This or That - Blog

Has Demi Moore Gone Off the Deep End?

Jennifer Bardall — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:12:21 GMT

Remember the Brat Pack? Aww, good times.

And as the good times went on and the 80's progressed and money was collected for sub-par films (seriously, St. Elmo's Fire...snore), some of the Brat Pack had a little too much fun.

Hey, if you were good looking and were pulling down that much money? And you were young? And it was the 80's? You'd probably make a naughty video as well. *cough* Rob Lowe *cough*

Hey, if one of the guys had to make one...good thing it was him.

But it's safe to say that everyone pretty much got the craziness out of their systems. They matured. Emilio Estevez started making movies about kids playing hockey. Ally Sheedy went all indie. Even Rob Lowe turned it around, and he was supposedly the biggest mess out of anybody.

And yet...

At least one member of that illustrious group of actors has managed to totally regress.

Of course I'm referring to Demi Moore.

Perhaps she's trying desperately to hold on to her lost youth. That would explain this guy.

Perhaps she's confused by the fact that even she thinks she looks nothing like a real human being anymore, and certainly nothing like she did when she wasn't made of plastic, silicone, and hair extensions.

Seriously - does this look like the actress from Ghost?

Perhaps she's that mom who wants so much to be considered cool that she parties with her kids and their friends. You know that mom. The one who walks around, glass of wine-from-a-box in hand, slurring about how she knows you're going to drink anyway so she'd rather it be at her house and hey, does anyone wanna do some shots?

She's like one of those hideous "If They Mated" things...come to life.

In Hollywood that may be considered cool. In my neighborhood it's considered pathetic and borderline creepy.

Now Demi is in the hospital. Her rep says it's because she's exhausted. Everyone else says it's because she's anorexic and has been doing "whip-its," aka huffing nitrous oxide, aka something only stupid teenagers do. There are also reports that she has a prescription drug problem.

What do you think about Demi? Do you feel sorry for her? Was losing Ashton the last straw? Or does she just need to get over the fact that she's almost 50 and, like, middle-aged?

Are TV Chefs Responsible For Our Health?

Jennifer Bardall — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:59:42 GMT

Butter. Bacon. Cream.

What do these three things have in common? They're what makes life worth living, that's what.

And who better to share the glories of these gifts than our good friend Paula Deen. Right?

Hey y'all! I love butter! And money!

Right?

Wait, what's that? She has Type 2 Diabetes and shouldn't be cooking that kind of food anymore? And she's a greedy monster for making a deal with drug companies, all the while shilling her fat and calorie-laden food to the masses?

Mmmm. Trans fats.

If you feel that way, you're not alone. There has been a deluge of backlash in the wake of Deen's announcement of her health issues. For years, people have questioned how bad her health must be if she eats the sort of food she prepares on her Food Network shows. Deen herself has addressed these naysayers, claiming in the past that her cholesterol was just fine despite the speculation of her critics.

Of course, she never mentioned Diabetes but then again, no one asked, did they? *wink*

Her harshest and most vocal critic, Anthony Bourdain, has basically reacted as if Deen just murdered a million fuzzy kittens. On Twitter, he announced that he was going to go into the leg breaking business and start selling crutches.

Of course, the man's a former hardcore drug addict and smokes like a chimney (and, having spent much of his cooking career in a French restaurant, probably melted his own fair share of butter when he was actually cooking and not making a career of being snarky and judgmental), but it's easy to criticize others and forget your own bad habits. Right?

I used to cook.

If you feel that Paula's health and habits have nothing to do with the general public, you're not alone there, either. She has always been the first person to urge moderation, reminding critics and fans alike that she doesn't eat big, fatty meals three times a day - and neither should anyone. After all, just because you know a recipe doesn't mean you need to make it all the time.

And doctors haven't found definite link between a high-fat diet and Diabetes. It would be easy to blame Diabetes on diet alone but there are other factors like age and activity levels that go into the equation. It just so happens that Paula wasn't exactly active anywhere but in front of the stove, is over 60, and is a smoker.

Okay. So she threw a ball once.

But Americans have never been much for moderation or for taking responsibility for their own choices. So it's easier to blame a TV cook than to put down the fried chicken and go out for a walk, for God's sake.

After all - if you can watch the Food Network, you can also watch Dr. Oz. Don't act like nobody told you better.

Seriously. I'm disappointed in you.

Which NICK Show Do You Miss More: All That or Clarissa Explains It All?

Robert Seitzinger — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 19:39:05 GMT

So I'm channel surfing and boom, All That hits my screen and I am amazed at how powerfully watching a skit featuring Repair Man-Man-Man-Man hearkened me back to my childhood, a golden era of Nickelodeon TV that featured this youth-oriented skit show. Musical guests such as Coolio, Aaliyah, and Blackstreet ruled the mid-1990s, and the show launched careers for Kenan Thompson, Kel Mitchell, and Amanda Bynes, among others.

All That had that awesome theme music from TLC...how much do you miss this?

Then an episode of Clarissa Explains it All came on, and the nostalgia cup floweth over. Melissa Joan Hart as a sassy teen was relevant material for many a youthful watcher, the pre-Internet kids in suburban homes who wanted dull, if a bit wacky, family characters they could relate to. No musical guests here, but the dramedy (mostly comedy, though with some heartfelt scenes sprinkled throughout) had varying success over four seasons.

Not even Clarissa could explain why someone made a 13-minute loop of "nah nah nah-nah-nah" and "way cool."

Which of these former NICK shows was/is your favorite? Cast a vote and comment to let us know!

Titanic 3D: Worth the Update or Waste of Time?

Robert Seitzinger — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 23:44:23 GMT

Titanic is the ultimate cinematic vehicle for its actors, director, producers, screenwriters...hell, it's likely that even the staff accountants and caterers won some awards and have enjoyed an ensuing 15 years of career successes and royalties.

3D is the ultimate cinematic vehicle for polarizing audiences. Though popular with audiences and a growing number of directors, there is a Facebook page dedicated to denigrating the medium, and Christopher Nolan, the man behind the Batman Dark Knight reboot and such films as Inception and The Prestige, has been noted as refusing to use the gimmick in his work.

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the film's namesake ship setting sail, a 3D release is planned on April 6 of this year. What is your take on the 3D release of the film that spent more than a decade atop the list of highest-grossing films ever? Is this just a greedy ploy by James Cameron, an effort to make a fresh generation of teen girls weep for Jack and Rose? Or does the film's cinematic prowess justify a second release in a third dimension?

Young Mom Kills Intruder: Is Murder Ever Justified?

Jennifer Bardall — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 20:42:20 GMT

Social media and news outlets were abuzz recently with the story of an 18-year old mom in Oklahoma who, when armed men were breaking into her house to steal her deceased husband's medication, took the advice of a 911 operator who told her to "do what she had to do" in order to protect herself and her baby. So...she did.

