Fun with Visual Associations

By now you have undoubtedly seen the new Lady Gaga video for her song Telephone. I won't get into great detail here about why I think it's great. Let's just say that I am of the opinion (and have been for at least a year now) that she is masterfully tricking an unsuspecting American public into enjoying performance art, and I think that's wonderful and needed.

One question, though. What is it about this outfit, especially those glasses, that seems so strikingly familiar?

















At first, because of the round, black glasses and matching black/white/yellow color palette, I thought it might be this creeper, the eternally-scolding, faceless icon for Western Exterminators:

















I thought it would be him, but as I started looking up images, I realized he was missing something... he's missing that cocked-eyebrow and sly grin that only a person executing a coldly calculated, intricate web of evil can possess. Then it hit me, like an artfully booby-trapped pile of bricks. It's these guys. Well played, Gaga. Well played.

Getting warmer...

I am not the first to notice the chemistry in the air whenever Ana Marie Cox visits the Rachel Maddow Show. If you watch TRMS with any regularity, you have certainly noticed the innocent (we'll give them some credit, they are both already in committed relationships) flirtation going on between the two. If you've been watching since TRMS started airing last summer, you may have also noticed the gradual change in Ana Marie Cox's style.

Observe. Here is how Ana Marie looked last summer, when she first began appearing on TRMS to cover the presidential election:


















Pretty girly, non? Okay, now here is how she looked a few weeks ago. Notice the change in hair style, and the inclusion of an Aerosmith t-shirt.














Finally, here she is last night, sporting a leather jacket. A Leather. Freaking. Jacket. Seriously. Can't you just hear "Greased Lightnin'" playing in your head?














I'm hoping that next week she shows up with a pompadour and a Harley. At this point, it wouldn't surprise me.

Aerostar Tours

I have another "separated at birth" for you, dear reader. Or perhaps, more accurately, a "separated at conception" (see what I did there?). Or maybe I am just embarrassed of my ride, and have to find a way to make myself feel better about it.

Have you ever noticed that Ford Aerostars look just like the Star Tours Endor Express? Don't believe me? See for yourself!

Aerostar:













Endor Express:














I rest my case.

Welcome to Last Year

I have a great talent for signing up for internet trends right as they are passing their heyday. I joined Facebook months after most people I know, and I joined LiveJournal around the same time that everyone else quit using it (i.e. 2 years too late). One might even note that I've started this blog after the time when blogging was the thing to do.

Of course, I'm not a technophobe. In fact, I spend quite a lot of my time on the internet. I can't really explain why I have a natural inclination to do so much foot-dragging when it comes to new social utilities.

At least in the case of Twitter, I had a very real reason. You see, I'm always cheap, and I'm presently poor. My phone plan only allows for a certain number of text messages per month, and anything beyond that costs money. My fear was that signing up for Twitter would cause a sudden jump in the cost of my phone bill. I recently, however, discovered that you do not have to receive all your tweets via your cell phone. You can set your account up so that you read most of your tweets online, and assign only a few choice individuals (preferably not ones that tweet fifty times a day) to message directly to your phone (or, none at all, if you prefer).

As such, I have now, finally, set up my very own Twitter account, @AnnieStinkle. Feel free to add me, if you haven't already. I promise to try to use my tweets for good, and not for evil.

Grey's Lobotomy

I think I might change the title of this blog from "Suck It, Martha" to "Fuck You, Meredith". Seriously, Grey's Anatomy, you're lucky you are employing the hottest woman in show business, or I wouldn't even bother watching you at all, let alone the rare occasion I watch you now.

The Big Lanai in the Sky

Bea Arthur, 1922-2009

Have you ever wondered to yourself, if you and your small group of friends or coworkers were the Golden Girls, who would be which Girl? Somehow, I have found myself in this situation multiple times in my life, with various circles of friends. This is a tricky game, because most people seem to want to be Sophia or Blanche. As my luck would have it, I have invariably been named the Dorothy of the group. Maybe it's because I'm tall and perhaps not the most feminine woman in the world. Maybe it's because I'm a little bit of a nerdy sourpuss rule-follower (sometimes). I like to think it's because I'm smart, quick with a biting witticism, and like to torment my mother with threats of "Shady Pines" (ok, maybe not that last one, but I think I might start).

At any rate, while I'm never particularly flattered to be considered the Dorothy of the group, at the same time I'm also 1. glad I'm not the Rose (which is probably how Dorothy would feel, too), and 2. okay with it, because for all her flaws, Dorothy Zbornak was one ass-kicking broad, in the best sense of the term.

Of course, I realize that Bea Arthur is not the same person as Dorothy Zbornak, but I can't help but believe that there is a lot of Bea in Dorothy, and if nothing else, Bea was the one who brought Dorothy to life. I can't think of a single character on television today who comes close to her realness. For smart, sassy women (and gay men) everywhere, Bea will always be an inspiration.

I'll miss you, Pussycat.

Win.

Dear Clementine Ford,

You are one foxy lade. I heard (and then unheard, and then reheard) that you're a friend of... um... Idgie's. So, you know, call me some time.

PS. For the record, I never held the whole Diva misunderstanding against you.