeling satisfied and fulfilled in some manner? If so, call me. I'd love to meet you.

2010 was supposed to be a killer year for me. And maybe I shouldn't give up so fast. Maybe it's all just around the corner. It's only February after all. :) Wait...what's that? Hope? Hmmm...haven't felt that in a while. Maybe the "work depression" is actually lifting. Hey, maybe there ARE good things ahead I just have to be patient and work to make them happen. Now, there's a thought! Ok...I feel a smile coming on. Life isn't all about the work grind. It's about who you are and how you love others. It's about being fulfilled overall...not just in your job. Jobs come and go but WHO you are remains. :)

Hey, I feel a bit better now. After all it's Friday. Whoo Hoo! I think I'll shave my legs. I've been too sad lately to even do that but that's more of a punishment on poor Rusty. lol. Yeah..a nice hot shower, freshly shaved legs, a DECENT Friday at work spent on Monster.com, and later dinner with friends, wine, and a hot tub. Maybe John will even bring Witten by. Nothing cures a case of the sads like an 8 week old puppy!

To be continued and here's a thought to start your weekend. Braveheart much? One of my fav lines is Cicero: "Sometimes I do what I want to do, the rest of the time I do what I have to..."

To Cut or Not to Cut

One of my fave shows is Nip/Tuck. Dramatic, crazy, funny, sexy, and twisted. What's scarier? It's a sign of just how far we'll go to look a certain way. Ok ok, it's a tv show but it hits home for alot of us. I can't tell you how many magazines I pick up or images flashed on the tv/internet I see that have something to do with plastic surgery. There are whole sites dedicated to who's had what just laden with before and after pics. Our favorite celebs addicted to the knife include Joan Rivers and, of course, the late Michael Jackson. Of course, these scenarios should serve as a warning to the rest of us. Once you start looking alien....put the knife down!

So, why did this come to mind today? Because I had a conversation with a friend earlier in the week about all the things I want. And after a few minutes...I had almost a whole page list! It's weird. Why? Why do we pick ourselves apart until we have a legal size pad full of procedures we think we need? Why can't we just be happy with ourselves and the skin we've been given? Must we always compare ourselves against the impossible standards Hollywood sets forth? The answer is sadly...YES. The sad part is watching it invade minds that are entirely too young to ponder such things. I seem to recall a plastic surgery rumor about little Ashley Simpson back when she was about 15. A nose job I think. That's insane. I understand the pressures...believe me...but 15!?!?!?! REALLY!?!?! You're beautiful to begin with, Ashley. And when does it stop? Heidi Montag recently made headlines for her procedures of late. Now that was drastic...and FAST! One face today...different face tomorrow.

And thank you ABC for shows like Extreme Makeover for making it all seem so simple and painless. Now, young viewers (teen girls specifically) can watch and decide they need veneers, nose jobs, brow lifts, tummy tucks, butt implants, breast implants, eye lifts...oh and a new hair cut and color and be back at school in a week. Um...no.

Now, I'm not spouting how awful and evil changing yourself is. I'll be honest. If I had 10 g's in savings I'd have a couple things done. If it's truly for YOU and you're ok with it...do it. I'm not going to judge. But, I just hope those that decide to go under the knife love themselves to begin with. I hope that should you ever choose to get sliced and diced it's for YOU and not because you want Kim Kardashian's boobs, Reese Witherspoon's nose, and Angelina's smile because society tells you that's what you should look like. Case in point? Tara Reid's stomach. ;)

Big Fat Follow Up

If you listened to The Larry Stanley Show last week (again...you must do this weekly or you're a loser) you heard me and Larry go completely OFF on a certain sect of the public. Ok ok. We might have gone a little overboard. Maybe we shouldn't have been so hard on our brothers and sisters of the heavier breed. But, in our defense...it's just the ones who are total jerks and think they're the hottest thing since hot itself. I mean, my cat is fat and I love her just fine. Why? Because she knows she is fat and doesn't act uppity and well; skinny. ;)