What she did was shoot one man in the torso with a shotgun once he stepped foot into the house. He was pronounced dead at the scene. This girl is being lauded as a heroine, a bad-ass, for defending herself and her child this way. Meanwhile, the man's accomplice is being charged with murder due to his part in planning the home invasion.

Of course, this isn't the first time someone has been forced to kill as a last resort in order to protect themselves from an intruder. In fact, just two days before the incident in Oklahoma, a 14-year old killed an intruder (one of four intruders, in fact) in order to protect himself and his sister. Because you need four grown men to overtake two children, evidently. The kids were alone in their North Carolina home at the time. Just like in Oklahoma, there won't be charges in this case either. In fact, many states have laws which allow lethal force if a person's life and property are in danger.

Should a warning shot be fired? Should the intruder be warned that the homeowner is armed? Some people feel that they should. Because, apparently, when someone makes the choice to invade someone else's home and life (and especially when they're carrying a foot-long hunting knife and behaving threateningly), they deserve that extra consideration. We can't forget their rights. Or something.

And then there's the folks who are tired of hearing of normal, hard-working people being victimized. They cheer when they hear stories like this. They likely wish they had the guts to do something like that themselves if they were in that position. Murder is murder, after all, but in such cases it's justified. Or so those gun-happy crazies like to believe.

Whatever side of the argument you fall on, put yourself in the shoes of an 18-year old with a small baby, who just buried her husband. Two armed men are trying to break into your home. Wouldn't you wish for a shotgun of your own?

Is the Cat Man Crazy or a Visionary?

Robert Seitzinger — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 19:31:02 GMT

The Cat Man, who has received worldwide play in the media for the past few years, is a human being whose obsession with the feline lifestyle has resulted in his several surgeries to look like a cat. This includes facial piercing to support whiskers, ear pointing, the oral insertion of fangs, claw construction, and more in his effort to look as much like a cat as is humanly possible. He also includes raw meat in his diet and climbs trees, tiger style.

With all the advancements in plastic surgery, does this make him a visionary for committing to his desire to be a human-sized feline? Or is this fellow just batsh...er, catshit insane?

Go here to see a video detailing his various surgeries: http://youtu.be/LJ7zyNnEeyM

Can Porn Be Artistic, or is There No Such Thing?

Robert Seitzinger — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 22:27:10 GMT

Name one reason for the internet. Two people might say academic research and another shopping, but seven in ten are going to say porn.

Sites such as YouPorn and RedTube allow anyone with a handheld cam to share their sexual endeavors with the world. Most amateur clips give traction to the argument that porn is a cinematic enterprise with zero artistic value, that porn serves only to get viewers off, and no beauty can be seen in videos of blowjobs, female ejaculation, foot fetishism, or any other sexual activity.

However, art porn is a growing segment of sexual cinema. Viewers and performers are evolving their stance on what adult film can accomplish. More than money shots or spank material, art porn emotes and depicts honest intimacy between partners as it incorporates production value beyond the sound of grunts and moans, shaky camera work, and poor lighting.

To get a better handle on what is happening among the art porn world, This Or That got in touch with three popular names in the discussion of beautiful pornography and the adult film industry.

NOTE: Most of the links below are to sites that feature explicit images and are NSFW.

Camille Crimson brings sensuality to each of her scenes

Camille Crimson is a web admin for several art porn websites, including three that she performs for:

Lilyanne Bloom is a performer for Pornographic Love and she produces each video on the site, in addition to assuming directorial duties for some of her videos.

Sophie Delancey manages PR for each of the above sites and a blog of her life as a porn PR pro.

Each say they started in the business for different reasons and come from different backgrounds.

"At first it was because it looked fun," Bloom says. "Since then, I've learned a lot about film editing...I am now in the industry because I truly think that love and sexuality are meant to be together."

"I was a coder and my boyfriend was a photographer/videographer," Crimson says. "Independently, we had been exploring erotic videos and photography, so we decided we might as well work for ourselves, keep doing what we love and have hot sexual adventures while we do it."

"I got into the business completely by chance after finding my job advertised on Craigslist," Delancey says. "It's the ideal job for me. I've always been fascinated by sexuality and I've always thought that porn had the potential to be so much more."

Foot fetish videos are growing in popularity...just as Rex Ryan or Ludacris

When asked about the artistic value of porn, Bloom said "I definitely think that it can have an artistic value as long as there is attention to detail and the emotions depicted are true."

"Lighting, good cameras/lenses, great editing, beautiful music...it's all a part of making something meaningful in porn," Crimson says.

"Porn can be made to be so gorgeous, lush, and fantastic," Delancey says. "I guess people think of porn as low-brow by default, so most people don't aspire to do anything outside of the norm. Those who are striving for higher-quality porn are really revolutionizing the genre."

"I want to spread the message that porn can be beautiful."

--Camille Crimson

Art porn performers receive mostly positive feedback for their work, according to Bloom and Crimson.

"If people have found us, it's because they are looking for something different, so they are very positive," Bloom says.

"On an aesthetic level, people really appreciate the artistry," Crimson says. "On a personal level, people really love knowing that we're a real couple sharing our passion."

Delancey said she doesn't "work on the front lines of porn too much, but whenever I write something or do an interview, people call me smart. I like that."

Lilyanne Bloom brings intimacy and honest emotion into a business often lacking both

As for negative response, Bloom said she has only seen one negative comment and that she "took it very hard...I am very sensitive and I think it has to do with the fact that we expose our real life in our work. But the guy had a point that felt worth looking into, so I took it seriously."

"Usually negative feedback comes from people who expect really hardcore, graphic, violent sex, and they get frustrated that I'm not getting gangbanged and puking from deep throating giant penises," Crimson says. "I just tell them that's not what I do. If you're into that, you should look somewhere else."

Art porn performers also offer personal interaction with fans, maintaining Twitter feeds, blogs, YouTube channels, Facebook pages, and more. Delancey said she is "not a star, so I don't really have fans. Just well-wishers."

They all agree there are new directions in which porn can grow. Bloom said fan suggestions are a big part of her work, and Crimson said the freedom of working on her own terms make her experience in adult film industry enjoyable.

Camille Crimson runs a website dedicated to proving that fellatio does not have to be demeaning to women performing it

"The potential for creativity is boundless in porn," Delancey says. "The fact is that so few people actually try to explore those avenues, so the people who do are real pioneers. Even though it's a huge industry, there is so much room for innovation and pioneers really are recognized."

Crimson encourages viewers to contact her, saying "if you're curious about the idea of beautiful porn, check out my sites or come say hi to me on my blog or social media. I don't bite."

"I just hope that people will take a chance on finding new and innovative porn and to vote with their wallets," Delancey says. "Paying for porn shouldn't be any different than paying for dinner."

"Sexuality is made to be connected with love, and what we are trying to do with our work is reconnect this broken link in pornography."

--Lilyanne Bloom

What's your take? Leave a comment, share this story and cast your vote on art porn!

Is Web Design Getting Lazy?

