Saturday, September 25, 2010

Hello, everybody. There's a whole lot of ground to cover, so consider this blog to be my 32nd birthday gift to you. First up...

As I broke it to you on Tuesday, $1,281 was announced by Gov. Sean Parnell as the amount for this year's Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend, down only $24 from last year's $1,305 payout. And for the first time, both direct deposits and checks will be distributed on October 7, but with our economy once again in the dumps with the elections near, some of us might put our spending plans on hold.

While we're on the subject of elections, Sen. Lisa Murkowski is continuing her do-or-die quest to keep Joe Miller and Scott McAdams at bay in her write-in bid. Since launching it last weekend, Murkowski has regained support from those who had mistakenly voted for Miller in last month's primaries. Okay, we'll admit it: we did that just to test Lisa's nerve temporarily. And in other good news: Murkowski has regained her post on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

But next week, the Tea Party Express will be on the prowl here to ensure Miller will take over Murkowski's seat for good as they'll be launching a new campaign. In other words, they are out to destroy everything in their path, and we don't want that to happen. As for McAdams? He's pretty much the only person sitting back and enjoying all this...for now.

Former Gov. Sarah Palin, who's leading the charge for Joe Miller, is these days leading a different charge for daughter Bristol as far as "Dancing With The Stars" is concerned with David Hasselhoff suddenly being the first to pack his shoes and go. With the rest of this season's lineup including "Brady" Mom Florence Henderson, basketball player turned actor Rick Fox, reality sexpot Audrina Patridge, former NFL star Kurt Warner, Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino from "Jersey Shore", and R&B singer Brandy among others, they're doing whatever it takes to be the one show that will finally dethrone "American Idol" (even with new judges Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler joining Randy Jackson) as the season's #1 show. But now that the Hoff is off, I'm now pulling for the Fox.

Meanwhile, Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore are trying to pull their marriage together as "Star" magazine published a bombshell report about Ashton and alleged mistress Brittney Jones exchanging some sexy text messages and even having a one-night stand with the actor. On Thursday, the couple put those rumors to rest as they appeared at the Clinton Global Initiative conference in New York on a very serious front: jumpstarting their "Real Men" campaign against child sex slavery.

Before they married each other, Ashton and Demi had a slew of lovers before: Ashton, January Jones and the late Brittany Murphy; Demi, marriages to Freddy Moore and later Bruce Willis. As for Jones? We have learned a few details about the 21-year-old, that she's a gold digger who has fallen out with the mother and sister and likes to party hard.

In other words, she was out there to break up a now five-year marriage. To borrow a title from one of Demi's films, it was an indecent proposal that may have been backfired.

And last but not least: Once upon a time, it was "C Is For Cookie". But now in the case of Katy Perry, Cookie Monster's famous anthem should be "C Is For Cleavage!"

A remix of "Hot & Cold" featuring Elmo that Katy did some time ago has been pulled from an upcoming broadcast of "Sesame Street" because parents have complained about Katy showing a little too much on the chestal area. However, the video is already a worldwide hit on YouTube, and it was quite a way to cap off an incredible summer for Perry with her new album "Teenage Dream" topping the charts and her impending nuptials to Russell Brand.

Personally, I don't see anything wrong with the video, as "Sesame Street" over the last 40 years has had celebrity guests interacting with their Muppet characters. And after all...except for Bert and Ernie, aren't Elmo, Big Bird, and others totally nude?

By the time this blog is put to bed, Katy will have appeared on "Saturday Night Live." But as far as this latest controversy is concerned? I guess "Sesame Street" will no longer be brought to us by the letters T and A! So long and stay strong.

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Hello, everybody. Four weeks after losing in the primaries to Sarah Palin-backed "Tea Party" candidate Joe Miller, Sen. Lisa Murkowski showed the true meaning of perseverance as on Friday night, she has launched a second chance write-in campaign in the hopes of preventing Miller and Democratic candidate Scott McAdams from taking her seat.

With "Let's Make History" as her battle cry, Murkowski spoke to the crowd at the Dena'ina Civic and Convention Center in Anchorage and with $1 million left in campaign funds, it ain't going to be easy as Miller and now Christine O'Donnell are riding in a wave fueled by Palin following Tuesday's primaries.

But even though the endorsements for Miller have been locked in, does Murkowski still have what it takes to pull it off? In 1954, Strom Thurmond's write-in campaign won him the U.S. Senate seat in South Carolina; but Robin Taylor's didn't get him the Alaska governor job in 1998, losing to incumbent Tony Knowles.

It was also that year we started filling in the ovals as our voting system went from punch cards to Accu-Vote, meaning the fastest results possible. In the case of Murkowski, it'll be all about writing in her name (spell it M-U-R-K-O-W-S-K-I) and filling in the oval.

