Graffiti: Pop Culture Archives

July 23, 2007

Show Us How Smart You Are

Who doesn’t love a chance to show how smart they are? Answer the 15 questions below, plus the super bonus question for a chance to win AWESOME PRIZES!
You have until 3 pm on July 27^th to get your answers in.
By the way, this contest is only open to our wonderful library users ages 11-17.

Winners & answers will be announced next Monday.

Good Luck!

Which rap mogul has a cameo in Rhianna’s “Umbrella” video?
Name the 7 Harry Potter books?
What British super couple recently moved to LA?
Which member from 98° was married to Jessica Simpson?
Name the 2007 song whose lyrics include: “A thousand miles seems pretty far/But they've got planes and trains and cars/I'd walk to you if I had no other way/Our friends would all make fun of us/and we'll just laugh along because we know/That none of them have felt this way”.
Name the 3 VH1 shows Flavor Flav has appeared on.
The Spice Girls recently announced a reunion tour, in what year did they originally break up?
Brandon Routh played the title character in Superman Returns in 2006, who played Superman in the original film in 1978?
What MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role-playing game) became the most popular one of its kind, boasting 8.5 million players worldwide, in early 2007?
What 1984 Prince movie had an album released of the same name?
In Spiderman 2, who is Spidey’s main nemesis?
What video game by Red Octane involves players using a plastic guitar to shred some famous and some not so famous songs?
This trilogy of books was written by J.R.R. Tolkien.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (the television show) was set in what fictional town?
Who is Gwen Stefani married to?

Bonus trivia:

What did Gary Dahl create in the 1970’s that turned him into an overnight millionaire?

Email your answers here.

Posted by Katie at 02:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)

June 13, 2007

Oz Island, Teen Second Life

It’s Here! A new space for teens to go!

Oz Island, the TSCPL space on the teen grid of Second Life gets it first inhabitants today. We Oz Island beach

have anticipated for weeks the “coming live” of OZ Island. For next few weeks Oz Island will be a closed society while the pilot group of students from Hope Street Academy have the first lessons in building and creating a virtual world. The instructors are Dr Marcus Childress, Chair, Instructional Design and Technology at Emporia State University and his graduate assistant, Howard West. David Antonacci from KU Med Center will join the students virtually.

Watch this blog for information on how Shawnee County teens (13-17 years old) can get a life – a virtual life in Teen Second Life.

Posted by Jean at 10:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

May 13, 2007

Comic book conventions rock!

Planet Comicon May 2007

Last weekend, I was lucky enough to get to attend the Planet Comicon comic book convention in Overland Park, Kansas. I have read about comic book conventions in books like The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl, and heard about them on television shows like The OC, but I had never been to one myself.

And yes, before you even have a chance to ask, let me tell you that there were Stormtroopers. And Jedi Knights. In costume. And it was soooooo cool!
Mostly it was like one big shopping trip Planet Comicon May 2007 -- booths with cardboard bins full of comic books from the Golden Age, Silver Age and Bronze Age of Comics, of course plenty of current issues from the Modern Age.

I bought a few issues of Catwoman (Barbara Gordon was a librarian, you know, when she wasn't saving the world), and some issues of Fray by Joss Whedon. I also found some weirder stuff that I loved, like Veronica Mars trading cards and a 1998 Starting Lineup Ray Lankford figurine (my all-time favorite Cardinals player!)

One of the biggest draws at any comic book convention is the special guest line-up. I saw David Prowse, the original Darth Vadar from Star Wars fame, and Richard Hatch from Battlestar Galactica. And I saw comic book artist Jim Lee (see his picture below!)

So, the comic book convention wasn't quite what I expected, but it was very fun. If you haven't been to one before, I highly recommend the experience!

Comic Artist Jim Lee at Planet Comicon in Overland Park, KS May 2007

Posted by Lissa at 01:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

March 30, 2007

Completely Inappropriate Video

PLEASE don't try this at home. And especially don't try this at our library!!!

