tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63331652024-02-08T00:15:30.225-05:00The AllenBlogWhat's up in the news, what's up in pop culture, and what's up in my life.
Formerly known as "The Allen Report" site from 1998-2004.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger318125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333165.post-43461547013033158812015-12-31T11:19:00.002-05:002015-12-31T11:19:57.439-05:00
By the time I click on "Publish", 2016 will have already arrived in some parts of the world. Without further ado, I bring you...
The Top 15 Things That Were Trending in 2015
15. Selfie sticks (note to seniors: they don't double as one of those grabber thingys)
14. "Back To The Future's" prediction about the Cubs winning the World Series not coming true this year (which explains that Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333165.post-45696608263176475082015-12-30T11:02:00.002-05:002015-12-30T11:02:45.537-05:00
Part 2: Entertainment and Pop Culture
From "Star Wars" to "Jurassic World"; from "Empire"s and another royal baby being born to a former Olympic gold medalist telling the world, "Call me Caitlyn"; and from saying "Hello" again to Adele to bidding David Letterman adieu...2015 in the world of pop culture had us whipping and nae-naeing on Periscope!
It was a lackluster 87th Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333165.post-11615772647015020352015-12-29T11:01:00.001-05:002015-12-29T11:01:44.986-05:00
What pops into our minds when we look back at 2015? Was it the series of mass shootings and terrorist attacks that had the world on edge? The "anything goes" race for the White House starring a billionaire, a former First Lady, a doctor, and several politicians? The fact that gay marriages are now official in every state in the union? The possibilities were endless in those last 52Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333165.post-29138620151965122102015-09-22T10:29:00.004-04:002015-09-22T10:29:54.416-04:00Hello, everybody! Yes, it's been months since saying those words, and why? I've been mega-busy with tons of things (work), including ending my annual Sexiest Woman of the Year poll after 15 years.
But enough babbling; we begin first up with the 67th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, in which streaks ended and history was made. HBO's "Game of Thrones" got its first Outstanding Drama, beatingUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333165.post-82694657057060183442015-02-23T15:59:00.000-05:002015-02-23T15:59:03.203-05:00"Birdman" flies away with Oscar Gold!Hello, everybody. "Boyhood" was coming into the 87th Annual Academy Awards on Sunday as the odds-on favorite; but in the end, Best Picture of 2014 belonged to "Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)" which, along with "The Grand Budapest Hotel", walked out of the Dolby Theatre with four Oscars apiece. "Birdman's" other wins were for Cinematography, Original Screenplay, and Director (Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333165.post-19957256245194783652015-02-20T13:57:00.000-05:002015-02-20T13:57:17.090-05:00Hello, everybody. Well...Punxsutawney Phil is right again: Winter is halfway over, and there's still proof in many parts of the country, especially here in the South.
For the last few weeks in a row, we've been pelted with a deep freeze that made us wish we were in Hawaii by now; wind chills even went to as low as -20 in the Midwest areas. One Minnesota town even hit a temperature that I was Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333165.post-51309819397709045942015-02-02T23:47:00.000-05:002015-02-02T23:47:03.118-05:00Patriots deflate the Seahawks!Hello, everybody. Not even the fallout of "Deflategate" couldn't stop the New England Patriots, as they put that controversy to bed as only they could: by doing their job and dethrone defending champions the Seattle Seahawks 28-24 in Super Bowl XLIX Sunday. Seattle was on the verge of hoisting their second straight Vince Lombardi Trophy with a last-minute touchdown and 20 seconds left in the gameUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333165.post-33159460495524054032014-12-31T12:10:00.001-05:002014-12-31T12:10:45.394-05:00
As I'm doing this, 2015 has already arrived in Australia and Japan, so let's get to this before it heads our way. It's...
The Top 15 Things That Were Trending in 2014
15. Abigail Breslin attempting to sing (Hey, Rebecca Black called. She wants her gimmick back.)
14. "Utopia" (Hey, "Big Brother" called. They want their gimmick back.)
