FAILING MISERABLY AT THE VH1 "WORLD SERIES OF POPULAR CULTURE"

Our team (Big Fun) didn't make it past the first round (the written test) at the Orlando try-outs for the VH1 "World Series of Pop Culture."

I personally did not know Shakira's name was Arabic for "graceful" something or other.

We did get to spend the rest of our evening galivanting through Unviversal Studios' many genre-specific and ethnic-based nightclubs: the Latino club, the reggae club, the Irish pub. I half-expected to stumble on a tavern playing all Greek music and, next, a Japanese massage parlor. Where were the bagpipes? Scottish people party. I'm not going to be sated until every nationality is represented at Universal.

TWO-THIRDS OF THE JAM?

According to this article on Billboard.com,

http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003547305



two-thirds of the legendary late 1970s/early '80s British pop group The Jam (bassist Bruce Foxton and drummer Rick Buckler) are reuniting. The one-third not particpating is lead singer and guitarist Paul Weller - the Jam's principle songwriter.

That's idiotic. Like serving a cafe latte without the coffee.

Any Jam fans out there? Would you pay to see a line-up sans Paul Weller?

LET'S NOT EXHAUST THE BALD THING,

but here is the link to a funny website about bald male celebrities who wear wigs, toupees, hair pieces, and bad comeovers.

http://www.moviestar.nu/articles/baldmoviestarsenglish.html

In short, these famous men -- including Ben Affleck and Ed Norton -- have lost (or are losing) their hair and trying deperately to fool you.

OTHER FAMOUS BALD PEOPLE

The brouhaha over Britney's baldness reminds me of several other chrome-domed celebs, including:

* KOJAK
* SINEAD O' CONNOR
* UNCLE FESTER of "THE ADDAMS FAMILY"
* NATALIE PORTMAN (for her "V FOR VENDATTA" role)
* ex-spouses DEMI MOORE (in "G.I. JANE") and BRUCE WILLIS (all the time)

ON BRITNEY SPEARS' BALDNESS:

If I hear another newscaster use the kooky pun "Britney Shears" one more time, I'm gonna lose it.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, YOKO ONO

The intrepid Yoko Ono celebrates her 74th birthday today.

QUOTE

"The equation of truth-telling with betrayal is one of the more powerful ways to promote silence."
-bell hooks