Can you imagine being one of the customers in this library while they were filming this video? And how did they ever think to ask the question "What happens when a teenager brings a fart machine into a public library?" What kinds of videos do you think we should try to make here at our library?

Posted by Lissa at 08:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

February 27, 2007

Usher's engaged-Yeah!

From eonline.com:

It looks like Usher's got it bad for the altar.

Much to the lament of his female fanbase, the R&B superstar with the six-pack abs will be leaving his bachelor days behind after getting engaged to his girlfriend, stylist Tameka Foster, sources confirmed to E! News.

No word exactly when Usher, whose full name is Usher Raymond, popped the question or when the twosome will tie the knot. A rep for the 29-year-old singer has declined to comment on various media reports that the two decided to get hitched on Valentine's Day.

Read the rest of the article here.

If you need to soothe your broken hearts, check out Usher's CD's and movies at the library.

Posted by Katie at 11:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

February 06, 2007

A 'Jackass' gets married

You would think Bam might have learned something from fellow MTV reality show couples, Nick & Jessica, Dave & Carmen and Travis & Shanna, whose marriages all bit the dust after being filmed for various shows for the network. (Though, there are rumblings of a reconciliation of sorts between Travis & Shanna.) Hopefully, Bam’s marriage will last a long time, really if it lasts more than 3 years, he’s got the rest of the MTV couples beat.

From cnn.com:

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (AP) -- Bam Margera -- professional skateboarder, prankster and MTV star -- just earned himself another title: husband.

Margera, 27, who became a punk hero on the shows "Jackass" and "Viva La Bam," married childhood friend Missy Rothstein, 26, in downtown Philadelphia on Saturday.

The couple wed in front of about 350 friends and family members -- and an MTV crew.

Margera is making his path to marriage into a nine-part reality television series called "Bam's Unholy Union." The wedding itself will be shown in the final episode in early April.

Keep reading about Bam here.

Posted by Katie at 12:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 26, 2007

Forget Brangelina or TomKat, in Bollywood Abhiwarya are getting all the attention

For the past several months the Indian press have been speculating that Abhishek Bachchan, the son of India's most famous and popular actor Amitabh, and starlet Aishwarya Rai were either engaged or, in some of the wilder stories, already secretly married. On January 14 the couple finally made it official and announced that Abhishek had popped the question at the New York premiere of their movie Guru, in which they play husband and wife.

Guru isn't out on DVD yet, and it didn't make it to Topeka theaters, but you can see the two together in Kuch Naa Kaho and Umrao Jaan.

Aishwarya is best known in America for her role in Bride and Prejudice, a remake of Jane Austen’s novel. She was also in a remake of the Austen novel Sense and Sensibility several years before, titled I Have Found It.

Watch for more news on Bollywood from Emily, a TSCPL staffer.

Posted by Lissa at 10:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 11, 2007

Nothing lasts forever...especially in Hollywood

From eonline.com:

For Cameron Diaz and Justin Timberlake, it was all over but the press release.

Cue the publicists.

In a joint statement issued on behalf of the celebrity couple Thursday, Diaz and Timberlake confirmed the worst-kept secret in Hollywood: They're no longer a celebrity couple.

"We have, in fact, ended our romantic relationship, and have done so mutually and as friends, with continued love and respect for one another," the statement said.

Diaz and Timberlake said they would have preferred to avoid the press-release route--"out of respect for the time we've spent together."

Keep reading about the demise of Justin & Cameron here.

Posted by Katie at 05:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 09, 2007

Is anyone surprised?

From msnbc.com:

LOS ANGELES - Pop star Britney Spears and hotel heiress Paris Hilton, dubbed the “Screamgirls” by Mr. Blackwell, landed at the top of the former designer’s annual worst dressed list on Tuesday.

The celebrities, who forged a friendship at Hollywood and Las Vegas nightclubs last year, were also described by Blackwell as “style-free and fashion deprived.” The wife of Britain’s Prince Charles, teen star Lindsay Lohan and singer Christina Aguilera were also subjected to his sartorial skewering.

Keep reading about the worst dressed here.