Robert Seitzinger — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 09:00:29 GMT

Remember how web design was circa 2001? Me neither. A decade is a lifetime, at least when it comes to technology, and the days of Drupal, Joomla, MODx, and similarly complicated web designing applications are well over. WordPress, Blogger, and assorted other What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG) editors have replaced the need to learn code--even basic HTML--for an individual or business seeking to create and maintain a site.

Adobe Muse is a web editor that actually markets itself on the basis that no code is used. In other words, they're saying "use our product because it'll make your site pretty and you won't need to think!"--and that's a scary thought.

The difference between WYSIWYG and code is the difference between building with LEGOs and building with an Erector Set--sure, LEGOs make it easy, but it doesn't allow for fine-tuning or much difference between one project and the next. However, WordPress is a great example of an editor that blends code and WYSIWYG. Folks across many industries are using the platform to build and maintain their sites, from music composition to video game journalism.

WordPress users enjoy the customization of the platform and think Drupal is weak sauce.

Jeff "DJ Switch" Sorensen of Dangerous Kids, a podcast and blog dedicated to geek culture and video game news, says WordPress makes his life much easier than it would have been just five years ago.

"We considered Joomla and Drupal, since they had a lot of stuff available for customizing, but WP seemed the most accessible," Sorensen said. "It was easy to pick up quickly, and the more time I spend with WordPress, the more I appreciate that while it is very simple to learn and understand, it's very customizable in its own right--I'm finding less of an excuse to move away (from WordPress)."

Jim Welch of Welch Compositions says WordPress blends functionality and customization in a way that taps into his artistic depths while producing a site that is accessible, not overloading to visitors.

"My site needs to subconsciously tap into a person's emotions and learned correlations, so the person viewing my site believes the impressions they have are their own perception and I'm not placing it on them," Welch says. "When I think 'modern,' I think 'expensive' and of the art community. I never say anything about modernism, my artistry, or my cost, but I think those things are conveyed."

Blogger helps turn casual bloggers pro, while other designers aren't down with the WYSIWYG revolution.

Beyond WordPress, the recent merger of Blogger and Google has spelled success for developers seeking to make a name for themselves, even if web design is a hobby that comes second to their actual business. Crosby Connolly began The Journey Through Law School on Blogger and has tens of thousands of followers now, all interested in his take on new music and assorted updates on, well, his journey through law school in San Diego.

"Why Blogger? Because it was $10 per year and I was a newb at the time I purchased my account," Connolly says with a laugh. "Google has added in more templates for bloggers and also allows Google Analytics, which is crucial in breaking down and examining one's site...I'm very excited by it (the merger)."

Adam Brazie, web administrator for Rain City Records and a veteran of the technology industry, says he doesn't want to move over to WYSIWYG editors anytime soon, because using Adobe Dreamweaver still supports the degree of customization and functionality he requires for a job well done.

"I appreciate the digital platforms like WordPress, sure, but the methods I first learned a decade ago have evolved nicely so I go with what works," Brazie said. "When you get into SQL, PHP, or anything past HTML, WordPress loses some of its otherwise great functionality."

All things considered, is it safe to say that web design has evolved for the best? Or is creativity being curbed by the use of editors that don't require much tech savvy or training? Let us know what you think with a vote and a comment!

What You Should and Shouldn't Watch This Christmas

Jeremy Clymer — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 18:35:06 GMT

The holiday season is tough. You've got all that shopping to do, the family members to visit, the lame company Christmas parties you are obligated to attend. After all that work, all you want to do is sit back and watch a heartwarming Christmas special. There are so many of them, though. Which ones should you watch? Here are the best movies and TV specials of the holidays along with the stinkers that you should avoid.

1. How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966 TV special)

Who hasn't felt like a grump now and then? Who hasn't envied the happiness of others from afar, feeling as far removed from that happiness as one could be? We identify with the Grinch because he's a part of us, our id, and in seeing him redeemed we see a piece of ourselves redeemed. Plus, Boris Karloff's narration is just awesome. This is the sort of Christmas special that absolutely must be watched at least once a year.

Avoid: How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000 film version)

In what could charitably be described as a cynical and exploitative cash-in on the goodwill engendered by the Dr. Seuss brand, this abomination from director Ron Howard stretches out a half-hour long cartoon into an hour and a half of Jim Carrey mugging for the camera in green makeup. Did the Grinch need a back story to explain why he was such grumpy, misanthropic jerk? No, but they had to pad out the minutes somehow. So, he starts off the story as a victim of the nasty, materialistic Whos of Whoville instead of just being a cold-hearted grump in need of redemption. It's an epic case of missing the point, but that's Hollywood for you.

2. A Charlie Brown Christmas

Charlie Brown has a lot in common with the Grinch, only his unhappiness is turned inward instead of outward. The holidays can be a lonely, depressing time for some, and Charles Schulz's bald, put-upon protagonist is without a doubt the most depressed kid in cartoon history. What keeps us from wanting to open a vein when we watch A Charlie Brown Christmas, then? It's the fact that in the end, even Charlie Brown can find happiness and joy in the holiday season among his friends and family and dancing pets.

Avoid: I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown

A Charlie Brown Christmas sounded a warning against the commercialization of Christmas, and so it's more than a little ironic that in years that followed we were treated to uncreative cash-ins that dipped back into the well of Peanuts holiday specials with diminishing returns. By the time of 2003's I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown, there was very little reason left for holiday cheer in these dull, safe cartoons. Good grief.

3. Rudolph, Frosty the Snowman, The Year Without a Santa Claus (Rankin/Bass)

Rankin and Bass practically cornered the market on holiday TV specials with their animated versions of Rudolph, Frosty, Santa Claus, and other holiday characters. Starting off in claymation and eventually moving to standard animation, these cartoons varied in quality as time went on. Chances are, though, that Rudolph and Frosty in particular wouldn't be nearly as popular as they are now if they hadn't starred in their own Rankin and Bass features.

Avoid: The Leprechaun's Christmas Gold

By the time The Leprechaun's Christmas Gold came out, the Rankin and Bass holiday special machine had completely run out of steam. Santa Claus or Frosty the Snowman? Not this time. The plot of this Christmas turkey has something to do with a magical island where there's a banshee trying to steal a leprechaun's gold. If they had offered it as a St. Patrick's Day special it might not have been so baffling, but instead they threw in some dialog casually mentioning that it's Christmastime and the rest is relatively obscure history.

4. MST3K - Santa Claus Conquers the Martians

Mystery Science Theater 3000 introduced us to many, many terrible movies over the years, but few were as hilariously awful as Santa Claus Conquers the Martians. In this movie, green men from Mars abduct Santa Claus in order to cheer up their own morose children, but a couple of plucky Earth kids get caught up in the action. Painfully wacky antics ensue, and Joel and the bots are at the top of their game helping us endure the trauma.

