The Half Century Mark

So I scooped the local paper, by writing about Barbie's 50th birthday, previously in my blog. The article in yesterday's Sacramento Bee listed some trivia facts about the 11 1/2" fashion doll. Among them were such facts as that she cost $3 in 1959 and only $5 today. That she has four sisters and has had more than 50 pets over this half decade. FIFTY PETS? Somehow I thought Barbie would set a better example as a pet owner. I guess Mattel forgot to create the fashion pet food and water bowl. But the best thing about the article is the quote from my friend Alex who details his youthful experience with G.I. Joe and Barbie. His boyish wargames featured Barbie as the Mata Hari while Midge had to be the nurse. Alex has over 200 Barbies and had to come OUT of the closet in order to make room for them.*** It seems that the Keeping-up-with-the-Joneses trend on Talk shows giveaways, is following the economic (Bushism) downtrend. The fad of bigger is better, started with Oprah giving out cars to audience members wasn't the case in last night's Jimmy Fallon in which the entire audience were wearing complimentary Snuggies. Over on CBS, the David Letterman show is giving out the Sham-wow and on radio, Dr. Laura is just giving people headaches and Rush Limbaugh is giving out refills. ***
An audience member was attacked at last week's Miami Beach rap performance of former actor Joaquin Phoenix. But the agressive culprit was the performer himself, who's patience had run out in the wake of the fan's incessant heckling. Phoenix, who appeared on stage 4 hours late and mumbled through the alledged "performance," was actually surprised that an audience member could be annoyed. After exchanging words with the self appointed critic, Phoenix responded "I've got a million dollars in my f***ing bank account, what the f*** have you got?" I hate when people quote Bernie Madoff. Phoenix leapt into the crow to tussle with the impatient man while the crowed chanted, "Joa-quin! Joa-quin!" Later they were put on a bus and taken to a taping of the Jerry Springer show.