Who do you guys think has the worst fashion sense? Do Britney and Paris belong at the top of the list? Let everyone know what you think in the comments below.

Posted by Katie at 04:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

December 06, 2006

Vaughniston Break-Up...for real

From eonline.com:

Just when you thought it was safe to refer to Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn as a committed couple, they go and call the whole thing off.

"After Jennifer's trip to London several weeks ago, Jennifer and Vince mutually agreed to end their relationship, but continue to be good friends today," publicists Stephen Huvane and John Pisani said in a joint statement to People Tuesday.

With stories of their demise gracing magazine covers, the former Friends star traveled to London in October to visit Vaughn on the set of his latest film, the Christmas comedy Fred Claus. Earlier that month Aniston had appeared on her pal Oprah Winfrey's show to dispel the breakup talk, telling the talk show maven "no, no" when asked if Vaughniston was no more.

Keep reading about the real-life break-up of Vaughniston here.

Posted by Katie at 10:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

November 27, 2006

3 weddings, 1 divorce

From cnn.com:

NEW YORK (AP) -- Pamela Anderson and Kid Rock each filed divorce papers Monday seeking to end their marriage of less than four months.

Anderson's representative would not comment on the reason or any particulars of the divorce. Anderson and Rock, whose real name is Robert Ritchie, each cited "irreconcilable differences" in their divorce filings in Los Angeles County Superior Court.

"Yes, it's true," Anderson wrote in a brief statement on her Web site. "Unfortunately impossible."

A message left with Ritchie's attorney wasn't immediately returned.

The relationship between Anderson, 39, and Ritchie, 35, has been a turbulent one since they became engaged in 2002. They broke up the following year, but later reunited and held several wedding ceremonies over the summer.

They were wed in late July near St. Tropez, France, and again at a courthouse in Beverly Hills on August 3. They also tied the knot in an August 17 ceremony in Nashville, Tenn.

Read the rest of the article here.

Posted by Katie at 03:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

November 08, 2006

HEY I GOT SOME IDEAS FOR YOUR PAGE!!

HEY I GOT SOME IDEAS FOR YOUR PAGE.

LETS SEE - FACEBOOK IS AN AWESOME PLACE AND ON THERE WHEN IT FIRST STARTS IT ASKS YOU FOR YOUR SCHOOL AND YOU SAY WHATEVER SCHOOL AND THEN YOU MAKE A PAGE FILL IN A PROFILE ABOUT LIKE WHAT MUSIC YOU LIKE AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

WHEN YOU MAKE A PROFILE IT CAN ONLY BE SEEN BY PEOPLE WHO GO TO THE SAME HIGH SCHOOL AS YOU. YOU ADD PHOTOS AND LEAVE MESSAGES AND WRITE ON PEOPLES WALLS (PRETTY MUCH LIKE MESSAGES BUT THEY CAN BE SEEN BY EVERYONE THAT GOES TO YOUR HIGH SCHOOL.) YOU CAN MAKE YOUR PAGE MORE PRIVATE BY ONLY LETTING YOUR FRIENDS SEE IT.

ONCE YOU FIND PEOPLE YOU KNOW YOU SEND THEM A FRIEND REQUEST KINDA LIKE ON MYSPACE. KK JUST THOUGHT YOU SHOULD PUT A LINK ON GRAFFITI IT WOULD BE SUPER COOL.

AMANDAA

Posted by at 08:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

November 07, 2006

Britney ditches K-Fed

It took 2 years and 2 children, but Britney Spears has finally come to her senses. Brit-Brit has filed for divorce from her husband, Kevin Federline, on Tuesday. Read all about it on eonline.com.

I am thrilled that she has finally realized that K-Fed was maybe not the best choice to marry. I totally loved the shame spiral that Britney went down, but after awhile it just got sad.

How do you guys feel? Are you glad that Britney dropped K-Fed? Do you wish they could have made it work? Or do you even care?

Posted by Katie at 03:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

October 31, 2006

Reese and Ryan go their separate ways

Possibly the saddest break-up to come out of Hollywood since Brad and Jen, Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillipe have formally separated.

