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Worth Knowing: Seriously... this is not okay...

This story is pretty new, and I think it is definitely worth knowing. However, I mostly just want to gripe. I don't have much to say about this, because either you agree with me or you don't. However, if you don't agree, you're stupid. Here are the facts as I understand them.

Today, in Mississippi, Itawamba County school district's board decided to cancel this year's prom. The reason - a female student wanted to wear a tuxedo and attend the event with her same-sex date. The ACLU became involved and gave the school board until yesterday to change it's policy. The day passed with no comment, but the board eventually released the following statement: the school board would not host the event "due to the distractions to the educational process caused by recent events." Furthermore, they stated "It is our hope that private citizens will organize an event for the juniors and seniors. However, at this time, we feel that it is in the best interest of the Itawamba County School District, after taking into consideration the education, safety and well being of our students."

Curiously, no mention was made of the ACLU, or Constance McMillen, the student involved. it would appear that the School Board would rather punt on the question than deal with the repercussions of enforcing its rules. McMillen also suggests that the action is retaliatory, as many of her peers would fault her personally for the cancellation. Whatever the case, this blogger supports Constance McMillen in her desire to assert her rights.

Constance McMillen, 18

The entire Associated Press article can be found here: Miss. school prom off after lesbian's date request

Almost Worth Knowing: What dirt and germs are your keyboard hiding?

Is your keyboard dirty?
Do slimy, invisible germs on your keyboard concern you?
Have you ever wanted to clean it, but just wished there was an easier way?

Well, now there is!

Seal's new Shield Silver Surf Antimicrobial Wireless Multimedia Keyboard and Laser Mouse Combo are Dishwasher Safe and Help to Wick the Germs Away!

Get one today!

I wonder - Do your hands get cleaner as you use it?
"Kids! It's time for dinner - Go check all your email - even the SPAM!"

Almost Worth Knowing: A Proposal for a Better Abbreviations

Yesterday was Valentine's Day, as I'm sure some of you know, and I received a number of texts wishing me a happy one. However, in the furtherance of our society's infinite laziness, most texts simply read "Happy V Day!" Well, I suggest we shorten that message even further. Especially in honor of those individuals who went out and spent last night drunk with a random someone special - Happy VD!

Almost Worth Knowing: P&G's new ad campaign...

Well, it's that time again, everybody. The Olympics are back on, and I guess I owe my faithful readers some interesting coverage.

To begin, I was watching the Opening Ceremonies tonight, and I suddenly heard "... also brought to you by P&G - Proud Sponsors of Moms." I immediately Googled it to see if I heard correctly. I did.

... not my mom...

P&G, more commonly referred to as Proctor and Gamble, is responsible for such companies as Braun, Bounty, Crest, and Gillette, among others. Curiously, P&G also once produced such classic works of American Soap Opera as As the World Turns, Guiding Light, and The Young and the Restless, though The Young and the Restless is the only soap still produced by the company.

Instead, P&G now sponsors your mom...

... which means that P&G "will help Team USA moms get to Vancouver as part of the 'P&G Thanks, Mom' program. P&G has committed to help defray the cost of travel and accommodations so that the mom behind each and every Team USA athlete can share their child's Olympic Winter Games experience." You can read more about it here.

Ultimately, it's all kinda interesting... but I bet P&G is supporting a lot more moms by continuing to produce The Young and the Restless.

On another note, I'd like to pay my respects to the Georgian Luge Athlete, Nodar Muaritashvili, who died today. It's a sad story. For those of you who are in the know, I almost tried luge myself just the other day. Seriously, this kinda casts a dark shadow over my Olympic aspirations.

Almost Worth Knowing: The Future of Animal- Referencing, Rhymed, Farewell Phrases

Too long have reptiles dominated the Rhymed Farewell Catchphrase Scene. Since I was a kid (and I'm sure since long before that) it was common knowledge that, when a person says "See you later, alligator," you reply "In a while, crocodile." Well, I say no more.

I've come up with a list of phrases referencing other phyla in the animal kingdom.