13. Brock Lesnar ending The Undertaker's winning streakUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333165.post-61207668427228941092014-12-29T23:29:00.000-05:002014-12-29T23:29:22.814-05:00
The Year in Pop Culture
A major movie studio's hacked e-mails forcing a controversial film about killing the North Korean dictator being temporarily pulled...George Clooney officially off the market while Brangelina finally marries...the late night landscape continuing to shift on both coasts...Jennifer Lopez and Nicki Minaj paying ode to the backside while Kim Kardashian bared hers...one ofUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333165.post-82467561632564994472014-12-27T13:29:00.002-05:002014-12-27T13:29:38.448-05:00
It was the year when the whole world faced fears of a virus you couldn't get from a computer.
The year when terrorism got a whole new crISIS of its own.
The year when police unrests in the East and West had Rodney King turning in his grave.
The year when the public voted the Republicans back in the Senate and Honey Boo Boo out of our lives.
The year when "Guardians of the Galaxy"Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333165.post-10570748532234086052014-08-28T22:03:00.000-04:002014-08-28T22:03:30.916-04:00Hello, everybody. As we're doing this, a newsflash: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were finally wed in a private ceremony last Saturday in France. This was Pitt's second marriage (Jennifer Aniston, anyone?) and Jolie's third (Jonny Lee Miller and Billy Bob Thornton), and one that we weren't expecting after seven years together.
Now...it was a good night for "Breaking Bad" as the 66th Primetime Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333165.post-47888308663435961062014-06-27T21:28:00.001-04:002014-06-27T21:28:44.391-04:00Hello, everybody. Boy, it's been months, but what has been up in my life? A new job here in Atlanta, of course (and in the very high-end Buckhead district)! But other than that, scores of things going on, starting first up with -- you guessed it -- the World Cup.
Group play in the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil has already ended and we're now into the next phase: Win or go home. And in the case Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333165.post-36527328473477150032014-03-03T12:11:00.001-05:002014-03-03T12:11:57.040-05:00Hello, everybody. We'll get to the Oscars in a moment, but I should start with the serious news up front.
First up...the continuing conflict in Ukraine, as the United States and its allies are left with a decision to bolster their missile defense systems in Europe. Secretary of State John Kerry will be heading to Kiev on Tuesday to meet with the Ukrainian government while calling on Russian Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333165.post-27070814929666945772014-02-28T22:42:00.002-05:002014-02-28T22:42:51.672-05:00Hello, everybody. I'll get to my Oscar preview in a bit, but first up, the latest on Young Hollywood's bad boy and a relocation:
Now other than Keshia Knight Pulliam, I can't think of any other major celebrities that call Atlanta home. But soon, you can add Justin Bieber to the list as he has reportedly purchased a home in the exclusive Buckhead area, which has been dubbed the Beverly Hills of Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333165.post-51574330045818048112014-02-03T19:47:00.003-05:002014-02-03T19:47:49.423-05:00Super Blowout for Seattle!Hello, everybody. In what was one of the most lopsided finishes in history, the Seattle Seahawks ran circles around the Denver Broncos 43-8 in Super Bowl XLVIII Sunday night. Fueled by their powerful defense, linebacker Malcolm Smith was named the game's MVP, giving the Broncos' Peyton Manning the worst defeat of his career.
A blowout Super Bowl like this has also resulted into blowout ratings. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333165.post-92982371555610182014-01-27T19:05:00.000-05:002014-01-27T19:05:01.079-05:00Hello, everybody. They had to do it a little early to avoid the Super Bowl/Olympics crush, but the 56th Grammy Awards on Sunday was dominated by crushing wins and not-that-crushing moments.
Daft Punk and Pharrell Williams (who with his fedora was named Arby's honorary Employee of the Year) claimed the most with five Grammys including Album of the Year for "Random Access Memories" and Record of Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333165.post-72507973617138623402014-01-13T10:59:00.004-05:002014-01-13T10:59:49.690-05:00Hello, everybody, and welcome to our first blog of 2014. The road to the Dolby Theatre began in Beverly Hills on Sunday and the 71st Annual Golden Globe Awards, where "12 Years A Slave" (Drama) and "American Hustle" (Musical/Comedy) took the top film honors and setting things up for the ultimate showdown on March 2.
