Gee, Vanessa Hudgens owns a lot of bikinis

Vanessa Hudgens is in Hawaii vacationing with her boyfriend, Austin something-or-other, and has been photographed almost every day, frolicking on the beach and showing off her adorable, slightly doughy figure:

Now if I was a cynical kind of guy, noticing that every day she's in a different stylish bikini, and even did the pretend *oops, almost lost my top* pose, I might be inclined to think she was being incentivized in some way to promote those suits.

Nah . . . that's just crazy talk. What am I thinking?

Cynthia Nixon just made an inconvenient statement

In an interview with the New York Times, actress Cynthia Nixon spoke about her "decision" to become a gay woman:

*emphasis mine*

"I gave a speech recently, an empowerment speech to a gay audience, and it included the line ‘I’ve been straight and I’ve been gay, and gay is better.’ And they tried to get me to change it, because they said it implies that homosexuality can be a choice. And for me, it is a choice. I understand that for many people it’s not, but for me it’s a choice, and you don’t get to define my gayness for me. A certain section of our community is very concerned that it not be seen as a choice, because if it’s a choice, then we could opt out. I say it doesn’t matter if we flew here or we swam here, it matters that we are here and we are one group and let us stop trying to make a litmus test for who is considered gay and who is not.

Why can’t it be a choice? Why is that any less legitimate? It seems we’re just ceding this point to bigots who are demanding it, and I don’t think that they should define the terms of the debate. I also feel like people think I was walking around in a cloud and didn’t realize I was gay, which I find really offensive. I find it offensive to me, but I also find it offensive to all the men I’ve been out with."

I've been saying for years that I don't understand the positioning and rhetoric from the gay/lesbian community about this very thing. If you're out and you're proud and all that, why can't you be proud of the lifestyle choice you've made? If you're point is that being gay is such an acceptable lifestyle, then why can't the choice to be gay, be acceptable?

Literally untold millions of dollars have been wasted by groups desperately searching for a gene or hormone or dna component that determines sexual orientation. Money that could have been spent on feeding the homeless or a cure for cancer or aids or something actually signinficant in our society. And exactly nothing has been found.

But we have relentless media indoctrination about how being gay isn't a choice and just like the false narratives spread about politicians or those of a certain political party, ordinary citizens bombarded constantly by this propaganda, mindlessly repeat scientific falsehoods about the lifestyle choice of gays and lesbians. I find the sinister subversiveness of the whole thing disturbing.

I won't be surprised if there's a bit of a backlash at Ms. Nixon from the usual sources over this, along with comment sections of blogs flooded with pc speech and recriminations. Hopefully Ms. Nixon won't be forced to walk back her thoughts on her choice or what she said. But sadly, freedom of speech rarely applies when it leads to something inconvenient for the aggrieved demographic de jour.

---

And for no other reason than stuff like this cracks me up, here's psuedo reality show actress Whitney Port *accidentally* falling out of her bikini top in front of a few paparrazi:

Great! Now who do I vote for?

Earlier today, Rick Perry withdrew from the race to win the Republican nomination for President of the U.S. He endorsed Newt Gingrich, presumably as a way to block Mitt Romney from winning the nomination.

*groan*

So, from a crappy field of candidates to begin with, we're left with:

Ron Paul -- crazy uncle Ron, the ultra isolationist, mega libertarian, "Islamic terrorists only attacked us on 9/11 because we have military bases in Germany" nutbag. Other than idiot college kids with no grasp on the real world and the cause and consequence of living in it, what rational voter would punch a chad for this clown?

Mitt Romney -- look in the dictionary for the word RINO, and there's a picture of Mittens. How this guy can call himself a conservative or a Republican is beyond me. He didn't get elected in bluer-than-blue Massachusetts by being a hardcore conservative. He's a moderate Democrat with good hair. Like Michael Bloomberg in NYC, Mitt's only a Republican because he needed a ticket to run on. Oh yeah, and he's flip-flopped on every issue that's ever been presented to him.

Newt Gingrich -- the very definition of a Washington insider. I thought the whole point of the Tea Party was to get away from these untrustworthy career pandering politicians. Newt's little different from the White House's current occupant -- he thinks he's smarter than all of us, so just shut up and let him run things. Plus he's all about the final political tally. He'll sell out on any position just to get a win, like an attourney improving his win percentage by constant plea barganing. Newt's a conservative? Just remember the picture of him on the sofa with Nancy Pelosi agreeing on man-made global warming.

Rick Santorum -- the race's angry white man® I have no doubt Santorum's a decent guy, but he's a big government conservative. Insert my comment about the Tea Party here. And his zero-sum approach on abortion will kill him in a general election.

So now what?

Frankly, I'd vote for a potted plant over Obama in the general election. But for the primary? Maybe I'll just write in Sarah Palin as a protest over this hideously weak field of candidates.

*groan*

Late night hotness . . .

'Cause you know I'm likin' the black & white stuff . . .