From eonline.com:

Reese Witherspoon is on her way from Legally Blonde to legally single.

The Oscar winner has formally separated from Ryan Phillippe after seven years of marriage, Witherspoon's publicist, Nanci Ryder, confirmed to E! News.

"We are saddened to announce that Reese and Ryan have decided to formally separate," Ryder said in a statement. "They remain committed to their family, and we ask that you please respect their privacy and the safety of their children at this time."

Keep reading here.

Posted by Katie at 08:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

October 25, 2006

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire- Uncut?

Posted by Meghan at 07:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

October 24, 2006

Straight Outta Lynwood...and into the top 10

From msnbc.com:

NEW YORK - Now this is weird. “Weird Al” Yankovic’s new album, “Straight Outta Lynwood,” has scored the enduring song parodist his biggest chart successes in a career that spans nearly three decades.

“Lynwood,” Yankovic’s 12th album, debuted this month at No. 10 on the Billboard 200, his first top 10 album ever. Meanwhile, the Chamillionaire parody “White and Nerdy,” reached No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100, besting his previous high of No. 12 with “Eat It” in 1984.

“I literally danced a little jig (when I found out),” Yankovic says. “It’s just a number, but I’ve been obsessing over it for a long part of my career. Even with, you know, millions of records sold, I’ve never been in the top 10, and it’s always been a goal of mine.”

October 18, 2006

Justin's Going On Tour

From eonline.com:

Secure in his masculinity, Justin Timberlake is adding a touch of Pink to his look.

The FutureSex/LoveSounds purveyor is launching a North American arena tour in support of his latest chart-topping effort, announcing Tuesday that his FutureSex/LoveShow world tour will kick off Jan. 8 in San Diego.

And although Timberlake obviously has things all figured out, he's taking a M!ssundaztood woman along for the ride. Pink will join the former boy bander on the 34-date North American leg of his tour, which wraps up Mar. 29 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

"I've been rehearsing the band, getting the show ready and tight," Timberlake said in a video statement. "What do we got? Ten dancers, 14 band members, a million tricks up my sleeve, a crazy light show--and I might even show up. So that's pretty exciting. No, seriously, come out. I'll see you guys there."

Keep reading here for the rest of the article.

Sadly, JT isn't coming to the Kansas City area with his tour. You can look at his official website for the closest cities, though, and Omaha is only 3 hours away. Or hit up his MySpace page and become one of his friends, then take a look at his video message about the upcoming tour. If you'd rather just hear JT, his FutureSex/LoveSounds album is definitely worth a listen.

Posted by Katie at 10:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

September 29, 2006

ANOK4U2OK

The other day I was at the reference desk here at TSCPL and in walked what is always for me, a refreshing sight – a small group of punks. I love the bondage pants, the band t-shirts, the hair, the badges, and the patches – especially the patch with the circled ‘A’. Punks just warm my heart. I don’t even care that it’s all recycled fashion from 1977; to me, punks always represent thinking people who ask questions rather than accept the “facts” fed to them.

Continue reading "ANOK4U2OK" »

Posted by Tanya at 02:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

September 14, 2006

Jay-Z Un-Retires

From cnn.com:

Call him the Michael Jordan of rap. Jay-Z, who declared that 2003's "The Black Album" would be his last, is coming out retirement and releasing a new CD.

"Kingdom Come" will hit stores this fall, Entertainment Weekly magazine reports in its new issue, due on newsstands Monday.

"It was the worst retirement in history," Jay told the magazine.

Actually, his post-retirement career looked pretty good. In 2004, the rap icon (real name: Shawn Carter) became president and CEO of Def Jam Recordings. He became part owner of the New Jersey Nets that same year. Also on his resume: Not-So-Secret Boyfriend of Beyonce.

Read about what Jay has been up to since his retirement in 2003 and what’s in his future.

Posted by Katie at 12:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

September 12, 2006

Baby #2 for Britney

From MTV.com:

Britney Spears gave birth to her second child late on Monday night, a source close to the family confirmed to MTV News, but whether it is a boy or a girl has yet to be officially revealed. Both Us Weekly and The National Enquirer have reported the baby to be a boy; Spears' rep, however, dismissed the reports as "speculation."