Avoid: Cinematic Titanic - Santa Claus Conquers the Martians

Years after Mystery Science Theater 3000 went off the air, the majority of the cast got back together for a similar project: Cinematic Titanic. Seeing an opportunity to revisit a favorite, the Cinematic Titanic crew once again riffed on Santa Claus Conquers the Martians. This time, though, they watched the entire movie. It wasn't edited to fit a TV time slot. It turns out that a little editing can go a long way, because even at 84 minutes this movie feels like it goes on forever.

5. The Muppet Christmas Carol

There are many, many adaptations of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol out there, but only one or two of them feature JIm Henson's Muppets. This one also stars the always excellent Michael Caine as Ebenezer Scrooge. It may not be the most serious adaptation of A Christmas Carol ever made, but it is arguably the most entertaining.

Avoid: Watching more than one or two versions of A Christmas Carol per year

A Christmas Carol is great and all, but it's easy to get burned out on it pretty quickly. With more film versions in existence than there are hairs in Scrooge's nose, it's best to limit yourself to one or two per year. Otherwise, you're likely to come down with a case of Christmas madness.

6. A Christmas Story

Considered by many to be the modern Christmas classic, A Christmas Story is a look at the cold war-era nuclear family that is equal parts hilarious and depressingly close to home.

Avoid: Black Christmas

Director Bob Clark made one other Christmas movie besides A Christmas Story: a horror movie called Black Christmas. Considered by some to be an pioneering entry in the slasher genre, it is nevertheless not a movie to sit down and watch if you're looking for holiday cheer.

7. The Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire

This is the Simpsons episode that started it all. Introducing Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie to those of us who had never tuned into The Tracey Ullman show, The Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire kicked off what would become one of the longest-running and most critically beloved shows in prime time television history.

Avoid: Any Simpsons episode from the last decade

There was a time when The Simpsons was the greatest show on television. That time has long since passed. At some point actual stories started being sacrificed in favor of a never ending stream of painfully tired pop culture references. There's no use getting yourself upset about that fact, though, when you can just revisit old episodes on DVD.

8. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia: A Very Sunny Christmas

Of all the countless Christmas specials in existence, there's only one that features a scene where one of the main characters asks a mall Santa "Did you f*ck my mom?" and then bites him on the neck as nearby children look on in horror. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia has always delighted in gleeful perversity, but when unfettered by network censorship the results are truly transcendent.

Avoid: A Very Brady Christmas

The joke of naming Christmas specials "A Very Something-or-other Christmas" began with this laughably awful reunion of TV's beloved Brady family. It might be fun to watch ironically, but irony is so 1990s. Watch something that's legitimately funny instead.

9. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

A Christmas Story may be the gold standard for Christmas movies about dysfunctional families, but National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation ramped that dysfunction up to new, glorious heights. It may not be the most intellectual Christmas movie you'll ever watch, but it's still damn funny.

Avoid: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie's Island Adventure

Oh, you didn't know there was a sequel to Christmas Vacation? That may be because it was made-for-TV, Chevy Chase had nothing to do with it, and of course the Hollywood Assassination Machine is determined to see Randy Quaid fail and die in poverty. Stay away, or they'll come for you, too!

10. Home Alone

Home Alone is the Saw of Christmas movies, featuring a series of elaborate Rube Goldberg-like torture devices designed by a cunning young deviant to keep a pair of witless burglars at bay. It's a simple premise, but it is mined efficiently for physical comedy yuks.

Avoid: Any of the Home Alone sequels

As simple a premise as the original movie had, it is no surprise that the sequels were nothing but dull rehashes of the original. When Kevin McCallister was killed in the third Home Alone movie, the writers had a chance to take the series in a new and interesting direction. Instead, they just brought him back in flashbacks and kept doing slight twists on the same torture devices over and over again.

Occupy Wall Street: Effective Protest or Waste of Time?

Houston Slim — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 19:59:58 GMT

Despite numerous eviction attempts, the approach of winter weather, the return of the NBA, and the ongoing Kardashian saga, the Occupy Wall Street protests are still going strong. Protesters began a sit-in style protest in New York's Zucotti Park in September. Groups in other cities around the world followed suit in protesting income inequality, bank bailouts, and high unemployment. The protests have attracted attention from media outlets ranging from Fox News to Saturday Night Live.

But are the protesters achieving their goals, or are they a waste of time?

#OWS is an effective protest because:

The media coverage has increased.
What started out as a few disgruntled people in a New York park complaining about student loans and lack of jobs has now attracted the attention of major newspapers, websites, and the 24-hour TV news channels. More and more viewers are becoming aware of the differences between the ultra-rich "1 percent" and the struggling "99 percent."

More groups are joining the protest.
The #OWS movement has been much more inclusive than some other protest groups. Unemployed laborers march with small business owners. High school students join with master's degree holders. College graduates, fearful that they may never have the career they want, hold signs next to parents, who worry that their children may not have the same opportunities that they had.

The Republicans are worried.
Historians often judge political movements by the enemies they make. Frank Luntz, a Republican pollster and political strategist, gave a presentation to the Republican Governors Association about how these politicians should approach the protesters. Luntz gave the attendees a list of do's and don'ts regarding their language in an effort to hide the party's long-standing affiliation with corporate America and the ultra-rich. Here are some details on the presentation:

#OWS is a waste of time because:

They have no clear goals.
With so many different agendas represented, from marijuana legalization to the elimination of the Federal Reserve, the movement has no clear goals as to what they hope to accomplish. Their organizational structure of "horizontal democracy" and "general assemblies" is more conducive to chaos and disruption than to achieving their goals and delivering a clear message.

The protests cannot effect change.
In spite of the size of the protests and the media attention they have attracted, the systems they set out to attack are too large, too well organized, and too entrenched to change. Both big government and big banks were to blame for the financial collapse of 2008: the big banks gambled with house money and big government bailed them out. A system that manages trillions of dollars every day will not feel the impact of a few thousand unhappy protesters.

The media focuses on sensation over message.
Most traditional media outlets - which are owned by many of the multinational corporations that have been targets of the protesters - often depict the leaders as new-millennium versions of the 1960s "flower children." The people most affected by the damage done by the financial catastrophe will only see costumed buffoons and naïve idiots the media chooses to show on the nightly news, while completely missing the message.

As we approach the holiday season and the new year, the next few months will tell if the #OWS protests fulfill their potential or become less than a footnote in history.

BCS or Playoffs: Which is Better for Major College Football?

Houston Slim — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 23:08:13 GMT

For the first time in the history of the Bowl Championship Series, the national championship game will feature two teams from the same conference. Undefeated LSU still stands as the top team in the country, while second-ranked Alabama beat out Oklahoma State for the number-two slot, despite the fact that LSU beat the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa earlier this year.

Although this title game match up between conference foes is unprecedented, the controversy generated by the BCS isn't. Is the BCS really the best way to decide a national college football champion, or would a playoff system give us the true measure of a champion?