Nah, conservative bloggers aren't arrogant at all

According to most high profile conservative bloggers and pundits, Rick Perry's campaign for President is pretty much over.

Erick Erickson was kind enough to let the Texas Governor know that his only recourse now is to drop out and endorse someone else . . . preferably whomever Erickson likes.

A Perry spokesman pointed out that the Gov. wasn't going to be rolled by a group of cyberbabies:

Mark Miner, a spokesman for Perry, said the Texas governor is focused on the people of South Carolina, not the pundits declaring the end of his campaign. “Pundits aren’t going to decide this race. The people of South Carolina are going to decide this race,” Miner said. “The governor’s focused on the people of South Carolina and their votes, not a pundit sitting behind a computer somewhere.”

The ever more tiresome Allahpundit over at HotAir, couldn't resist inserting a little snarky rejoinder to the above comment:

"Note to Miner: That random pundit sitting behind his computer screen is the same guy who introduced Perry before his big announcement speech this summer . . ."

I've made this comment many times before, but these bloggers and pundits are what is causing most of the problems in this election cycle. The bigger their soapbox, the more important they think they are and the more legitimate they think their pronouncements are.

I have the same complaint with musicians and actors -- just because they have a platform to dispense their views to a wide audience, doesn't make their views valid, more valid, or more informed than yours or mine.

But these bloggers look at their hit counters and the number of comments or site members and think they have the right to tell you how or what to vote for, or inform a candidate how he/she should run their campaign or career.

Last campaign cycle, the ever-so-knowledgible Allahpundit was informing his lemming commentors that if Mike Huckabee got the Republican nomination, they should all refrain from voting in the general election. Oh yes, in his opinion, the country would be better off with a President Obama as opposed to a President Huckabee.

How's that Obama presidency workin' out for ya there, dumbass!?!

But that's the best part about being a blogger/pundit -- you can make one stupid decision after another (HA's other resident genius, Ed Morrissey is a huge Romney fan! Yeah, brilliant!), but since you're not actually putting anything on the line, if you're wrong . . . eh! Whatever.

They used to say that those who can't do -- teach. It should be changed to those who can't do -- become bloggers or pundits.

Chickenfoot > Van Halen

Recently saw this clip online of a new Van Halen song called "Tattoo" and I was struck by how boring it was.

Eddie Van Halen had turned himself into an ego-gone-wild for years after the band hit its heyday. Dumping David Lee Roth, then Sammy Hagar, then Gary Cherone, then bringing back a duly cowed DLR to front the band once again.

His trademark, ground breaking guitar work had reduced the songs to a single riff, that they tried to find a reason to incorporate into a song. More and more, it simply didn't work as the songs had a weird, unlistenable rhythym and ever more nonsensical lyrics.

After a time out of the spotlight, they've returned with this:

Like I said -- boring. The chorus is stupid, the song is about what? Tattoos? Duhrr. Roth looks like an idiot in the video and he doesn't have the voice to attempt those vocal gymnastics anymore. And Eddie's playing is pedestrian. Short of an unremarkable solo, it sounds like something you'd hear being played by a bar band on Wednesday night.

Michael Anthony ran, did not walk, away from this nightmare to hook up with his buddy Sammy Hagar, and along with guitar virtuoso Joe Satriani and Chad Smith of the Chili Peppers, formed Chickenfoot. The outfit is an upgrade at every position over the sad VH.

Their first cd was amazing. And the new one is just as good. Compare VH's dull effort to this off Chickenfoot's new cd and enjoy what fresh rock 'n roll sounds like:

This just in . . . Eliza Dushku = still in my cool book

I eschew the new media stuff, so I'm not on Twitter or Facebook or any of that kind of stuff. So I missed this when it happened.

Apparently there's some internet up & coming singer chick named Lana del Rey who's got an album coming out soon. So she got a gig on SNL. Probably because her daddy is some rich dude, because for a singer . . . well . . . she's pretty, at least.

During the performance, my girl Eliza posts this little smack:

Who.....is.....this wack-a-doodle chick performing on #SNL..? Whaaaa?

Heh. Eliza gets a minor downgrade for even watching SNL, which hasn't been funny since the 70s. But she's still the bomb:

If you're interested, here's the clip of one of Lana's two performances that night. Bonus points if you can make it all the way through. I could not:

Rule 5 Monday -- Sophie Marceau

In honor of my New Year's resolution to break out the Rosetta Stone software and finish my french lessons, today's Rule 5 submission is lovely French actress Sophie Marceau.

Beginning acting at the age of 14, Sophie's done 38 films to date (according to her Wiki profile). I'm assuming like most Americans, I came to notice her in Braveheart and then later on in the Bond flick The World is not Enough as the more than a little psychotic Elektra King. Which for Bond flicks, was a pretty dynamic role. In my humble opinion.

She had a delightful moment on the red carpet a couple of years back, where her two shoulder dress decided to become a one shoulder dress. She laughed off the exposure with style.