Although it was never officially confirmed, Spears was expected to give birth later this week; reports circulated that she would have labor induced on Thursday in order to prepare for a cesarean birth…

Continue reading about Brit-Brit’s baby #2 here.

Posted by Katie at 04:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Start scrounging up your pennies...

Steve Jobs and new iPod shuffle (Photo Courtesy CNN.com)

It’s like a stick of gum, but smaller and more musical. For only $349, it can be all yours…

From CNN.com:

SAN FRANCISCO, California (Reuters) -- Apple Computer Inc. Tuesday unveiled a number of new iPods, including one with the most capacity to date, and said new versions of the popular digital music players would sport video games such as Pac-Man and Tetris.

Speaking at an event in San Francisco where the company was expected to introduce a movie download service, Chief Executive Steve Jobs said the new 80 gigabyte iPod would cost $349.

The company also introduced a new, thinner iPod Nano available in five colors with 24 hours battery life.
Continue reading this article here.

Posted by Meghan at 01:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

September 05, 2006

You'll never watch a movie the same way again

Posted by Katie at 04:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

August 31, 2006

Former Blink-182er's evolve into +44

From eonline.com:

Looks like Travis Barker's found something to keep his mind off his increasingly volatile breakup with wife Shanna Moakler: a new band.

With Blink-182 idling on "indefinite hiatus" and the group's singer-guitarist Tom DeLonge forming a new band, Angels & Airwaves, Barker and Blink mate Mark Hoppus are teaming up for a new project of their own, +44.

According to an announcement on Blink-182's Website, +44 (pronounced "Plus 44") takes its name from the international dialing prefix for the United Kingdom. The newly minted band will release its debut album, When Your Heart Stops Beating, via Interscope on Nov. 14.

August 28, 2006

Project Runway: "Make it work"

Technologically gifted courtesy of ew.com

Heidi Klum used to be another pretty face in a sea of pretty faces as a Victoria’s Secret model. After 2 ½ seasons on Project Runway, though, she now has her own catch phrase, “Are you in or are you out?” Entertainment Weekly has compiled a list of reasons why this little reality show is so addictive. (My favorite is #5, I love you Tim Gunn!)

From ew.com:

Nina Garcia was just settling into her seat on a flight from Rome, eager to take a nap, when the teenage girl sitting next to her recognized her as the tough-to-please judge from Project Runway. ''I was like, 'I need to rest!''' recalls Garcia, who spends her days working as Elle magazine's fashion director. ''She just wanted to talk for eight hours about Project Runway!''

So, it seems, does anybody else who's gotten hooked on Bravo's behind-the-seams reality series (airing Wednesdays at 10 p.m.). A competition that follows 15 budding designers as they spin sartorial gold out of everything from luxurious silk to recycled plastic, Runway has blossomed into an undeniable hit.

Read on to see why Project Runway is a hit.

For all things P-Run (as people in the know call it), check out http://www.bravotv.com/.

Tim's Take and Rucker’s blogs are not to be missed, they will change your life. Well, probably not, but crazy funny nonetheless.

Posted by Katie at 10:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

August 15, 2006

How to lose a guy in 6 years

At least this break-up can’t be blamed on MTV. Following in the footsteps of several other Hollywood types, Kate Hudson and her hubby, Chris Robinson, have separated after 6 years of marriage.

From ABCnews.com:

NEW YORK Aug 14, 2006 (AP)— Kate Hudson and Chris Robinson are splitting up after nearly six years of marriage, said her publicist, Brad Cafarelli.

"Kate Hudson and Chris Robinson have confirmed that they are separated," Cafarelli told The Associated Press on Monday.

The couple married in 2000. They have a 2-year-old son, Ryder Russell Robinson.

You can read more about Kate and Chris here. Check out other break-ups we’ve talked about in the past here, here and here.