Good-bye, Magpie
Peace out, Rainbow Trout
Keep it real, Slimy Eel
Farewell, Madame Gazelle (the use of madame is ensure proper rhythm... obvi...)
Time to embark, Monsieur Aardvark (this is a great response to the previous phrase, and vice versa)
See you soon, ya Big Baboon
and my personal favorite - Take care, Panda Bear! (Koala Bear should be used when addressing Australians)

A quick search of the phrase "Take care, Panda Bear" returned a page that further had the following lines:
See you soon, Racoon!
Ta ta for now, Moo Cow!
Stay sweet, Parakeet!
If you wish, Jelly Fish!
and
Out the door, Dinosaur!

I really like the last one. Moreover, while "If you wish" is not a good-bye phrase, I imagine it still works as a response to somebody who is saying good-bye to you.

Well, that's all I've got for now. There are still a few farewell phrases without an animal counterpart, such as "gotta go" and "gotta run." Maybe you can come up with some more? Take it as a challenge. Good luck, 'cause I've been thinking about this for days... and "Gotta Go, Hippo" just sounds kinda funny.

On a different, but similar note - don't you think "Good-bye, Samurai" has a nice ring to it?

Almost Worth Knowing: A term best left in the last millennium

This April, many of us will, yet again, fill out a census form. In the United States, a census is conducted every ten years and, as a part of that, residents of the United States (citizen and non-citizen alike) are expected to include information such as race. While this same question (and term) has been included previously, it comes somewhat as a surprise that this year, Americans again have the option to be identified as "Negro."

The term Negro comes from the Latin base niger meaning black. It is also the word for black in Spanish, Portuguese, and ancient Italian. Prior to the civil rights movement, Negro was actually the polite term to use in reference to Black people, superseding the term "colored." However, the term fell out of favor, largely due to the fact that it was associated with the long history of slavery, segregation, and discrimination that treated African Americans as second class citizens, or worse. Today, it still exists in historical references as well as in the names of older organizations such as the United Negro College Fund.

Another place it can be found is Question 9 in the upcoming Census 2010 (one option for racial designation is "Black, African Am., or Negro"). The US Census Bureau has been criticized in several media publications for reviving the controversial term, with members of the public calling the word improper and unnecessary.

In the US Census Bureau's defense, however, the term "African American" was added to the form in 2000, catering to that political notion. Similarly, the term "Black" was added in 1970. Before that, the only racial signifier found on the form was "Negro." Logically, one might assume the antiquated term would be eliminated now that it has fallen to disuse and has been replaced by more politically correct terms. The US Census Bureau justifies their decision to retain the term, however, stating it is a term of inclusion and "Many older African-Americans identified themselves that way, and many still do. Those who identify themselves as Negroes need to be included." Personally, while I do not feel strongly that the term should be removed, I find the purported reasoning to be silly and think the term could easily be retired without affecting the accuracy of Census results. I doubt that there is a significant number of individuals remaining who consider themselves Negroes, but would not also be able to identify as Black or African American.

Then again, perhaps I'm wrong. All I know is that I've been waiting years for a box marked Oriental. This April, I guess I'll just have to check "Other."

Almost Worth Knowing: Conan O'Brien Leaves NBC

Though I'm sure this is not news to anybody, Conan O'Brien has left NBC, the company where he was employed, writing for SNL in 1988, to his brief stint as the Tonight Show host this past year. Time Magazine says that O'Brien went out with class, and I have to agree. The last episode ended with O'Brien shredding his axe, while Will Farrel sang and played cowbell, putting on a truly epic and ultimately fitting rendition of Freebird, the classic song by Lyrnyrd Skynyrd. Ben Harper, Beck, and Max Weinberg (of course) also joined him on stage. If you didn't get to see the last episode, you can see it here: The Tonight Show: Episode 146.

Also, as part of my duty in relating useless information, check out this interesting Taiwanese Animation summarizing the Late-Night War. It's sub-titled, but I wonder if it might not be more fun to watch without the sub-titles.

Finally, I'd just like to say that I hope Conan comes back soon. I have many fond memories of late nights in college, when I would stay up with my roommate long enough to watch Late Night with Conan O'Brien as it aired for the second time. I honestly mean it when I say that TV as we know it wouldn't be the same without him.

Answers: On a side note, I issued a challenge two entries (and an eternity) ago. Congratulations to Katie for getting 1 point. The answers are as follows:

"Whenever you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth." - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (spoken by Sherlock Holmes)

"The truth will set (make?) you free." - The Bible (John 8:32)

"The pure and simple truth is rarely pure and never simple." - Oscar Wilde

"Truth is more stranger than fiction." Mark Twain (often misquoted as Truth is stranger than fiction)

"A lie told often enough becomes the truth." - Lenin

Almost Worth Knowing: Everybody's In It...