The following pics have some decidedly nsfw action going on, because you know how casual the French are about nudity.

combien merveilleux!

*click on the thumbnails for full-sized images*

Rule 5 Sunday suggested by this.

Hat tips:
Jake Finnegan
The Daley Gator
The Classic Liberal
Say Anything Blog
Proof Positive

Well, the playoffs are set now

For the AFC, it'll be the Patriots vs. Ravens, and in the NFC we have the Giants vs. 49ers.

I was sorry to see the Broncos get dumped out, especially with such a one-sided drubbing. I don't like all the grief that Tebow's been taking from . . . pretty much everyone, everywhere, and I would have like to have seen him advance or at least lose the game in a squeaker.

Oh well.

Happy to see the 49ers back in it. Where the heck did they come from?! Last time I was thinking about them, they were stinking up the league. Now . . . playoffs! Cool!

Don't understand how the Giants are in there. They just don't seem that dominant to me. But apparently they are. They beat the Packers pretty convincingly.

And the Ravens . . . when Ray Lewis retires, I'll think about liking them.

So, I'm not sure if it's a good thing, but I've got someone to root for and someone to root against in the playoffs . . .

My perfect scenario is a Patriots v 49ers Superbowl.

Now if only that can come true . . .

Late night hotness . . .

It's the exquisite set design that gives the final product that certain something . . .

Late night hotness . . .

And now a word about the nuanced art of product placement...

The Bucs have a job opening

Yesterday, the ownership of the Buccaneers gave head coach Raheem Morris his walking papers.

The day after a lopsided loss to the Atlanta Falcons gave the Bucs their 10th straight loss to end the season 4-12, the Glazers finally woke up and relieved Morris of his coaching duties. Also in the purge was the entire coaching staff of the hapless team.

I'm sure the sportswriters at the newly renamed Tampa Bay Times will organize an #OccupyOneBucPlace protest to vent their frustration over the ownership doing what they, and most fans thought, was the best thing for the team.

Surprisingly, one person who didn't lose his job was GM Marc Dominik, which sort of shows that despite local writers plaintive whinings, the blame fell solely upon the shoulders of the coaches whose job it was to coach, instruct, gameplan, and lead this team.

Supposedly, the owners are going to conduct an exhaustive search for a new head coach, with no time table to obstruct them. We'll see how that goes, because the local sports tools will be droning endlessly about how if a coach isn't brought in by such and such a date, the upcoming season will be a disaster.

Raheem Morris was the defensive backs coach for seven years with the team and head coach for the last three. Don't want to see anyone lose their jobs in this economy, but with his record as head coach, he didn't deserve to remain at the helm of this team.

Thanks for what you've done, sorry it didn't work out Raheem. Good luck in your future endeavors.

Now lets find a coach who knows what he's doing, okay guys?

Rule 5 Monday -- xoxo Leah

With Sunday being the hangover holiday, Rule 5 is bumped to Monday this week, and we have the amusingly named xoxo Leah for your viewing pleasure.

Now with a name like that, I don't know why I didn't immediately reason that she would be a porn star, but . . . guess I'm just naive like that. Anyway, here she is in all her nsfw glory.

*click on the thumbnails for full-size images*

Rule 5 Sunday suggested by this.

Hat tips:
Jake Finnegan
The Daley Gator
The Classic Liberal
Say Anything Blog
Proof Positive

Bucs end the year on a low note

The Tampa Bay Bucs lost the final game of the season to the Atlanta Falcons 45-24. The game wasn't even as close as this nearly two-to-one score would suggest. The Bucs stunk from the outset, allowing the Falcons to score 42 unanswered points.

Josh Freeman, the Bucs qb, ended the day going 31-45 for 274 yds and two touchdowns, which will have local sportswriters pulling his bronze bust back out and labeling it for the Hall of Fame. Problem is, that the majority of these points came against Atlanta's second and third string defense playing prevent.

I've said it repeatedly, the problem with this team is coaching. Plain and simple. Freeman has regressed, the penalties, lack of ball control, and lack of discipline are all hallmarks of a team with no leadership. Either within or from the top. Broadcaster John Lynch, a former Buc, pointed out what I said earlier, that head coach Raheem Morris cut or traded all the veteran leadership off the team and the results are showing on the field and in the standings.

There's still no firm basis to insist Freeman is a franchise qb. The supposed dominant de's are injury prone and haven't played a full season yet. The db's can't cover and the purportedly speedy receivers can't get open or hang on to the ball.

Morris, via his vision and re-imagining of this team, has turned the Bucs into one of the worst teams in the league. The 10-6 record last year, posted against teams with a losing record, has turned this year into a 4-12 record more indicative of their standing against the league.

Three years in, and the team is worse off than when Raheem Morris took over as head coach. If that's not a reason to change coaches, I don't know what is.

Hey Glazers! I'm a fan. I pay the bills for this team. Are you listening?!