Posted by Katie at 09:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

August 10, 2006

More MTV couples bite the dust

Seriously, the MTV curse thing is getting out of control. You can now add Lauren Conrad and Jason Wahler to the ever growing list of MTV bust-ups that include Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey, Carmen Electra and Dave Navarro and Travis Barker and Shanna Moakler.

From msn.com:
Bloom Is Off for MTV Couples

At the risk of spoiling season two of "The Hills," we have some bad news. Or good news, depending on whether you thought Lauren and Jason were made for each other or he was holding her back.
Lauren Conrad, the 20-year-old star of MTV's "The Hills" and, previously, "Laguna Beach," has split with her on-off-on boyfriend, Jason Wahler. This week has been a rough one for other MTV reality-show stars too: Conrad's fellow "Laguna" alum, Kristin Cavallari, has reportedly broken up with boyfriend Brody Jenner…

Continue the rest of the article here.

Posted by Katie at 12:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

August 09, 2006

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince in theaters Thanksgiving '08!

The 5^th movie isn’t even out yet, but HP fans now have another date to add to their calendar!

From Reuters.co.uk:

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," the sixth instalment of the lucrative franchise, will come out in cinemas on November 21, 2008.

Now, Warner Bros. just needs to hire a director and confirm the cast. The fifth instalment, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," bows in July.

The "Prince" date will mark a return to the Thanksgiving period for the sorcerer series. Of the four "Potter" films to date, only the third instalment, "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban," has been released during the summer.

Paramount Pictures also has just planted a flag in November 2008, declaring November 7 for DreamWorks Animation's "Madagascar" sequel. Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, Jada Pinkett-Smith and David Schwimmer are set to reprise their roles as the main characters of the animated franchise.
Continue reading this article here.

Posted by Meghan at 10:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

If you want to stay married, don't have a show on MTV

From eonline.com:
MTV Curse Meets the Barkers

by Natalie Finn

This is getting serious.

Following in the footsteps of Nick Lachey & Jessica Simpson and Carmen Electra and Dave Navarro, Blink-182 drummer and MTV reality star Travis Barker is seeking a split from his wife of less than two years, former Miss USA Shanna Moakler, People magazine reported Tuesday.

Barker's rep, Dvora Vener, said that Barker filed for divorce Tuesday morning but declined to offer any other details behind the breakup.

Season two of the couple's reality series, Meet the Barkers, premiered in January, with the last episode celebrating the Christmas Eve birth of their daughter, Alabama. Barker and Moakler also have a two-year-old son, Landon, and Moakler has a seven-year-old daughter, Atiana, with ex-boyfriend Oscar De La Hoya.

All three kids were featured on Meet the Barkers, which, in the tradition of The Osbournes, set out to tell the tale of a rocker and his own madcap version of domesticity.

Read the rest of the article here, or read about others affected by the curse here and here.

Posted by Katie at 09:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

July 28, 2006

Harry Potter to appear nude?

I’m afraid only on a London stage.

From CNN.com:

LONDON, England (Reuters) -- Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe will strip off for his London stage debut as a psychologically disturbed stable boy in "Equus."

The 17-year-old, currently making the fifth Harry Potter film, will star alongside Richard Griffiths, who plays his grumpy uncle in the wizard sagas.

Radcliffe will play Alan Strang, a stable boy who is interviewed by a psychiatrist after he blinds six horses with a metal spike. In Peter Shaffer's controversial play, the role requires the actor to ride naked on his horse.
Continue reading this article here.

Posted by Meghan at 04:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

July 19, 2006

Make-ups and Break-ups

Two of Hollywood’s most beautiful women are in the news, one for a break-up and the other for a make-up (and impending marriage).

Carmen Electra and Dave Navarro are amicably splitting after nearly three years of marriage. You might remember their reality show on MTV, Til Death Do Us Part: Carmen + Dave, capturing their plans and wedding (as I recall, her dress was gorgeous).