... and I'm pretty sure that even you can find someone worth liking in this film.

Seriously, you have to check out the ensemble cast in the upcoming movie, Valentine's Day.

The cast includes: Taylor Lautner, Bradley Cooper, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Biel, Jessica Alba, Jennifer Garner, Julia Roberts, Ashton Kutcher, Taylor Swift, Emma Roberts, Topher Grace, Patrick Dempsey, Jamie Foxx, Joe Jonas, Eric Dane, Shirley MacLaine, Queen Latifah, Christine Lakin, Carter Jenkins, George Lopez, and Hector Elizondo.

Some of these actors need no introduction, while others are familiar faces, though you may not recognize them by name. Eric Dane, for instance, is one of the main characters on Grey's Anatomy (interestingly featured here with Grey's Anatomy co-star Patrick Dempsey). On the other hand, there are two actors on this list (Christine Lakin and Carter Jenkins) that are completely unknown to me.

Though I doubt I will see this in theaters, YouTube commentators had these things to say (and they may just change my mind): "this is the biggest famos onsomble cast in history." and "I have really grown to like chick flicks. They concern themselves with a sharp scrpt and the relationships between characters, rather than special effects and explosions."

Wait for Valentine's Day to hit theaters this February.

Almost Worth Knowing: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as the Tooth Fairy?

As I was leaving the subway station this morning, I passed by the following poster advertising the upcoming film, Tooth Fairy, starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson in the title role.

That's right, The Rock is playing the Tooth Fairy

The film is coming out on 1/22/10. Needless to say, I'm excited. Moreover, a quick Google search showed that 20th Century Fox is also running another poster print, as follows:

Most importantly, these two posters have opened my eyes to a whole new world of possibilities: puns formed by replacing the word "truth" with "tooth" in popular quotations. Besides the title of today's entry, here are a couple of others I came up with:

"Whenever you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the tooth."

"The tooth will set (make?) you free."

"The pure and simple tooth is rarely pure and never simple."

"Tooth is more stranger than fiction."

"A lie told often enough becomes the tooth."

Maybe you can come up with some others? In any case, I'll also post the trailer for the film below. I wonder how Julie Andrews and Billy Crystal got roped into this one.

Almost Worth Knowing: Best Blurb... in Recent Memory...

I was surfing around my Netflix today, when I saw a movie entitled Samurai Princess... I thought to myself Samurai? Possibly Cute Chick? I'm down. I clicked it... and then I saw the description.

Let me say that this might be the strangest movie blurb ever. It doesn't make me want to see it... but I'm still strangely drawn... Here we go! I give you Samurai Princess:

When 11 of her friends are raped and murdered, leaving the Samurai Princess (adult video star Aino Kishi) the only survivor, she becomes infused with her comrades' souls. Transformed into an android, she sets out to avenge their deaths.

Okay, so let's recap: 11 girls are raped and murdered... leaving the Samurai Princess (that's her name) and she's played by an adult video star. Then she becomes infused with their souls. Then she becomes an android. In case you were wondering: "Dai Mizuno co-stars as the princess's human partner in this Kengo Kaji-directed gore fest that features breast grenades, detachable chainsaw limbs, deadly guitar riffs and more."

Wikipedia has a good plot description, too: "The story takes place in future, where people live side by side with sophisticated mechanical dolls. However, as the dolls become increasingly intelligent, they rebel against the humans, causing widespread death and destruction. In an effort to save mankind, an insane scientist creates a female ninja doll equipped with eleven types of built-in weapons."

Curiously, you wouldn't think they were talking about the same movie, except for the coincidence of the number eleven, and the fact that wikipedia makes reference to her being a female ninja (like samurai) doll (like android). Hmm...

Finally, I want to point out that the first movie reviewer on Netflix has this to say: "Sword-fighting, cannibalism, arterial spray, bad special effects - and that's all before the title sequence. Samurai Princess is ridiculous."

Yes... ridiculous... Well, if anyone interested, feel free to rent or stream from Netflix and let me know how it goes...