The BCS Works Because:

The game is a true #1 vs. #2 matchup.
In its thirteen-year history, the BCS system has produced only one of the dreaded "split national championships" (2003: USC & LSU). Before the inception of the BCS, the national title was split three times in eight years (1990, 1991, and 1997). The BCS championship game gives the fans what they want: a match up featuring the top two teams with a champion decided on the field, not in a computer or on a coach's ballot.

Fans, players, and schools enjoy the bowl games.
For those teams that don't get a shot at the big prize, they can still pursue their postseason dreams in any of dozens of bowl games throughout December and January. Players get to travel and play one more game to close out their season, schools receive payouts from bowl sponsors, and fans get to watch a plethora of games throughout the holiday season. A playoff structure would disrupt (and possibly eliminate) many of these bowl games.

Regular season games matter.
The biggest reason behind the support for the BCS is that it makes the regular season games count for so much more than they do in other sports. In a playoff system, a team with one or two losses could still reach the postseason and reach the championship game. With the BCS, every regular season game can dictate whether a team plays in a high-visibility game in January or in a minor bowl before Christmas.

Playoffs are Better Because:

Every other college sport has them.
When BCS apologists claim that an extended playoff season would "take study time away from student-athletes," they conveniently ignore the fact that every other college sport has some form of playoff. Men's basketball has "March Madness," baseball has the College World Series, and hockey has the "Frozen Four." The NCAA already has football playoffs for Divisions II and III as well as the "Football Championship Subdivision" (formerly known as Division I-AA). Only three reasons exist as to why schools value bowls over playoffs: money, money, and more money.

More teams can participate.
Instead of having a one-loss team shunted off to the Poulan Weed-Eater Bowl or the Beef O'Brady's Bowl, that team can play an important game and take a step closer to the national championship. The bowl sponsors can still participate in the earlier rounds of the playoffs and, with a ticket to the next round on the line, more viewers will watch for their commercials during the game.

More games, less politics.
The biggest reason to resort to a playoff system is that it's more fair than the current setup. Some teams in the "Automatic Qualifying" conferences wouldn't stand up to those in the "non-AQ" conferences, but they get a break because of their conference memberships. A playoff system would level out the competition between the "haves" and the "have-nots."

With the continuing trend of conference shrinking and realignment, as well as each conference's pursuit of lucrative championship games, the seeds of a playoff system have already taken root. Will this blossom into a money tree for schools, sponsors, and TV networks, or will BCS greed kill it before it can grow?

This or That Takes a Nosedive

Jon Kelly — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 20:31:50 GMT

Just before 8am local time this morning, the main database for This or That became unusable, taking our site down for about 4 hours. Our backup and recovery system also failed, resulting in the loss of everything that has been added to the site in the last 5 months. Unfortunately, we will not be able to restore any of the user accounts, content, or data that has not already been restored on the site.

I can only offer my deepest apologies to all ToT users, especially those who have lost ToTs, comments, votes, questions, points, or even their user account due to our technical failure this morning. We all feel terrible about what happened and, of course, we'll do everything in our power to make sure it doesn't happen again.

A Guide to Being Unemployed

Evan Morris — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 15:00:20 GMT

The economic collapse back in 2008 left many people, including me, dealing with lay-offs, high unemployment, and less jobs to go after, and even though the landscape is improving it hasn't fully recovered. People are still out of work and dealing with the pressures and stresses that come along with it. So, I thought I could help.

As an expert at all things, and having dealt with being unemployed for a decent part of the last year, I've put together a guide to help many of you through this tough time. It's just some simple tips and suggestions that might help you cope and pass the time in productive ways.

WARNING: Getting 100% Memory Synch on Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood is awesome, but not productive and will not be included in the guide.

Spend Time With Your Dog

Author's Note: If you don't have a dog, I suggest you stop reading and go get one immediately.

This is my dog Boudreaux (pronounced: Boo-dro) who was born in Louisiana and has a little bit of Cajun in him. Dogs are important to have around when you're unemployed because they are always going to be your best friend and they don't really care if you're making money or not. As long as the Purina One keeps getting served they are happy, and they give you at least some responsibility to walk and/or play with them. This is important because without any responsibility an unemployed person can quickly fall into a dangerous spiral filled with The Price is Right and ER reruns. Before you know it, you haven't showered in two days and the Ramen noodles diet you're on is starting to have some seriously negative effects on your health.

Practice Your Martial Arts

Author's Note: If you don't practice any martial arts, I suggest you stop reading and go start.

I spent a lot of my time working on my technique and training my mind and body to be one. Becoming a master is of course a life long journey, but it kept me active and busy during my unemployment. This also comes in handy if you're out at a bar and someone steps on your new sneakers, or if you're forced to move across the country for your mom's work and everyone at your new school seems to know Karate and/or Kung Fu.

Pick Up a New Hobby

Personally, I took up dog sledding, and I have to say that I became quite good at it. But if that's not really your speed, you could try anything from stamp collecting to whittling. I once whittled a life-size replica of Fatz Geronimo out of a log that fell in our yard. I wanted to get the rest of The Rock-afire Explosion but just didn't have enough wood. The important thing is to find something fun that helps keep your mind off the fact your career is currently going nowhere.

Learn Something New

Many unemployed people are using their newfound time to go back to school, which is a great idea to expand your knowledge and add more ammo to your arsenal in the fight for jobs. For some though, that isn't really an option, but you can still learn new skills that might come in useful down the road like taxidermy, quilting, or clogging.

Party

If you don't have to be up tomorrow for an interview then go let off a little steam! By making your liver and your kidneys work overtime, you will get rid of some of that unhealthy stress. I wouldn't recommend making this one a regular thing as the money you have saved up or the unemployment checks you're getting won't last forever.

And finally....

Get a Job!

What the hell are you waiting for?

In all seriousness, being unemployed is tough and constantly stressful, and if you came across this post looking for actual help all I can say is that I hope I made you laugh a little and took your mind off being unemployed for a few minutes. If I could give you one actual piece of advice, I would say that if you've ever had a dream of being an actor, fireman, writer, doctor, cowboy, director, marine biologist, soldier, mime, or any other of the millions of professions out there, and you didn't because you wanted to play it safe or didn't think you could do it, go do it now. What have you got to lose?

Romney's In, But How Far Can He Go This Time?

Wes Studer — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 19:00:00 GMT

Whether you think he's homely and earnest or just another flip-flopping, slick-haired use car salesman or robot husband prototype, you better get used to Mitt Romney because he's not fading into political obscurity anytime soon. The former Massachusetts governor is once again tossing his hat into the ever-expanding GOP presidential ring, where most polls place him as the steady frontrunner.

Like some of his fellow contenders, he made the Thursday announcement in New Hampshire, where the first primary will be held next year. Seeing as how stabilizing the country's finances rightfully remains a top priority in the minds of most Americans, Romney sidestepped the domestic, international, and social issues that helped derail his bid three years ago. He attacked President Obama instead for his "European answers" that "are not the solution to America's challenges." He added that "in the campaign to come, the American ideals of economic freedom and opportunity need a clear and unapologetic defense, and I intend to make it because I have lived it!"