I will admit that I feel I can be more free with my jabs because the other thing we talked about last week on the LSS is the fact that I once was a card carrying member of the Fatty Club. I put in about 2 years of hard work and lost over 50 pounds. I hope that can be an inspiration to those who struggle and I honestly do encourage and offer help to those who are serious about making that very important life change. Yes...LIFE CHANGE. It's not just a thing you do to fit in a dress or a suit. It's not something to take casually. Dieting, excercising, and being generally healthy and fit is a life decision. It doesn't come and go. It's a part of you should you choose it to be. I think that's what got me so torqued last week when the subject came up. I am around countless people who talk about losing weight and working out all day long but when it comes to choosing lunch they sit down to a plate of fried fish and dip their hush puppies in BUTTER with each bite. Um....if you are going to do that don't ask me questions about workout technique because it's NOT GOING TO HELP YOU until you put down the hush puppy covered in butter. ;)
So, Larry and I cleared up the issue. We just have a small hatred for those fatties who decide to have an attitude towards those of us who work hard. They think they're hot stuff to look at and carry themselves like Angelina Jolie down the red carpet in their own head. Confidence is a great thing but it can get annoying when you're an ass about it. ;)

All that being said, there is another side to this dangerous coin. Being overweight and unhealthy is risky. BUT, being underweight is just as unhealthy. Let's all remember that being fit, healthy, comfortable in our own skin, and pretty to look at for others (let's be honest...nobody wants to look at you if you're overweight. Porn is a perfect example of this) are all very good things. But, don't get so obsessed you go the other way. There is such a thing as too skinny. Calista Flockhart is a great example. It's sad how the images that hollywood projects as the perfect body can distort us "regular" folk's view. We seem to forget about all the air brushing and lighting that goes into magazine shoots. We don't think about camera angles and makeup artists making their subjects appear as perfect as possible. And it is sad how young people, girls especially, can strive for such an unreachable goal. I also find it sad how hard the men and women of Hollywood struggle to maintain such standards. Imagine making it to Hollywood and then being called fat by some red carpet fashion guru when in the REAL WORLD you are a healthy and acceptable size. That's got to be what happened to Calista, the Olsen twins, Angelina, Nicole Richie, etc. This week we all watched The Golden Globes and for days networks like E ran shows such as the fashion police. Ok, all fun and games and I will admit I like to watch who's wearing what and hear what these idiots have to say. lol. But, this week Mad Men's Christina Hendricks was called fat. Guess what. According to the men I surveyed nobody saw FAT. We can all agree her boobs are bigger than her head but my God, most women pay good money for that! There are lines in this battle and they're very grey for most of us. I think the best we can do is OUR best. Not somebody else's best. Not Hollywood's best for sure.

So, in our stuggle to be beautiful and ripped (verbage for the guys) let's not forget the real reason we need to reach our weight goals, whatever they may be. Health is key. And remember...when we're beautiful on the inside it shows on the outside!

I Know You Don't Care Either So.....

This started out as my ENews and Movie Blog. Originally I was going to review Avatar and Sherlock Holmes for you today. But I really don't see how I can given what's going on in Haiti. Really...I don't care about movies, money, who's wearing what and who's effing who in Los Angeles when people are suffering and dying by the thousands. I'm sorry. My heart just isn't THAT hard.

An estimated 100,000 are dead and thousands more after the devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquate hit Haiti on Tuesday. The Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince is unrecognizable as the city it once was. The injured have been trapped going on 72 hours; the dead bodies line the streets as hospitals and morgues have reached capacity. Relief efforts are well intentioned but difficult and slow to reach the island due to chaos on the ground and complete wreckage at air and sea ports. There are no medical supplies, no water, no food, no heavy equipment to move rubble....it is a catastrophe. The sense of loss and hopelessness must be overwhelming.