On the flipside, Pamela Anderson is finally settling down with long-time on-again-off-again beau Kid Rock. From MSN.com: "Feels like I've been stuck in a time warp," said the "Baywatch" bombshell in her cryptic diary entry. "Not able to let go of MY family picture ... it's been sad and lonely and frustrating ... I've raised my kids alone in hope of a miracle. Well my miracle came and went. And came back and back because he knew that I'd wake up one day and realize that I was waiting for nothing."

Did you know that Pamela and Carmen have been paired together on numerous television shows and movies? Both were on Baywatch and starred in the Scary Movie films (although not in the same ones). Carmen guest starred on an episode of Stacked in 2005, a show that centers around one of the library’s favorite topics (books, duh).

Posted by Meghan at 11:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Comic-Con!

Comic-Con International 2006 starts tomorrow in San Diego! Comic book and graphic novel aficionados (and let’s face it, geeks- which isn’t necessarily a bad thing) the world over have already started flocking to the end-all-be-all mecca of super heroes and villains.

Daniel Clowes! Rosario Dawson! Christopher Paolini! The cast of The 4400! Yoshihiro Tatsumi! Amanda Conner! The special guest list for this year’s conference is insane!

Can’t afford the road trip or your parents simply won’t let you go? Hang out in David J’s place, grab a stack of graphic novels and chill out in the a/c.

Posted by Meghan at 10:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

July 13, 2006

Let the countdown begin!

Mark your calendars—it is exactly one year from today when Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix hits theaters! It has also been rumored that Scholastic is trying to pin down J.K Rowling for a 2007 release date.

I know, it’s a long time to wait. In the meanwhile re-read the series (the audiobooks read by Jim Dale are fantastic), re-watch the first four movies, check out all the fan sites, write your own HP fanfic, perfect your Aragog costume (going as a muggle simply won’t suffice), play quidditch or wizard chess, listen to Harry and the Potters new album (listen to it on their myspace)… The year will simply fly by!

Posted by Meghan at 11:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

July 11, 2006

Teen Plays Game For Cash

Kyle Dembinski just graduated from Blue Valley West High School in suburban Kansas City and he has already won more than $16,000 playing Vs tournaments. Vs is a collectible card game that pits two players against each other in a simulated superhero battle. Players start with 50 endurance points. They lose when all of their points are gone. Read more about this challenging, internationally played game.

Posted by Gayle at 11:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

July 05, 2006

Buffy the Vampire Slayer...and some other shows

I admit, the reason I am including this article from ew.com is not because it is my duty as a Graffiti blog artist, but because I love Buffy the Vampire Slayer. BtVS is my all-time favorite show and I am a complete geek for it. Buffy made the first spot on the best list, which is exactly where it belongs as far as I’m concerned. Here's what EW had to say about why Buffy the show was better than Buffy the movie:

"You know the story — a talented pup named Joss Whedon writes a screenplay about a hot vamp killer, it gets made into a lousy 1992 movie, and so Whedon, still gnawing on this bone, turns it into...One of the Greatest Shows in Television History. Buffy had everything: great action, great jokes, great romance, great villains, great acting (you know Sarah Michelle Gellar, Alyson Hannigan, Nicholas Brendon, and Anthony Stewart Head deserved Emmys), and above all, great writing — the kind of writing around which worthy cults are formed."

Read about the rest of the best and the worst here.

Posted by Katie at 11:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

June 22, 2006

Not just a Sk8ter Grrl.

Have you heard Avril Lavigne lately? You might have and just not known it. Over the Hedge (in theaters right now!) features Avril’s voice as the opossum Heather. She also has a few more movies coming out soon; Fast Food Nation starring Greg Kinnear and Patricia Arquette and The Flock with Claire Danes and Richard Gere. She’s also featured on the new campaign for the Youth Aids project (she is “hear no evil” to Pink’s “speak no evil” and Eve’s “see no evil” along with several other celebrities).

Heard more celebrity gossip? Drop us a comment or send an email to let us know!

Posted by Meghan at 10:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

June 20, 2006

Lauren moves on in "The Hills"

From MSNBC.com: LOS ANGELES - There were no cameras following Lauren Conrad as she entered the West Hollywood cafe. That’s notable. Since she was a high-school senior, much of the life of the now 20-year old aqua-eyed, blonde Californian has been filmed, videoed, tape-recorded and put on air.