Will voters see any distinction between 2008 Mitt and 2012 Mitt?

Romney went on to emphasize his business experience, his reviving of the memorable 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, and his record as governor. Speaking of which, the buzz-saw that "Captain Buzz-Kill" (to borrow a Romney nickname from Jon Stewart) continues to run into and will most likely do so throughout the campaign is the universal health care legislation that he signed into law in 2006, that helped lay the groundwork for last year's national health care act that he's vehemently criticized. His main argument regarding their difference: his "experiment" in Massachusetts was never meant to be "forced" upon the country like Obama's.

We'll see how that explanation holds up in the coming months, as the campaign season progresses. However, as long as Romney understands that "it's (still) the economy, stupid" and the nation's fiscal woes continue, his Presidential prospects should be decent. Then again, he could get "flip-flopped" to death.

5 New Careers for Shaquille O'Neal

Houston Slim — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 17:35:15 GMT

Even if you're not a die-hard basketball fan, you probably know the name Shaquille O'Neal. Whether it's from his execrable movies, goofy commercials, or his self-dubbed nicknames, Shaq has provided almost as much entertainment off the court as on it. Now that he has hung up his size 23 sneakers for the last time, we'll take a look at some of Shaq's other career endeavors away from the hardwood.

5. "Dr." Shaq

Although Shaq left school early to go pro, he has always maintained his interest in further education. He received his Bachelor's from LSU in 2000 and earned an MBA from the University of Phoenix online school in 2005. Last year, he began working his way toward becoming "The Big Aristotle": he started on a Ph.D program in Human Resource Development at Barry University in Florida.

4. MMA Fighter

O'Neal had been training at various MMA gyms in LA and Miami during his career and has become a big fan of the sport. At UFC 118 in Boston, Shaq challenged Korean kickboxer Hong Man Choi, who stands 7'2" and weighs over 350 lbs. Talk about "Goliath vs. Goliath"!

3. Rap Star

Although his mic skills may never measure up to Jay-Z or Eminem, Shaq "Diesel" can drop rhymes with some measure of competence. Now that he has more time to devote to honing his writing and performances, he could make for a strong opening act for a major MC.

2. Law Enforcement

As if he wasn't dangerous enough with his bare hands, he can now carry a billy club, a taser, and a sidearm. Shaq has also been a reserve police officer in both LA and Miami. He helped arrest a man who threw a bottle and yelled gay slurs at a passerby.

1. Pro Wrestler

Larger than life physique? Check. Outsized personality? Check. Charisma to spare? Check. Experience in dealing with incompetent referees? Check and double-check.

Whatever Shaq chooses to do with his "Golden Years," we can count on him being entertaining -- as long as it's far away from any movie screens.

"Walmart of Weed" Opening in Arizona

Wes Studer — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 14:00:04 GMT

Apparently Arizona has a fun side too (for health reasons, that is). weGrow, the "Walmart of weed," is opening its largest outlet in Phoenix on Wednesday. It already has two outlets in California, and doesn't actually sell medical marijuana, but rather "everything" that's needed to cultivate it, and openly says that their hydroponic equipment is meant for the drug.

This outlet opened in Sacramento in February

The outlet's placement was made possible by the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act, which voters passed last November, allowing for medical cannabis, which Governor Jan Brewer signed a month later. The franchise sees a lot of potential in the store and projects that 100,000 Arizonans will acquire medical marijuana cards. The state began issuing the card in April and roughly 4,000 citizens have become authorized to use the drug since then.

So what's next for the state of overly strict immigration and failed "birther" legislation?

USDA Aims to Crush Obesity Epidemic with Flashy New Food Plate

Jason Arango — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 22:03:37 GMT

When it comes to eating, Americans aren't exactly known for showing restraint. However, you can hardly blame nutritional ignorance for our country's ballooning waistlines. Back in 1992, the USDA adopted the Food Pyramid to help educate Americans about the components of a well-balanced diet. The chart was cribbed from Denmark, where it had been published 14 years prior, and offered a simple breakdown of food groups and recommended serving sizes. It might not have been a flawless model, but it certainly offered an unambiguous stance on the frequency with which you should consume fats and sweets.

What part of "use sparingly" do people not understand?

The chart was attacked for not making the distinction between different types of fats, some of which can be a valuable part of your diet, and for promoting dietary choices that could ultimately lead to heart disease (e.g., a daily Double-Quarter Pounder would still fall under the recommended protein guidelines). However, as a basic framework it offered a reasonable starting point for educating people about nutrition.

Fast-forward to 2005. Following significant pressure from lobbyists hoping their product could get a larger stake in the pyramid, the USDA released an updated version of the Food Pyramid called MyPyramid. It was a confusing mess that removed recommended servings, added daily exercise, and encouraged people to go to the MyPyramid website to "personalize their approach." Oh yeah, and the government spent $2.4 million hiring a PR firm to put this mess together.

Well, at least it added exercise...

Unfortunately, MyPyramid was almost completely useless. It was almost as if a vague illustrative guide of how to eat didn't have much impact on the decisions Americans were making when it came to their daily habits. Now, with obesity continuing to rise, it was time for dire action, and the Obama administration stepped up to the plate with the following:

Behold, the New Food Plate!

Total cost: $2 million.

If you're thinking this seems like an absurd waste of money for an equally ambiguous graphic, you probably haven't been to the website yet. The MyPlate website includes revolutionary tips such as "Avoid oversized portions," and "Drink water instead of sugary drinks." Because everyone knows the real problem in America is that people genuinely believe ludicrously over-sized portions and 64 ounce big gulps are part of a balanced diet. It couldn't possibly be that a lot of people just don't care...

MyPlate seems about as futile as putting warnings on cigarettes, and we've essentially made a lateral move from one type of visual to another. It's almost like the PR firm took $2 million just to swap out a bar graph for a pie chart. Well done! Maybe MyPlate will turn things around and everyone will be conscientious about making sure their fruit portion corresponds with the properly sized wedge, but the more likely scenario is that a giant wedge of apple pie topped with ice cream will still be covering most of our plates.

If Arnold Can Get Away With It, So Can We; Effective Tips for Cheating

Stephanie March — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 19:00:30 GMT

Fine. Cheating is bad. You shouldn't do it, you probably won't get away with it unscathed, and you will hurt everyone involved, but sometimes our libidos take over and we can't help it. There are tons of tips on how to control yourself and not cheat, but what about those of you that are serial cheaters? Where's your help? Personally, I don't like to discriminate. I like to help all people - assholes included. So I've created a list to help the dirty whores in all of us.

