Category Archives: Pop Culture News

Nina Agdal Fills In For Kate Upton For Prom Date

May 23, 2013 8:28 pm / Leave a Comment / Joe Hummel

(PCM) Milken Community High School (in Sherman Oaks, CA) senior Jake Davidson became a YouTube sensation with his March 16 video of him asking Upton to his prom while performing tasks including pushups, shaving and shampooing his hair to the tune over well over 2.5 million views. While disappointed that the Kate was unable to attend, he said “While I would have loved for Kate to come to my prom, I understand she is a very busy and in-demand professional. I am so grateful for Kate responding at all.”

Kate Upton, after checking her schedule, was not able to accept senior Jake Davidson’s youtube invitation to his prom, but he was happy to hear that Danish model Nina Agdal, Sports Illustrated’s Rookie of the year was willing to go. The beauty told “Inside Edition,” “I picked out my dress and now I’m ready for prom!”

Nina has modeled for Macy’s, Billabong, Frederick’s of Hollywood, and Victoria’s Secret and her first appearance in Sports Illustrated was in 2012.

Prior to her declination of the invite Kate said “I’m not sure if I’ll be able to go with him or not, due to my schedule,” Upton said. “I want to, but I just don’t know if I can make it work. But I really appreciated being asked; it made me feel really great! ”

Kate is the model of the moment, starting with being SI’s Rookie of the Year in 2011.The American model is also well know for her brief ‘Cat Daddy’ dance with Terry Richardson. She was also in the 2012 Three Stooges film as Sister Bernice.

Posted in: Celebrity, Giving Back, Pop Culture News

Microsoft Unveils First New Console In Eight Years!

May 21, 2013 6:42 pm / Leave a Comment / Kristyn Clarke

(PCM) It has been eight long years since Microsoft has released a new gaming console, but that is about to change with the unveiling of the brand-new Xbox One!

The Xbox One is the successor to the ever popular Xbox 360 and will offer more gaming features than ever before! While stylistically the new system appears a bit on the bulky side, much of the new technology promised to be incorporated within the new system should hopefully more than make up for it’s less that sleek or compact size.

The entire system will be voice activated meaning you can instantaneously switch between watching TV or movies to game play, just by speaking to the console. It will also come with a brand new Kinect sensor that only takes 13 billioniths of a second to recognize you and react. You will also be able to use these gestures through the Kinect to control your various forms of media.

The systems “Snap” mode will allow users to use two forms of media at the same moment such as watching a movie while browsing the internet or take Skype calls while playing a game. The Xbox One will combine three operating systems which are Xbox, Windows, and a go-between and features an 8 core CPU and 8 gigabytes of memory.

Another new feature is a DVR included within Xbox Live that will make it easier than ever before to share clips. There will also be some big changes with the games themselves. Microsoft and EA Sports have started an exclusive partnership and there will be a new game engine called “Ignite” that showcases some absolutely incredibly graphics. There will also be a new game entitled “Quantum Break” that will somehow incorporate the worlds of both television and gaming, something we have been waiting to see for quite sometime.

The Xbox One is set to be released later this year, and definitely expect Microsoft to reveal even more details at the upcoming E3 convention next month, so stay tuned!

Posted in: Pop Culture News

Video of Moore, OK Woman Finding Her Dog Amid Devastation

May 21, 2013 6:36 pm / Leave a Comment / Joe Hummel

(CBS Houston/AP) – Barbara Garcia, a woman who thought she had lost it all found one of the things most precious to her while being interviewed on live television – her pet dog, buried alive under the rubble of her former home.

Tornado survivor Barbara Garcia was relating her harrowing tale of survival to CBS News, recalling in a deliberate voice the details of feeling her house coming down around her as the storm wreaked havoc on the area.

“I was sitting on the stool, holding my dog … this was the game plan all through the years … to go in that little bathroom,” she said, recalling to CBS News reporter Anna Werner her experience. “… I felt the stool come up out of the floor and I rolled around a little bit.”

As she surveyed the piles of broken wood and appliances around her, Garcia said that after it was over, she called for her dog, but got no reply.

She added, “I know he’s in there somewhere.”

Mere moments later, a voice off camera anxiously called out, “The dog! The dog!” And just feet behind Garcia’s legs was the dog, alive and stuck under the destruction.

Overcome with emotion, she quickly made her way to her beloved pet and, with the help of surrounding people, unearthed him from the debris.

“Well, I thought God just answered one prayer – to let me be okay,” she said, her voice choked with tears as she pet the small black dog. “But he answered both of them, because this was my second prayer.”

Emergency crews searched the broken remnants of the Oklahoma City suburb Tuesday for other survivors of the massive tornado that flattened homes and demolished an elementary school on Monday. At least 24 people were killed, including at least nine children, and those numbers were expected to climb.