Many of us feel the need to help but have no idea how. I've heard so many people say, "I want to be there. I feel useless here." Here's what our First Lady Michelle Obama had to say:

“The images from Haiti are heart-breaking—homes, hospitals and schools destroyed; families searching for loved ones; parents trying to feed their children. But we can all do something. We can help the American Red Cross as it delivers the food, water and medicine that can save lives. Donate $10 by texting “HAITI” to 9-0-9-9-9. Visit redcross.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS. Thanks for your help.” (redcross.org)

Right now contacting a relief organization such as the Red Cross is all many of us can do. It's easy to text to donate. Think about all the texts you send to family and friends every day. One text that costs $10 can move mountains and save a life. In fact, the Red Cross has raised an unprecedented $7 m through text donations alone. That's three times the amount raised in the first days following the tsunami in Indonesia in 2004. Put your thunbs to work and save a life.

There are countless other organizations to contact but please be careful and research where your money goes. Sadly, this is the time when scammers strike. The safest bet is the Red Cross but you can also feel safe about President Bill Clinton's organization found at http://www.clintonfoundation.org/haitiearthquake/. Celebrity musician and Haitian born Wyclef Jean heads an organization called Yele Haiti and information about his rescue and relief efforts can be found at www.yele.org.

This story is still unfolding. People are hurting and need help...not just from us but from the world. Some people say that the Unites States isn't the world rescuer...that we have our own problems to address. That's true. We do have our own problems. To those that say we're not the world's rescue operation I say this: This is not about borders or roles that nations play. This is about people helping people. It's about humanity. If you can honestly sit and watch Sanjay Gupta find and treat a 15 DAY old infant with lacerations on her head with no antibiotics, no gauze, no pain killers, no diagnostic equipment...and not feel a thing...Then you have even bigger problems.

Big Bad New Year

It's 2010 People. 2010. So, I pose the question: Where has the time gone and am I officially "old" for even asking? I sound like my mother when I say those words. I never thought THAT would happen. But then again, did any of us?

So, here we are staring down a new decade. I'm sure those of you who make resolutions each year have already done so. Those of you who don't care to come up with a new way to improve yourself and then quit in a month; would you be willing to reconsider?

I think 2010 should be a new start for all of us. Not just because it's a new year and we all promise to do better each January. But, because it's a new decade. I think we can all agree that the last decade was pretty tough. I won't dive into my feelings of nuclear threat, war, global warming, economic globalization, or the deepest recession America has felt since the 1930's. That's not the point of this blog. ;) The point is that the last decade brought all of those things our way and now that we've had time to crawl to our feet and gain the strength we need to move forward it's time we take this new decade and become the America we all know we CAN be. But, I think in order to do that we have to become the PEOPLE we know we can be. 2010 offers a chance for all of us to look ahead and look within.

If you listen to The Larry Stanley show (you all SHOULD and if you're not shame on you) you might have heard me and Larry talking about this last week. You heard me say I was going to try to let go of my self inflicted stress. I get twisted pretty fast when it comes to things like schedules, plans, punctuality, having all the ducks in the proverbial row if you will. I've got to learn that those things really don't matter in life. It all happens whether you're late, early, etc. I've also got to learn to go with the flow when one of those ducks falls out of row. And, it's life...they WILL and there's nothing I can do about it. If you have a similar change you'd like to tackle then I invite you to come along with me and look at it in terms TODAY. Instead of making a resolution that we all know we aren't going to stick with let's just try to make this promise instead: MAKE TOMORROW BETTER THAN TODAY. Seems like a big commitment but if we break it down into small pieces it can easily be done. Instead of a resolution think of it as a small life change with a big result.

So, let's make 2010 our decade. Let's reach for our dreams and not give up on them. Let's feel the fear and go for it anyway. All we have to lose is time and that's a valuable thing to waste! So, I want some feedback. I want some encouragement in my endeavors, and I want to help you, too! So feel free to leave comments on what you're up to, what your thoughts are about the show and the blog, and if there's anything I can do to help you I'll do my best! Let us know wht you want to hear about and we'll cover it either on our show, the website in general, or right here in this blog. We're all in this together! It's going to be a Big Bad New Year, guys. Let's get this!