We Alaskans made a mistake in voting for Joe Miller a few weeks ago and I think it should be rectified. I hope on November 2, it won't be deja vu as it'll be Miller vs. Murkowski: Round 2. If only Lisa could afford Michael Buffer to get us pumped for it...

The NFL season is already underway, but there was one story away from the field that has made more headlines than the games themselves: A sexy female sportscaster in the center of a sexual harassment scandal.

Ines Sainz, a reporter for Mexico's TV Azteca and former beauty pageant contestant, claimed that while interviewing quarterback Mark Sanchez, she was subjected to catcalls and verbal harassment by several New York Jets players because of the way she dressed as well as a coach throwing footballs in her direction. Team owner Woody Johnson issued an apology to Sainz, while the Jets in their season opener were walloped by the Balitmore Ravens 10-9 on Monday.

You know, looking at some of the pics of Sainz, she has a backside that could rival Kim Kardashian. But as far as her recent drama is concerned...well, I guess she has or hasn't heard of a certain person named Erin Andrews. Maybe Ines could take a few pointers from her next time when she's on the field.

As I said on Monday, Oprah Winfrey kicked off the farewell season of her show by taking her entire audience of 300 to Australia in December where she'll tape a couple of shows from the famed Sydney Opera House. Now we've learned more details as the Australian government is footing the $2.8 million bill.

Oprah coming Down Under was the shot in the arm, as slumping global economies have crippled tourism industries around the world including Australia. But you know...since the 1980's with Men At Work and later "Crocodile Dundee", America has had a fascination with Aussie pop culture, with words like "G'Day" and "vegemite" becoming part of our lexicon. Australia has also bred some hot lookers like Nicole Kidman (who was actually born in Hawaii to Australian parents), Russell Crowe, Kylie Minogue, and Hugh Jackman; Kidman and Jackman co-starred in 2008's "Australia" which was a box office success. Oh, by the way, Kidman was also the Sexiest Woman of 2001 winner.

Anyway, Oprah will have plenty of company when she comes to Australia near the end of the year, and with John Travolta in the Qantas cockpit while spending almost a day in the air, you can't go wrong. Get the vegemite and didgeridoo ready!

And last but not least: The new season of "Dancing With The Stars" begins Monday, and since taking part last season, Kate Gosselin has continued to keep busy with raising her eight kids solo...while bettering her body at the same time!

In the latest "People" magazine out now, Kate showed off her new figure, all thanks to staying away from any plastic surgery possible. As far as her love life is concerned? She's still 100% single, but my younger brother Lawrence is already taken. But like it or not, her 15 minutes of fame has already been extended, and even though Oprah offered the ultimate Australian adventure of a lifetime, Kate Gossein is already the ultimate MILF. So long and stay strong.

Monday, September 13, 2010

Hello, everybody. In a span of two weeks, the Nokia Theatre in Downtown Los Angeles has played host to the Primetime Emmy Awards and Sunday's MTV Video Music Awards, aka The Night Everybody Went Gaga for Lady Gaga as she collected eight Moonmen including Video of the Year for "Bad Romance"...all while changing outfits three times including the now infamous "meat dress" that had PETA going gaga themselves...with envy!

Justin Bieber got Best New Artist, while Rihanna took time out from shooting her first movie "Battlefield" in Hawaii to return to the mainland to open the show with Eminem. Bieber and Taylor Swift also performed in their first VMAs; Swift, a year after Kanye West almost made her night sour. And speaking of Kanye...nah, I won't go there.

I will go there on the white carpet fashions, especially by Katy Perry, Audrina Patridge, and Ciara. And what about Cher? At 64 years old (yes, 64!!!!), you talk about early promotion for "Burlesque" as she dusted off that bodysuit from the "Turn Back Time" video. I was hoping it would look good on Betty White, but that would be a major turn-off.

Monday was the 25th and final season premiere of "The Oprah Winfrey Show", as Oprah pulled out the biggest surprise since that Pontiac G6 giveaway: by sending her entire audience of 300 to Australia on an eight day, seven-night trip in December! As always, the audience went nuts like if it was the end of the world.

Of course, when Oprah signs off for the final time after this season, it'll no doubt be the daytime equivalent of Johnny Carson's last "Tonight Show." At least unlike Johnny, Oprah will still be in the spotlight.

And last but not least...It is definitely no surprise itself, but next Tuesday, the year-long wait will be over as Gov. Sean Parnell will announce the amount of the 2010 Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend. Last year's payout was $1,305, and projections show this year's check may be a bit lower. I as always will have it within seconds on Twitter and Facebook, and speaking of which...I want to know what do you think the PFD will be? Hit me up on my Facebook page and I'll have some of your best guesses next time. Till then, so long and stay strong.