All week long all I have heard about is Miley Cyrus and her Vanity Fair photoshoot. From everything I have heard, Disney is not happy at all about her posing for that one particular pose. They have made it very clear that the star of “Hannah Montana” did something terribly wrong. Just about every pundit in the industry has barked about her parents, or “handlers”, or Annie Leibovitz, and Miley Cyrus has begun backpedaling because of Disney’s disapproval.

I miss Walt Disney. Not the company. The man. I bet he is turning somersaults in his grave knowing what the company is up to these days. The Walt Disney Company and the executives who run it are nothing but a bunch of hypocrites with no respect for the youth of the world. In fact, in my opinion they aren’t much better than child pornographers.

Why would I think such a thing? How could I compare them to child pornographers? It’s pretty simple when you look at the photos that accompany this article on TMZ.

Apparently Disney uses underaged models clad only in lacy, sexy lingerie to market their products in China. So why is it okay for them to support such racy ad campaigns but act completely “shocked” and “surprised” by the photo of Miley Cyrus?

The answer is simple. It’s easy to exploit cute, attractive, underage models that no one knows. It’s not so nice to see your major cash cow doing the same thing is it? Especially when you know parents nationwide will be phoning, faxing, and emailing in complaints the moment they see Miley in the satin bed sheet.

Disney makes a boatload of money from the Hannah Montana brand, and that is the only reason they have feigned shock at the actions of Miley Cyrus, her parents, her handlers, and Annie Leibovitz.

Shame on you Disney.

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I received an email from Gizmo today. Gizmo5 is a wanna be replacement for Skype that, to be honest, doesn’t work nearly as reliably as Skype. I still receive email from them because I signed up to use their service many months ago when Vinny and I were having trouble with Skype during our podcasts. We ended up sticking with Skype, and I haven’t really given much more thought to Gizmo. To be honest, I didn’t like their service before I received this email. Every call I placed with their service had low quality, and it took several attempts to place the calls in the first place.

Click the image to view it full size.

According to their email, if I install Gizmo5 on my phone or my computer, I can vote 25 times for my favorite American Idol contestant with just one call through Gizmo. Is it me, or are they admitting to gaming the American Idol voting system? If you or I use our phones to call, we register just one vote. How does Gizmo get 25 votes in to the system with just one call? That sounds a little bit fishy to me.

More importantly, however, is the fact that they are actively recruiting international calls, which are prohibited by American Idol. They are actively endorsing cheating while promoting their product.

Do you live outside the United States? Now you can vote too. The show blocks international calls, but by using Gizmo5 your calls will go through and your votes will be counted!

Not only are they gaming the voting system on American Idol, but they are trying to engage international viewers to use Gizmo5 to place their votes and bypass the fact that such calls are prohibited by American Idol. I wonder how the producers of American Idol will view this? I think it’s pretty sad when the only way you can promote your product is to encourage people to use it in an unethical way.

While I find it very natural for any company to try and attach themselves to the American Idol popularity train, I also find it disgusting that they are trying to do so by breaking the rules and encouraging people to cheat while doing so.

It’s clear they are trying to appeal to the international market by giving international users a reason to try their service. It’s also clear where they stand on ethics as a company, and I’m certainly not going to lose any sleep while boycotting Gizmo.

[Crossposted at The Alligator Pit]

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Kate Phillips, who played mostly supporting roles on Broadway and in more than 50 films in the 1930s and ’40s and who later was a co-writer of the 1958 horror film “The Blob,” died on April 18 in Keene, N.H. She was 94.

The death was confirmed by Lawrence Benaquist, chairman of film studies at Keene State College. Mrs. Phillips, known during her acting career as Kay Linaker, taught at the college from 1980 until two years ago.

In 1956, while working with Theodore Simonson on the script for a movie that was supposed to be called “The Molten Meteor,” Mrs. Phillips referred to the giant jellylike creature from another planet that had plopped into a field outside of a small town as “the blob.” Overhearing her, the producers changed the name of what became something of a cult classic.

…

Her husband died before her. She is survived by a son, Bill, of El Cerrito, Calif.; a daughter, Regina Paquette of Keene; and four grandchildren.

In July 2003, Mrs. Phillips traveled to Phoenixville, Pa., to celebrate the town’s annual Blob Fest. As always, hundreds of B-movie fans raced out of the Colonial Theater, re-enacting the panic caused by a gelatinous creature in a scene filmed there almost five decades ago.

Rest In Peace, Kate.

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This whole story is a complete waste of time.

Miley Cyrus took part in a photo shoot for Vanity Fair. At the time of the shoot, she said the photo looked artsy and she loved it. Miley’s family (or her “handlers”) were with her on the shoot and everyone involved loved the results.

Now, parents are complaining to Disney and because of this, Miley is backpedaling on the whole issue. Only now is she “embarassed” by the photoshoot.

Miley Cyrus is taking issue with a photo of herself that’s going around, and it’s not another amateur, truth-or-dare Internet snapshot — it’s the handiwork of Annie Leibovitz.

“I took part in a photo shoot that was supposed to be ‘artistic’ and now, seeing the photographs and reading the story, I feel so embarrassed,” Cyrus said Sunday in a statement through her publicist. “I never intended for any of this to happen and I apologize to my fans who I care so deeply about.”