Cheating is exhausting, so it's best to be prepared. Most people fail at it and get caught because they aren't doing it wisely. Often, cheaters don't take the art of cheating seriously and I'm here to change that. If you're going to commit to ripping the hearts out of the ones you once loved, at least do it right. Take note, cheaters. There are wrong and right ways to do everything, and listed below are the things that will almost ensure you can continue the illicit affair until you get bored and move on. Just don't print it out.

10. Open a Secret Credit Card/Bank Account

Please, please, please don't be the asshole that uses his debit card to buy his new fling dinner and flowers and to rent a hotel room. Please. The thing is, you will not only be spending a crapload of cash to cover up your affair, but you will be spending a ton just to keep it going. Cheating isn't cheap, and it's especially not cheap if you choose (and most do) someone who doesn't have as much cash as you do. The fling is normally with someone below you at work or the cute bartender/waitress/actress/student at your local drinking hole. The bottom-line is you will be shelling out money, and you don't want your partner to be questioning what the hell you saw at the movies on a Wednesday afternoon when you were supposed to be on a business trip. Footnote: Store your receipts at the office or in your new gym locker, and clean your pockets out before you get home, idiots.

9. Invest in a Tossable Cell Phone

If you don't want to alert your significant other to your cheating ways, you absolutely need a form of communication that they can't trace and definitely don't know about. The awesome thing about these disposable cell phones is that they are cheap, effective, and don't require contracts. A cell phone with a contract is absolutely traceable and one missed payment (it happens; you can't remember everything!) will cause a call, and the call will lead to questions, and the questions will ruin your newly, awesome sex life. Plus, most of these phones are wicked cheap and created for jerkbag cheaters (and drug dealers). YAY, technology!

8. Don't "Friend" Your Secret Lover

I don't know if it's that cheaters are stupid or just lazy, but I continually come across cheaters who "friend" their lovers on their favorite social networking site. Stop it! Someone is going to get pissed and freak out when you "check in" at the movies with your wife and BOOM! they will show up and blow your cover. Or the cheater will find it necessary to continually comment on your posts or tweets, and all that banter is sure to clue your mate in. You and your partner in crime need to come to some kind of understanding. The conversation may be a little rude and uncomfortable, but it will save you the uncomfortable "Are you cheating?" convo with your actual partner - for a while, anyway.

7. Get a Hobby

You need a solid alibi, friends. And your once-a-month book club meeting is not going to fool anyone. Now, this process needs to be a slow one. You can't just come home one night and exclaim your utter excitement to learn how to cook after years of burning eggs. Mention a conversation with a co-worker about how this hobby alleviates stress and work from there. Slowly start mentioning your growing interest in this fake chosen subject; the complete process should take about one month. Again, don't rush the new hobby and don't bring it up in a weird way. Just be casual about it. Make it all about improving yourself to improve the relationship. Blah. Blah. Blah. Trust me, they will fall for it, and when they do you'll have a couple nights a week to bang your new fling.

6. Join the Gym

No, not to get in shape for your new love, or even for an alibi - it's far too predictable for a professional. This is to have a place to keep fresh undies and have a place to clean up. My suggestion is to pick a gym that's inexpensive and close to your regular meeting place. Again, use the credit card that your partner doesn't know about and make sure that you don't take your personal stuff from your house to the locker. You will need to purchase panties/boxers that are identical to the ones you already have. This is much easier for the fellas, but for the ladies, on the days you know you'll be getting dirty with your new "special friend," just wear a simple cotton thong when you leave for the day. They are easy to replicate at Target and you can change into your sexy stuff prior to your meeting. Nobody said this was easy, kids.

5. Inform One Friend Who Hates Your Current Partner

If you're going to commit to being a serial cheater, you're going to need a consistent, reliable alibi. This is no easy task, people. Don't take this necessary component lightly. Not only must this person be a wicked good liar, but they need to be loyal and have absolutely no connection or attachment to the person you're cheating on. Preferably, this person will absolutely despise your unknowing mate. You need to rely on someone that is already in your life; recruiting someone new always makes the clueless victim suspicious. Test the waters with your good friends. Get their opinions on cheating and then choose the best one for the gig. You'll need to rely on them consistently, so choose wisely, beginners.

4. Keep Everything on One Computer

Spyware is the Kryptonite to all skilled cheaters. I don't know who came up with this anti-cheating software, but I not only loathe them, I also admire their creativity. Cheaters have to be able to outsmart the average snoopy partner. You need to always be one step ahead of them, and that requires you to have a computer that they have no access to. Cheating has been made more accessible because of modern day technology and sites like Facebook (I personally think this social network and its entire "reconnecting" people has ruined millions of marriages), but you need to use it wisely. Installing spyware takes mere minutes and can screw up months' worth of lies and deceit. My suggestion? Try cheating from a locked laptop that's always in your possession or work computer. If you're gonna cheat, you have to not only be willing to lose your money and spouse/partner, but your job as well. Don't be a scared little bitch! Do it.

3. Take Your Vitamins

This may seem like motherly advice, but trust me, you'll need energy. Lying takes a quick mind. Sex with multiple partners takes a vast amount of stamina. And not having time to eat will deplete all of your ability to do either. Your new best friends will be energy drinks and vitamins. Seriously, anything you can pop in your mouth that provides your body the illusion that it's being healthy is crucial to any serious cheater. Diet pills, although not crammed with the awesome crack they used to have, not only curb your appetite, but also give you the speed you need to maintain all the balls you have in the air while simultaneously providing you with a kick-ass bod. Buy Vitamin B and C in boatloads and you should be able to maintain the 4 hours of sleep you'll be getting nightly. A cheating mind never really has too much time to rest, people.

2. Use Protection

It seems that some people still don't know what condoms and birth control are, so let me clue you in. If you don't wrap it up, you will come home with some junk-rotting disease, give it to the innocent idiot sleeping next to you, and then be forced to tell that person that you think you got herpes from the toilet seat. They will leave you and take everything you own with them. Including your dignity. And ladies? The morning after pill is freaking expensive. Plus, it doesn't fight disease and after you finally recover from your drunken slut phase, you will definitely regret contracting HPV. That shit doesn't go away and it makes you infertile. So wrap it up and pop your pills. Nobody wants a baby from some skank they met in a bar.

1. Read Up on Effective Lying

We all have our little lying ticks. You know, the things that give us away immediately when we tell a fib. Learn yours right now. Hell, ask your spouse/girlfriend/boyfriend what they are. Make up a story about how someone thought you were lying and BOOM! they will tell you precisely what you do when you are hiding something. Work daily to stop them and do your research. Grab some books on how to be a skilled liar and practice. Practice telling lies all day, but start small. Try lying about who you had lunch with or about taking the trash out. Once you get used to it, you'll have no problem looking your unsuspecting spouse in the eye and lying your ass off. Congratulations, you cheating bastard!

15 Reasons We'll Remember "Macho Man" Randy Savage

Brian Allen — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 17:00:48 GMT

Wrestling lost a true icon May 20th when Randy "Macho Man" Savage died in a car accident. With his gravel-filled rasp, signature cowboy hat with shades, and immortal "OH YEAH!" catchphrase, Savage transcended wrestling and became part of pop culture. Here are some of the greatest moments of his legendary career.