CBS News reports 236 people were injured, including about 50 children.

Posted in: Giving Back, Pop Culture News, TV

It’s Tan Mom – Her NSFW NSFL Rap Music Video

May 20, 2013 11:50 am / Joe

(PCM) Its Not Safe For Lunch. Its Not Safe For Work. It’s Tan Mom’s music video “It’s Tan Mom”.

For some reason, Tan Mam Patricia Krentcil decided to record an electropop rap song entitled “It’s Tan Mom.” It’s bad on mutiple levels, music, performance singing/rap(?)

“I’m sexier than the Teen Mom – I am cool, I’m the cool one – I’m hotter than the Octomom.” are just a sample of the lyrics from the 45-year-old (and looking like a 70) Nutley, New Jersey mom’s song.

The New Jersey mother began her publicity-whoring in 2012, after she faced child endangerment charges for allegedly placing her 5-year-old daughter in a tanning booth, after her daughter told a choll nurse she went tanning with mommy.” Patricia said she believes the nurse, who then called the cops, “made the worse mistake of her life” and “should to be punished.”

She was later cleared of the charges, and brought the term “tanorexia” into the lexicon.
And don’t be surprized to hear her new catch phrase on beaches this summer – “It’s Tan Mom, Bitch!”

On one hand, I have to ask if we need to call in Big Brother every time we may have a question about someone’s parenting skills (she faced up to 10 years in prison) – the repercussions of the false claim will effect her, her family, and now, everyone who sees the video.

Like our friends at TMZ said, about her video, “It’s so bad, it’s amazing.”

Posted in: Health & Fitness, Lifestyle, Music, Pop Culture News, Quirks / Tagged: NJ

Star Spangled Banner 2013 Memorial Cup Lyric Mix Up

May 20, 2013 10:18 am / Leave a Comment / Joe Hummel

(PCM) At the 2013 Memorial Cup opening ceremonies, the crowd heard an unusual version of the United State’s national anthem. You can blame it on nerves, the excitement of singing before a large crowd or not spending enough time checking out the lyrics.

Alexis Normand, a jazz and folk singer from Saskatoon, sang much of the admittedly difficult song fairly well, but mixed up some of the lyrics in the middle, and kept on going with random phrases from the American National anthem, “The Star Spangled Banner,” until the finish. The crowd cheered her attempt and she later tweeted an apology.

It was pretty cool of the Canadian crowd to boost her along with the correct lyrics, and I have to admit it took a lot for the young lady, after screwing up to stay and finish the song. And its easy to criticize a singer for messing up a different country’s anthem. Here in the USA, with our anthem, we have many words, in a difficult to follow tempo, and to the best of my knowledge, Canada has only two words in their entire anthem – “O” and “Canada.”

The 2013 Memorial Cup will be a four-team tournament played in May, 2013. The tournament features the London Knights, champions of the Ontario Hockey League, the Halifax Mooseheads, champions of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, the Portland Winterhawks, champions of the Western Hockey League, and the Saskatoon Blades.

Posted in: Music, Pop Culture News, Sports

Celebrity Cocktail Guide 2013 – Who’s In, Who’s Out?

May 14, 2013 2:37 am / Leave a Comment / Kristyn Clarke

(PCM) Cocktails named after the rich and shameless are nothing new – what could be more decadent than the lifestyles of our favourite celebrities, after all? We’ve collected some fabulous recipes that were concocted in honour of all sorts of entertainers, ranging from David Bowie to Dita Von Teese.

We’ve mixed them up with a few imaginary cocktails that we think would be perfect for those celebrities who are perhaps past their best – can you separate the actual cocktails from our made up ones – there’s definitely a clue in working out who’s still cool and who is best left behind…

So, next time you’re at your favourite club or having a private party integrating playing online at http://www.jackpotcapitalcasino.com and want to start the evening with style, you know exactly what to offer or ask for – and what not to! You never know, if you’re lucky you might just bump into the celebs themselves sipping on their very own cocktail before they get stuck into their high rolling roulette game!

THE DAVID BOWIE

A chocolate and bourbon concoction dreamt up by the New Deal Distillery in Portland, Oregon.

Method: Stir five parts chocolate liqueur with one part bourbon and serve on the rocks with a slice of orange.

THE COINTREAU TEESE

Inspired by the sexy and talented Dita Von Teese, this cocktail is sharp, distinctive and feminine.

Method: Combine Cointreau, apple juice, violet syrup and fresh lemon juice and serve in a glass rimmed with essence of ginger.

THE MURRICANE

Created by The Anchor Bar, Soho, New York, in honour of Bill Murray who popped in for a drink once, this is apparently extremely popular – much like Bill himself.

Method: Combine fresh watermelon with basil leaves in a shaker and muddle. Add bourbon, fresh lemon juice, elderflower liqueur, along with ice. Strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with black pepper.

