Keanu Reeves, Elder Statesman

I promised a while ago on Twitter that I'd break down that Keanu Reeves article in Details for y'all. Well, I stood in a CVS to read the brief article, and then I found out the article is online! Duh! Anyway, the gist: Keanu isn't stupid, stupid!

I've been saying this for years. (Granted, my opinion was suspect, as I did and still do find Keanu to be quite lovely in the looks department.) And now, as Keanu gets older, settling into the over-40 crowd of actors, he's trying to break away from those young guy action roles of yore. We at Pia Quarterly say "Good for you, Keanu!"

I think the elder statesman tactic is a good move for our Keanu. It's working for Brad Pitt, whose route was to take on a few esoteric roles and not care if the box office makes any money. It's art for art's sake! Keanu's route may be slightly more blockbuster-ish, with the upcoming The Day the Earth Stood Still.

"The Day..." may be a transition movie for Keanu. It gives him a chance to do what he does so well — playing the not-so-human human roles or aliens outright. After "The Day ...," Keanu is to be seen in "The Private Lives of Pippa Lee." More indie-ish indeed!

Back to the Details magazine article. They talk about submarine sandwiches! That's so Keanu-as-a-normal-guy! They talk about books! Ding! Ding! Ding! That, ladies and gentlemen, is the move towards the elder statesman image. Not just any old books — the mammoth Remembrance of Things Past! They talk about Allen Ginsberg!

I welcome the change. Hopefully, he'll also reveal how zen he is soon. That's one of my theories too. Bring on Professor Keanu!

Stumble It!

Keanu Reeves, Elder Statesman

Orson Welles Via Pinky & The Brain

This audio sync of Orson Well's "Every July, Peas Grow There" with the episode "Yes Always" from Pinky & The Brain makes me laugh every time. The audio alone is priceless, and quite often you'll find me saying, "You're losing your head ..." Enjoy!

Stumble It!

Orson Welles Via Pinky & The Brain

America Unchained!

So, here's the scoop. When you shop locally, with independent businesses, the money goes back into your local economy for 3.5 times longer than it would if you'd spent that same money at a big, sprawling chain. On Saturday, November 22, the folks behind America Unchained hope you'll agree to shop that way for the entire day.

I have to say that the greatest appeal of shopping locally is the human element. I remember when I was in grade school. I ate at this local deli practically every day for lunch. It was called Piro's. Mr. & Mrs. Piro were so wonderful to both my brother and I. Mrs. Piro eventually let me eat my lunch behind the counter, and she would cut my sandwiches for me whenever I got the wires on my braces tightened. You don't get that kind of experience at a big chain.

As Mr. Rogers used to ask: Who are the people in your neighborhood? Get to know them this Saturday!

Stumble It!

America Unchained!

Stamp Out Ignorance (Or Everything Muslim Isn't Related to Terroism)

I don't know why I let morons get to me. But sometimes it happens. I try to remember what my mom told me when I was little: "Not everyone is as smart as you are, honey." How right she was! This year, I've had enough though — at least in regards to the Eid stamp.

Every year, some genius (please infer sarcasm) decides to send out an old email protesting the Eid postage stamp that was introduced by the U.S. Postal Service in 2001. These scholars then proceed to encourage people to boycott the stamp because of all the horrible things that Muslims have done to America. "Muslim" is a big term, people! "Muslim" is not a country. And, at the most basic level, let's recognize that not all Muslims are extremists or terrorists. Just like, you know, all Christians are not idiots or right-wing or extremists, etc.!

The description of the EID stamp from snopes.com:

The Eid stamp commemorates the two most important festivals — or eids — in the Islamic calendar: Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha. On these days, Muslims wish each other "Eid mubarak," the phrase featured in Islamic calligraphy on the stamp. "Eid mubarak" translates literally as "blessed festival," and can be paraphrased as "May your religious holiday be blessed." This phrase can be applied to both Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.

Gee, how nefarious! Blessings during a holiday season! Whoa! Anywho, to protest the stupid protest, I'm going to buy the Eid stamp and use it on all my correspondences. I encourage you to do the same!

Stumble It!