Matthew McConaughey picked up Best Actor-Drama for "Dallas Buyers Club" (which Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333165.post-50195469128058773182013-12-30T18:31:00.000-05:002013-12-30T18:31:00.960-05:00
As we speak, it's the next-to-last day of 2013 while in Australia, it's already the last day of 2013. So without further ado, I present to you...
The Top 15 Things That Were Trending in 2013
(15 because I couldn't think of 20)
15. The Cronut (The Cadillac of baking wonders. But who wants to plunk down $40 for a croissant/donut hybrid when Krispy Kreme has one cheaper for about $4.25)
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333165.post-1966289284023592232013-12-28T12:49:00.000-05:002013-12-28T12:49:25.175-05:00
The Year in Pop Culture
The top keywords throughout 2013 in the world of pop culture were "twerking", "selfie", and "sharknado"...all not necessarily in that order. But in between all those, lines were blurred, lionesses roared, royal babies on opposite sides of the Atlantic were born, and we've experience a dynasty which right now appears to be quacked away. That, or a coked-up Canadian Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333165.post-12683984780350816142013-12-26T09:43:00.000-05:002013-12-26T09:43:28.228-05:00
The AllenBlog's
It was the year when a highly-anticipated healthcare website got a low-speed rollout.
The year when twerking outnumbered Harlem Shaking 45 to 2.
The year when one girl was on fire while another sputtered out of control.
The year when "Iron Man 3" and "Gravity" soared to new heights, while "The Lone Ranger" and "The Fifth Estate" fell rock bottom.
The year when Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333165.post-66773943690237633612013-11-11T23:21:00.001-05:002013-11-11T23:21:14.606-05:00Hello everybody, and welcome to my first full blog since moving from the coldness of Fairbanks, Alaska to the warmth of Atlanta, Georgia (though for the last month or so, Winston-Salem, North Carolina has been my "home") in late September.
And we begin first up with the aftermath of the devastation caused by Typhoon Hayian in the Philippines. With its 147-mph winds and a massive 20-foot Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333165.post-90865172551473986382013-09-27T16:06:00.001-04:002013-09-27T16:06:28.076-04:00Farewell, Fairbanks!Hello, everybody.
Well...here we are. After spending most of my life here for a total of 25 years, this is my last day in Fairbanks, Alaska. Late night tonight, I'm leaving here for the final time for my new digs in Georgia. More on that in a bit.
But I am blessed and proud to have grown up here since 1983. I started my education at Joy Elementary, started my love for technology at Barnette Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333165.post-70055678463344639122013-09-23T13:02:00.001-04:002013-09-23T13:02:29.066-04:00Hello, everybody. The 65th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards reached seniority Sunday night with a few junior wins. AMC's "Breaking Bad" (in its final season) picked up Outstanding Drama Series, beating out "House of Cards" and last year's winner "Homeland", which earned Claire Danes back-to-back Lead Actress honors over sentimental favorites Kerry Washington and Connie Britton. "The Newsroom's" Jeff Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333165.post-59220928973383288872013-07-21T00:24:00.000-04:002013-07-21T00:24:16.638-04:00Hello, everybody. I know it continues to be very, very hot in many parts of the country, so consider this to be a cool-off.
We begin first up with the controversial acquittal of George Zimmerman in the shooting death of Trayvon Marton, which went down last Saturday and resulted in some supposedly peaceful protests turning more than that...at least in California. Jurors found Zimmerman, an Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333165.post-13488249111380217062013-05-25T03:53:00.003-04:002013-05-25T03:53:44.418-04:00Hello, everybody, as we're about to head into Memorial Day weekend.
We begin first up with devastation in the Heartland, as a category EF5 tornado nearly wiped the entire town of Moore, Oklahoma off the map leaving 24 dead (seven of them children) and the damage bill at $2 billion. President Obama will visit the area on Sunday, as this was the second time a tornado left Moore in ruins with Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0