15. Smacked Down By Spider-Man

Need a wrestler with a great look that every wrestling fan will instantly recognize? Enter Macho Man as "Bonesaw" McGraw, the one opponent of Spider-Man's brief wrestling career.

14. An All-Star for All-Time

THQ's WWE All-Stars is an arcade-style wrestling game that puts today's superstars in the same ring with legends such as Andre The Giant and Hulk Hogan. When it was time to film the commercial introducing the concept, THQ called on WWE's most acclaimed pitchman.

13. Finding a Diamond in the Rough

Wrestling veterans are tasked with helping up and coming stars become big names themselves. Written off by the WWF as being past his prime, Savage found new life in World Championship Wrestling. He revived age-old feuds with Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair, but found a new opponent in "Diamond" Dallas Page. These two brought the house down everywhere they battled and earned Pro Wrestling Illustrated's Feud of the Year in 1997.

12. Reinstate The Macho Man

Career matches are an in-joke with wrestling fans. I've lost count of how many "retirement matches" Ric Flair has lost. After Jake "The Snake" Roberts crashed his wedding, Savage made his forced retirement an important angle. Savage lobbied WWF President Jack Tunney and implored fans to do the same. Macho Man then tore it up with Jake Roberts in a feud that was classic, over-the-top WWF storytelling that included Savage getting bitten by a live cobra.

11. Savage and Flair Bring Sex Scandal to the WWF

Ric Flair and Randy Savage were TMZ before there was a TMZ. Flair's character was the ultimate womanizer. Savage was insanely jealous where his wife Miss Elizabeth was concerned. Enter Flair with doctored photos claiming he had been with Liz before the Macho Man. Two of wrestling's best turned their characters all the way up, and the matches were great as well.

10. Taming George "The Animal" Steele

It's a classic story. Gorgeous girl dates incredible jackass. Socially-challenged guy who eats turnbuckle padding develops a crush on gorgeous girl who's trying to let him down gently. Socially-challenged guy who eats turnbuckle padding gets beat up - a lot. Sorry Animal, she's just not that into you.

9. The Manager Challenge

The WWF introduced Savage as the hottest free agent in wrestling. All the popular managers of the era, including The "Mouth of the South" Jimmy Hart and Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, were battling for his services. Macho Man would shun them all, and after seeing Miss Elizabeth, no one blamed him in the least. Wrestling fans, do you miss real managers as much as I do?

8. Macho Madness

Could anyone rock shades, a pink and black checkboard suit, and a crown like Randy Savage? Macho Madness had a dual meaning. It embodied the passion wrestling fans had for Savage and the paranoid promo style that he delivered. Everybody was out to get Savage, his lady love, and his title. It's not paranoia if they really are all out to get you, right? Who else could deliver a promo with Deebo from Friday in a steel cage with a straight face?

7. Snap Into It!

You can't even think of some celebs without thinking about the products they endorse. Wilford Brimley is now immediately identified with "Die-Uh-Beetus" supplies. George Foreman is now more well-known for grilling than fighting. Randy Savage is impossible to remember without recalling his campy but funny Slim Jim commercials. The beef jerky with questionable contents never had a better spokesman.

6. Love, Macho Man Style

Yes, Randy's character was a jerk to Miss Elizabeth most of the time. But on rare occasions he would show his softer side, and the whole audience could see how much they loved each other. In true wrestling fashion, the pair had already been married when they tied the knot on camera. It was still a great payoff for one of wrestling's best romantic angles. And her response is so precious.

5. His Ultimate Challenge

Sometimes, a federation isn't big enough for two wrestlers. Then, the career match comes into play. The Wrestlemania VII tilt was a classic confrontation between two of the biggest personalities in wrestling history. It's also one of the best matches in the career of both Randy Savage and the Ultimate Warrior. The man then known as "Macho King" lost the match, but left the arena with every fan's respect.

4. The Mega-Powers Just Couldn't Last

No team composed of the two huge egos of Hulk Hogan and Macho Man could logically last for very long. That's especially true since Savage thought everybody was after Miss Elizabeth. In Macho Man's defense, he knew we couldn't trust Hogan before the rest of the wrestling world learned it. This Wrestlemania V main event is another one Savage lost, but he stole the show in the process.

3. Miss Elizabeth, the First Lady of Pro Wrestling

If wrestling is a soap opera (and it is), then Randy and Miss Elizabeth were the Luke and Laura of this form of entertainment. Her quiet and compassion was the polar opposite of his manic, paranoid, wild-eyed persona. She loved him in spite of himself, and he loved her in his own incredibly jealous way. Here she tries to stop the inevitable Mega Power implosion. You can almost see "He's going to kick your butt, Randy" in her eyes.

2. NWO - Yeah!

Vince McMahon almost made a company-ending mistake in deciding Randy Savage and Hulk Hogan weren't main eventers anymore. The pair ended up in WCW and reversed their dynamic. Now Savage (still borderline psychotic) would be the good guy while Hogan turned his back on all the fans to form the New World Order.

1. Macho Man and The Dragon Steal the Show

This match wasn't the main event of Wrestlemania III, but fans and critics alike have come to call it the best match in Wrestlemania's storied history. Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat was the ultimate hero, one of the few wrestlers who never worked as a villain. Savage was at his despicable, hateful best. According to the story, he injured Steamboat's larynx so bad, The Dragon couldn't speak. Savage, of course, reveled in this. These two were in their prime, and George "The Animal" Steele factored into the match as well.

Westboro Baptist Church Too Extreme for the KKK

Wes Studer — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 15:30:52 GMT

The Klu Klux Klan and the notoriously homophobic Westboro Baptist Church are ironically like gays and many pro-life conservatives: they're two groups that could easily work together, but one group's hatred is too extreme for any potential ally. At least that appeared to be the case on Monday before President Obama led the Memorial Day ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery.

Three members of the Topeka, Kansas-based ~~cult of hate~~ church found themselves face to face with about 80 counter-protestors, including almost 10 members of the Virginia-based branch of the KKK known as the Knights of the Southern Cross. Their objection to the church: its anti-military message and frequent protests at soldiers' funerals. The group handed out small American flags while standing behind a banner that read "POW-MIA." Their self-proclaimed "Imperial Wizard" Daniel LaBonte, who spent nine and a half years in the military, described Westboro's activity as "an absolute shame."

Natural allies right? Apparently not!

However, the same can be said of LaBonte's view that the white race is "slowly and most assuredly being denigrated." Monday's praiseworthy actions definitely don't excuse the Knights' own prejudice and bigotry, such as LaBonte's proclamation on the group's website that "today we have a foreign born usurper who along with his equally racist wife are bent upon the total destruction of our great country." At least he has the decency to respect those who died to give him the right to publish such debunked crap, a trait that WBC disgustingly lacks.