Stamp Out Ignorance (Or Everything Muslim Isn't Related to Terroism)

Over Easy! The Egg Came Before the Chicken!

The age-old question of which came first the chicken or the egg had finally been answered by scientists! The winner? The egg. For all those who took bets, let me repeat that: the egg came first!

Short version: A meat-loving dinosaur — that's right, dinosaur — had a nest a long, long time ago on the beach. Water rose and Mama Dino split. Evolution happened et voila, the egg as we know it today.

"The egg came before the chicken," Darla Zelenitsky, a paleontologist of the University of Calgary in Alberta, said. "Chickens evolved well after the meat-eating dinosaurs that laid these eggs."

So, there you have it. Science, sunny side up!

Stumble It!

Over Easy! The Egg Came Before the Chicken!

In Which We Recall Teen Angst Via Paul Carrack

I think I was about 16 when this song came out. Maybe? Anyway perfect song to dedicate to your ex. Looked for it on iTunes and couldn't find it. Paul Carrack sang this ditty terrifically -- "Don't Shed A Tear" from his solo album, One Good Reason. And the video is awesomely '80s!

In 1972, Paul Carrack wrote and sang on "How Long" as a member of the group Ace. He also sang "Tempted" by Squeeze and was a member of Mike + The Mechanics, where he sang on their hits "Silent Running" and "The Living Years." He had 2 more Top-40 hits on his own — "One Good Reason" and "I Live By The Groove," which was written by Eddie Schwartz, who co-wrote "Don't Shed a Tear" with Rob Friedman. Full circle!

Sample lyrics:

Cab fare to nowhere is what you are

A white line to an exit sign is what you are

All that I saw in you, now I see through



Don`t shed a tear for me

My life won't end without you

Long as the night will be

The sun will rise without you



A locked door on a candy store is what you are

A slim chance in tight pants is what you are

All that I loved you for, I wanted more

Stumble It!

In Which We Recall Teen Angst Via Paul Carrack

Jason Lewis Has Domino Effect on Charity

One of our faves, Jason Lewis, attended the 2008 Hollywood Domino Tournament Benefit at the Edison Ballroom in NYC to raise money for the Art of Elysium charity which helps encourages actors, musicians and artists to use their time and talent helping seriously ill children.

We love when Jason (Mr. Lewis if you're nasty) gets all dolled up for charity. In June, he attended the exclusive Butterfly Ball fundraiser benefiting Chrysalis, a Los Angeles-based organization that helps homeless men and women find jobs and homes. Also in attendance at the red carpet event were Piper Perabo, Ali Larter, Salma Hayek, Rose Byrne and Elton John’s partner David Furnish.

(Picture by: Richie Buxo / Splash News)

Stumble It!

Jason Lewis Has Domino Effect on Charity

So Sweet: Haggen-Dazs Helps Honey Bees

I'm proud of the team over at Häagen-Dazs for jumping in to save the honey bees with a very cute and informative campaign about Colony Collapse Disorder. Many people and publications have forgotten about the still unsolved condition that has caused a dramatic increase in honeybee colony losses. I know news cycles are short, but without the honey bees, mankind is lost — yes, they're that important!

Häagen-Dazs is donating a portion of the proceeds from the sale of its new vanilla honeybee flavor ice cream to fund research to find out what exactly causes CCD. And if that's not enough to lure you to the site, they have the cutest application with which you can make your own bee!

Help save the honeybees! Long live the honeybees! (Not the band from Gilligan's Island, either — even though they were groovy).

Stumble It!

So Sweet: Haggen-Dazs Helps Honey Bees

More Than a Feeling!

I was just reminded of this great Scrubs (soon to do its final season on ABC) episode, in which Turk joined the hospital air band. The first clip is his "audition." The second ... just the band's brilliant performance! More than a feeling ...

Stumble It!

More Than a Feeling!

Dear George,

I'm breaking up with you. I should have done it four years ago, but part of me was still charmed by your goofy grin and those wiggly eyebrows. Still another part of me was convinced that your stupidity was just an act. Wrong! But now, I've come to my senses, and I've got a new boyfriend. His name is Barack Obama; he's cool and wicked smart.

That said, you need to be out of the House by January.

~ America

Stumble It!

Dear George,