Big Bad Steph's Movie and E News

Big Bad Steph has been...well...BAD lately. No, not what you're thinking. ;) Bad in NOT BLOGGING! But, that is going to change. Yes, it's not even January and I'm already proclaiming change! We'll see how long this lasts....

For starters my blog is going to change a bit. It's not just going to be movies anymore. Many of you who read our blogs know that each of us are associated with Bigbadsportsdaddy.com in more than one way. I cohost The Larry Stanley Show each week and bring to listeners a bit o ENews in my E segment. So, why not share here what I cover there? And if you listen, which you SHOULD, you can leave some feedback on the stories you hear each week right here. Comment Comment Comment. Just remember..I have feelings, too! ;)

So, what's happening this week in the world of the rich, famous, over sexed, moral-less, ridiculousness we call Hollywood? Well....

James Franco (Spider Man, Milk, Pineapple Express) is joining the cast of General Hospital for a month long guest star sting. He first airs on November 20th as an addition to the evil Cassadine Family. I'm sorry..I gotta wonder. What are you doing, Franco? It's a soap. The genre is dying! You've done movies...OSCAR nominated movies! Are you just bored, stoned, or trying to score some hot soap tail. I'm confused. But it worked. I'm so gonna watch...

Jon Gosselin is a huge D-bag.

Josh Duhamel (Las Vegas, Transformers, Crossing Jordan) is being accused of cheating on his wife of less than a year, Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas. Apparently a stripper from Atlanta claimes she has texts from Duhamel to back up her story and she even took a lie detector test for credibility! That's going the extra mile, honey. Of course, I have to wonder who administered this supposed lie detector test. The club manager? If this story turns out to be true, Duhamel will be joining the ranks of Hollywood Skeeves like Hugh Grant. Paying for sex is the most pathetic thing. Especially when you're as hot as Duhamel. Here's a hint: You don't have to pay for sex. You are a celebrity. It should just come to you (no pun intended).

Jon Gosselin is a huge D-bag.

Nic Cage (National Treasure, Gone in 60 Seconds, Face Off...and a whole bunch of bad ones, too) is B-R-O-K-E! The actor claims he was lead astray by a naughty financial adviser, Samuel Levin, who in a lawsuit filed Oct. 16 in Los Angeles, "lined his pockets with several million dollars in business management fees while sending Cage down a path toward financial ruin." Cage reportedly owes $6.3 million to our friends at the IRS in back taxes. Now, wait a minute. you make anywhere from $20-$40 mil a picture and somehow you find yourself broke?! I think this is more than just a greedy Jew. This is you, Mr. Cage, being an idiot and buying multi-million dollar properties (four in the states along) and 2 effing islands. 2! Good luck with your lawsuits. You're going to need it.

Jon Gosselin is still a huge D-bag.

And Finally, Rhianna is speaking out this week via Good Morning America and 20/20 (ABC) regarding the abusive relationship between her and pop star Chris Brown. In an interview airing November 6th on 20/20 10:00/9:00 central on ABC. Early clips from the interview have been shown on Good Morning America and are scheduled for one more round tomorrow morning. Rhianna tells softy Diane Sawyer, "When I realized that my selfish decision for love could result in some young girl getting killed, I could not be easy with that part," she says. "I couldn't be responsible for that. Even if Chris never hit me again, who's to say their boyfriend won't? Who's to say they won't kill these girls? I didn't realize how much of an impact I had on these girls' lives until that happened."

Chris Brown strikes back by opening up in his own hour long exclusive interview on Mtv. Chris answers questions from Mtv's Sway on his childhood, his anger impulses, his interview with Larry King on CNN, and whether or not he is still in love with the pop starlet.
Chris Brown: The Interview' is due to air on MTV Friday, November 6 at 6pm ET/PT.
Who do you think will get more ratings? My money is on Rhianna...not becuase I care. I just like Daine Sawyer.

There's the news of the week so far. Be sure to check out the LSS to hear Larry's perspective on all this BS. Until then, I leave you with one final thought.

Jon Gosselin is a huge D-bag.