“It just seemed like a cool opportunity,” Conrad says, recalling why she signed on for such exposure. It’s not something she or her friends consider particularly odd. “I mean if you go to any high school, you are going to get a lot of people who want to be on TV.”

Continue reading about Lauren here.

Posted by Katie at 12:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

June 19, 2006

Johnny Depp - The anti-Superstar

From the June 26, 2006 issue of Newsweek:

The Real Johnny Depp. How long have we searched for him? No one in Hollywood, it's fair to say, has worked harder at not being a movie star than Depp has, and yet he has evolved into one of the most adored actors of his generation not in spite of that persistence but because of it. "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" may have grossed $653 million worldwide, made Depp a $20 million man and earned him an Oscar nomination, but he still seems an unlikely addition to the A-list. Top-tier stars, even those who are great actors, stay on top by being true to their personas. We pay $10 to see Will Smith or Julia Roberts precisely because they don't surprise us. It's not that they're playing themselves. It's just that the force of their personalities swamps everything else. They're more than actors. They're brands. Depp, 43, is almost pathologically unpredictable. He can be bizarre, hilarious, unsettling—even annoying. But he is never the same.

Read the entire article here.

Posted by Katie at 03:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

June 15, 2006

Britney Spears Gives Her Side

Britney Spears hasn’t released an album of new material since 2003 or given an interview in over 8 months, but it seems everywhere you look there she is. Most of the media surrounding Britney lately is negative. Is she going to divorce Kevin (or K-Fed, as he has been dubbed)? Is she a has-been? Is Britney a bad mother?

Through all the scrutiny, Britney has remained quiet, until now. She gave her first interview since her son was born to Today’s Matt Lauer. You can read a partial transcript here or watch it here. The full interview will air Thursday night at 8 pm on Dateline.

If you want to remember Britney before she went all domestic, check these out.

Posted by Katie at 01:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

June 12, 2006

Because I Said So!: Emily

for teens, by teens
Emily, age 13, thinks you should:
Read this! When She Hollers by Cynthia Voight, The Other Side of Dark by Joan Lowery Nixon, and The Specter by Joan Lowery Nixon, and R. L. Stine’s Fear Street series
Watch this! Cheaper by the Dozen and The Grudge
Click this! http://music.yahoo.com/ http://www.runescape.com/
Listen to this! Vanessa Carton, Avril Lavinge, Kelly Clarkson

Posted by Lissa at 11:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

June 09, 2006

The best 6 minutes spent on the Internet.

The Evolution of Dance (Photo Courtesy Youtube.com)

Check out YouTube lately? I was pointed in the direction of “The Evolution of Dance” and couldn’t stop watching. Give yourself the 6 minutes (or 12, or 18, or 24…) and watch the master of dance shake his groove thang.

Posted by Meghan at 02:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

"Wedding Crashers" big winner at MTV's Movie Awards

The MTV Movie Awards aired Thursday night on MTV (obviously), with Jessica Alba performing the hosting duties. Jessica Alba is enough for some to tune into the show, but for the rest of us, here’s a rundown of the big winners this year.

Best Movie: “Wedding Crashers”
Probably the funniest movie I saw all year (“The 40-Year-Old Virgin” is a definite close second). I really like both Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson, so having both in one movie is awesome. As a sidenote, if you haven’t watched the commentary these two do on the DVD, you should check it out, it’s hilarious!

Continue reading ""Wedding Crashers" big winner at MTV's Movie Awards" »

Posted by Katie at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

June 07, 2006

It's Too Hot to Go Outside

May is over, school’s out and all your favorite television shows are on hiatus for the summer. If the idea of going 3 months without any new episodes of your favorite shows (Grey’s Anatomy anyone?) kind of makes you sick, know that there is hope. Tons of brand new shows are beginning this summer, and a lot of them sound freaking sweet.

Read more about the Good, the Awesome and the Guilty Pleasure (from Eonline), airing this summer.

Posted by Katie at 04:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)