THE OBAMATINI

Because he deserves an ace cocktail!

Method: Add pineapple juice, gin,lime juice, sugar water and a half a Thai chili into a shaker, add ice and shake vigorously for 15 minutes. Strain into a glass and garnish with a twist of lemon.

THE BI-POLAR

Especially for Mel Gibson – back when he was not showing himself to his best advantage – the Oak Room in New York made this.

Method: Combine vodka, gin, vermouth, club soda and a splash of cocktail onion juice. Serve on ice.

RIHANNA ON THE ROCKS

Inspired by the legendarily awful relationship that is Rihanna and Chris Brown, this seductive yet sharp cocktail will make your taste buds think twice.

Method: Strain one part gin, one part vodka, one part blue curacao over crushed ice, serve in a tall glass and garnish with fresh mint.

THE PRINCE

Created for the young Jacko himself, Prince Jackson, this is a sweet treat perfect for the younger cocktail aficionados – but don’t let them have too many, it’s pretty lethal…

Method: Crush one pack of skittles, mix with two parts milk and one part absinthe. Stand well back.

LADY B

In honour of Beyonce and JayZ, this sophisticated and full bodied cocktail is guaranteed to get you shaking your booty on the dancefloor, but only the poshest and richest of dancefloors.

Method: Mix vodka with raspberry gin liqueur, lemon juice, raspberry syrup and iced tea. Top up with soda water and serve with raspberries and lemon.

Posted in: Celebrity, Pop Culture News

World Wide GMO Protest May 25, 2013

May 13, 2013 7:35 pm / Leave a Comment / Joe

(PCM) This May 25th, 2013, there will be Marches Against Monsanto held all over world, inspired by marches already held in Europe, protesting Monsanto, the primary source of genetically modified foods.

Why Are We/They Protesting This Time?

It is all about GMOs – Genetically Modified Organisims, basically foods with modified genes for human and animal consumption.

In plants, it means that they are modified to be more tolerant to hebidides and insecticides.

in animals, research in using genetically modified animal cells are creating possible cures for diseases, or even grow faster in the food chain.

Given that these new genes are, by intellectual property law, owned by the companies that created them, many people feel that not enough is known about the long-term safety of these scientifically-created foods.

Wikipedia offered a fair view of the controversy: The genetically modified foods controversy is a dispute over the relative advantages and disadvantages of food derived from genetically modified organisms, genetically modified crops used to produce food and other goods, and other uses of genetically modified organisms in food production. The dispute involves consumers, biotechnology companies, governmental regulators, non-governmental organizations and scientists. The key areas of controversy related to genetically modified (GM) food are: risk of harm from GM food, whether GM food should be labeled, the role of government regulators, the effect of GM crops on the environment, the impact of GM crops for farmers, including farmers in developing countries, the role of GM crops in feeding the growing world population, and GM crops as part of the industrial agriculture system.

There is broad scientific consensus that food on the market derived from GM crops pose no greater risk than conventional food. No reports of ill effects have been documented in the human population from GM food. Supporters of food derived from GMOs hold that food is as safe as other foods and that labels send a message to consumers that GM food is somehow dangerous. They trust that regulators and the regulatory process are sufficiently objective and rigorous, and that risks of contamination of the non-GM food supply and of the environment can be managed. They trust that there is sufficient law and regulation to maintain competition in the market for seeds, believe that GM technology is key to feeding a growing world population, and view GM technology as a continuation of the manipulation of plants that humans have conducted for millennia.

Of course, others queshat ‘we are what we eat’ and genetic modification can affect humans interanally in ways we may not see for years.

Over 60 countries, including the European Union, Austailia, Japan, India, Brazil, Russia, and even China mandate GMO labeling – but not the United states.

Labelling such products may not be such a bad idea… many people prefer to use natual sugar over high-fructose corn syrup; we must label fat content and other dietary/ nutritional information, even what country some foods are grown in.

Posted in: I Love Food, Lifestyle, Pop Culture News

‘Dark Knight’ Shooter Enters Second Not Gulity Plea

May 13, 2013 3:05 pm / Leave a Comment / Kristyn Clarke

(PCM) James Holmes, the man charged with the horrific killings at a screening of the “Dark Knight” in Aurora, CO last year, has entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity.

A previous plea of not guilty was entered on Holmes behalf earlier this year by the court, as the lawyers for Holmes were still prepping his case an not prepared to enter a plea for him at that time.

Holmes is charged with killing 12 people and injuring 58 others in the massacre that took place at the movie theater back in July of last year. He is currently charged with 24 1st degree murder counts and at least 116 counts of attempted murder, adding to the list of nearly 142 crimes in which he is charged. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty claiming Holmes deserves no mercy for the attack squashing a deal offered by Holmes’ legal team that would offer him life in prison.