The photos, appearing in the upcoming issue of Vanity Fair, were taken by Leibovitz, a renowned celebrity photographer whose edgy, silver-toned portraits have included subjects such as Angelina Jolie, Scarlett Johansson and a naked, pregnant Demi Moore.

This is ridiculous.

First of all, it was ridiculous for Vanity Fair and Annie Leibovitz to conduct a photoshoot of a 15 year old clad only in a silk sheet.

Secondly, it was ridiculous for Miley Cyrus, and her parents (or “handlers”) to agree to participate in a photoshoot of a 15 year old clad only in a silk sheet.

Everyone involved knew this photoshoot was going to have an adverse effect on her “G-rated” image. If they didn’t, then they are all a bunch of morons.

On a sidenote, every article I have seen about this issue claims it is a topless photo. While I admit it appears she is not wearing a top, you can hardly call it a “topless” photo.

Miley Cyrus knew exactly what she was doing. So did her parents (or “handlers”). She can’t be Hannah Montana forever, and she doesn’t want to get stuck in the “child actor” genre for the rest of her life, so it only makes sense that she would eventually want to be seen as a little more “grown up”.

Again, the matter is ridiculous and a total waste of everyone’s time. Anyone with a good pair of eyeglasses can see that.

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Joy Page, the stepdaughter of Jack L. Warner, a president of the Warner Brothers studio, who made her film debut as a Bulgarian newlywed in “Casablanca,” died on April 18 in Los Angeles. She was 83.

The cause was complications of a stroke and pneumonia, said her son, Gregory Orr.

Born on Nov. 9, 1924, in Los Angeles, Ms. Page was the daughter of the silent-film star Don Alvarado (also known as Don Page) and Ann Boyar, who married Mr. Warner after she and Mr. Alvarado divorced.

…

Besides her son, Gregory, she is survived by her daughter, Diane Orr, and her half sister, Barbara Warner Howard.

Rest In Peace, Joy.

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Here it is almost 4 am and I am still sitting here at the computer. Well, I lied. I am actually sitting in the recliner, surfing the web, checking email, and now posting this entry, from my Nokia N810. I sure love this little device and it makes my life so much easier. I should be sleeping by now, but for some reason my brain just won’t shut off tonight.

Most nights, I get tired around 2am, sit and watch some tv and am asleep long before 3. Normally, I wouldn’t need to worry about participating in a sleep study because I can sleep just fine, that’s never my problem.

My doctor did recommend that I take part in a sleep study a couple years ago, however, because of my acid reflux and other breathing issues I was having.

Since then, I have lost over 30 pounds and I am no longer suffering from the adverse affects I was experiencing before. If I didn’t lose the weight I would have found myself at a sleep disorder center taking part in a sleep study to see what they could do for my breathing. It’s amazing. I was one of the lucky ones that could control my sleep disorder by eating better and taking care of myself.

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If you’re as angry as I am about Jimmy Carter meeting with terrorists, take a moment to visit the site linked below and sign the petition to support the CARTER Act.

Former Democrat President Jimmy Carter met with the terrorist organization Hamas last week despite requests from the Bush administration not to interfere in Middle East peace negotiations.

Jimmy Carter hugged a leading Hamas official at a reception and laid a wreath at the tomb of deceased Palestinian terrorist Yassar Arafat.

Heading the Hamas delegation in Cairo were Gaza leaders Mahmoud Zahar and Said Siyam. “This meeting is a message to those who don’t recognize Hamas’ legitimacy as a movement,” Zahar said.

…

Knollenberg has introduced the Coordinated American Response to Extreme Radicals Act (CARTER Act), which would prohibit any taxpayer dollars from being directed to the Carter Center. The Center has received at least $19 million in federal taxpayer funds since 2001.

They also want to revoke his passport, which isn’t such a bad idea. Someone who acts the way Jimmy Carter has lately shouldn’t be allowed to travel abroad. They could get someone killed. Oh wait, he already did!!!

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice warned him not to talk to terrorists and what happened?

While he was hugging the leaders of Hamas, swapping personal Mid-East stories, Hamas launched the biggest attack in five years, and killed three soldiers. This happened just hours after Jimmy Carter announced that Hamas was willing to live in peace, side by side, with Israel. This was a lie, we all knew it. Even Hamas came out right afterward and said, “ummm. no”. They have no intention of recognizing Israel.

Help stop Jimmy Carter from acting as a propaganda tool for terrorists. Send letters to your Senators and Representatives today. Someone has to stop him for God’s sake.

On a side note, did his brother ever enter alcohol rehab? Do we know if he ever really had a problem? I can’t remember.

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Basketball and Flower Tables Recalled by Avon Products Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard; Sold in Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands

These were actually made in Peru, not China. Go figure. But then again, it’s not like it’s a toy that your children are going to touch everyday, so the Chinese probably outsourced this one.

Wal-Mart Recalls Charm Key Chains Due to Risk of Lead Exposure

I understand this one had to be recalled due to the risk of lead exposure, but the fact that it was discovered because parents allowed a 9-month old child play with it really disturbs me. Who let’s their 9-month old child mouth charms like these?

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