The judge in the case will make the decision on whether or not to accept Holmes’ plea by May 28th.

Posted in: Pop Culture News, Water Cooler

Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Stirs Up Controversy With Exclusionary Comments

May 9, 2013 6:43 pm / Leave a Comment / Kristyn

(PCM) Ambercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries is stirring up some controversy with his recent comments in regards to the type of demographic his company would like to see shop in their stores.

If you happened to visit the stores, you will certainly notice that they do not at all carry women’s sizes XL or XXL, only catering to those women who are a size L or smaller. It is easy to draw the conclusion that Abercrombie & Fitch do not want overweight women to be seen wearing their brand. Apparently larger women just can’t be part of the so-called “in-crowd”.

Author Robin Lewis told Business Insider that Jeffries doesn’t want “larger people” shopping in Abercrombie and Fitch; instead, “he wants thin and beautiful people.”

“He doesn’t want his core customers to see people who aren’t as hot as them wearing his clothing,” Lewis said. “People who wear his clothing should feel like they’re one of the ‘cool kids.’”

The stores do offer sizes XL and XXL in men’s sizes, but only to appeal to the football player and wrestling demographic.

In a past interview with Salon, Jeffries stated that the communication between hot people is his primary marketing tactic.

“It’s almost everything. That’s why we hire good-looking people in our stores. Because good-looking people attract other good-looking people, and we want to market to cool, good-looking people. We don’t market to anyone other than that,” he said.

Jeffries also went on to tell Salon that he wasn’t bothered by excluding fat people. In fact, he said that not limiting his ideal demographic would make his clothing less desirable.

Personally I am completely saddened that these types of stereotypes continue to exist and angered that Jeffries has absolutely no shame about his idiotic ideals. Women today have a constant struggle with body image and it is deeply alarming and disappointing that companies like this one continue to thrive. Wonder what would happen to this elitist company if suddenly all the “cool kids” turned their backs on them? Bet you Jeffries would be back pedaling then! Till then, I plan to boycott Abercrombie & Fitch, not that I shopped there to begin with, and I certainly urge everyone to at least give it a second thought before cashing in your hard earned dollars to a completely bigoted organization.

Posted in: Fashion, Lifestyle, Pop Culture News, Shopping

Top Gear Takes on Tijuana

May 8, 2013 3:18 pm / Leave a Comment / Kristyn Clarke

(PCM) Recently, the guys from the History Channel’s “Top Gear” figuratively went back in time and drove the same or extremely similar vehicles they owned during college on a fun-filled road trip to Mexico.

As an article on the History Channel’s website explains it, Tanner spent the show driving along in a 1991 Eagle Talon TSI, Adam was in an 1982 Cadillac, and Rutledge drove a 1976 VW Microbus. Along the way, the guys went through a series of challenges, including picking up local residents and dropping them off at a casino. Of course, since “Top Gear” is always chock full of entertaining moments, Rut’s group of “locals” was a mariachi band, who gamely packed themselves into the close quarters of the Microbus.

The episode undoubtedly caused many viewers to pine away for their own cars from college days. While some may wonder what happened to that 1981 Toyota Starlet with the pull-out choke (that broke off during freshman year), others may be fondly (or not so fondly, depending on the car’s reliability record) remembering a plethora of Pontiacs, VW Bugs, Honda Accords and old station wagons, complete with wooden sides.

For those who are inspired to find the same make and model of car from college, there are many ways to go about it. For example, searching used car dealers in Phoenix is one sure way to locate them, as is perusing the auctions on eBay and looking through the listings on Craigslist. Who knows? Maybe some “Top Gear” viewers will end up purchasing their college car’s twin, and decide to take it on their own road trip. It could happen!

As for what college kids are likely to be driving these days, US News and World Report compiled a list of what they feel are the best cars for college students. Parents will appreciate the fact that the cars are safe and budget-friendly, while the young people driving them will like that they look good and have a decent number of features.

Best Cars For College

The Ford Fiesta was named as one of the best cars priced less than $15,000. It provides college students with reliable transportation and a pretty impressive number of features, including the optional SYNC infotainment system, which can read text messages to the driver. The Kia Soul, Nissan Cube and Kia Forte also make the list of cars that are perfect for budget-wise college kids.

In the $15,000 to $20,00 range, the article suggests the Hyundai Elantra, the Jeep Patriot, and the Kia Optima—a car that many reviewers feel looks more expensive than its price tag indicates. In addition to its impressive 35 mph highway fuel economy rating, the Optima earned a five-star overall crash test rating from the federal government. This, of course, will probably help it catch the attention of the producers over at “Top Gear,” one day, when the Optima heads off on a long road trip as strains of mariachi music fill the air.

Posted in: Pop Culture News, TV

← Older Posts