Where has all the fear and scare gone? Halloween used to be about dracula and vampires and witches when I was growing up. Now, like most things American, it is an over-commercialized party in which you just grab a last-minute "pirate" or "maid" costume from your nearest novelty store. Although I do love and appreciate the innovation and creativity some people use in putting together their costumes, I can't help but be reminded of Lindsay Lohan's character in Mean Girls: "In Girl World, Halloween is the one night a year when girls can dress like a total slut and no other girls can say anything about it." Trick or treat, indeed.

Totally disgusting and intriguing at the same time. This is getting out of hand. And no one is actually to blame. Not Karl, not Mary-Kate, not Vogue. An entire change of mindset is necessary.

Polygamist fashion featuring french braids and pastel-colored dresses - coming to a runway near you:

Now Jimmy Kimmel is "Doing Ben Affleck."

Revenge can be so sweet... and can also star Brad Pitt!

Sarah Silverman “Does Matt Damon” on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

According to Wikipedia, there has been a long-running joke about Matt Damon on Jimmy Kimmel. Best part: “...on the bed, on the floor, on a towel by the door, in the tub, in the car, up against the mini-bar...” Amazing.

SJP wished me a happy birthday…! Does this mean I’m off the d-list and onto the c-list??

Everyone’s favorite Prince Charming… and other Disney characters. Sign me up to be Princess Jasmine!

Déjà vu? I am taking a study break for a public service announcement: if the LA Times Magazine needs new material, I will be happy to provide my services… Today’s article v. an article from two and a half years ago.

Johnny Cash - God's Gonna Cut U Down

Celebrities (and sins) galore… which makes me wonder: are they promoting JC or JC of Nazareth?

What would the Middle East look like with borders based on traditional ethnic divisions?

Too bad (for the Kurds) it will never happen.

It is Friday the 13th. To kick off the frightfest: super skinny scary models. Models love their rock-star boyfriends and paracetamol tablets for breakfast...? Too bad I’m already over the age of 17. And my diet consists more than a pack of Marlboro Lights, Diet Coke, and various other, um,... substances. Maybe I just need to contact Rachel Zoe, celebrity-stylist slash crystal-meth&coke-dealer for Lindsay, Nicole, and Mischa.

Jock Mr. Clooney! Hopefully the ICC will prosecute even though Sudan is not a party to the Rome Statute.

And in other news... Sean Preston has a little brother - another boy for B*Spears & K*Fed.

I don’t know whether to cry for her, or be proud of her. Right before the wedding, the bride found out her fiancé had been cheating on her, so she turned her wedding party into a philanthropy event. I guess her motto is to be positive. Kudos! (And perhaps the event can also raise money to have the former fiancé taken care off, mafia style...? Just a thought.)

Tucker Max contemplates: Should I go to law school?

I would like to respond with two statements -
1. yes, I would love to be Ally McBeal
2. yes, I do want to change the world
- and I will do both of those while still having a fabulous, fantastic, fun life, filled with faith, friends, and family.

As much as it may be politically incorrect to say it, Africa – with all the genocide, poverty, war, illness, disease, and close-ups of grief-stricken children – for lack of a better word, is hot. Angelina Jolie had her baby in Namibia. Gwyneth Paltrow is the face of a new Africa ad campaign. Lindsay Lohan apparently wants to go to Kenya. And Rauz, Samar, and I recently traveled to South Africa (hardly surprising, since, after all, I have always known how to spot a trend). Let’s take other places and compare them. Europe: too developed. Middle East: too much politics. South America: not enough suffering. South-East Asia: so very last year (re: tsunami). Africa is not politically or morally polarizing. There is scandal (civil war, genocide, disease), celebrities motivated by different atrocities (see: Bono, Bill Gates and President Clinton, Don Cheadle), the college masses taking action, various organizations furthering awareness and support, and a clarity over what people should do (help the poor, alleviate the torment). As opposed to other places (i.e. Iraq), it is too easy to take differing sides, whereas for Africa, the only side anyone should embrace is to be a do-gooder and fix the problems that were started in the first place by non-Africans (and I don’t mean to be the self-interested American, but it doesn’t hurt that Africa is overflowing with certain natural resources). Africa needs us and we need Africa. But, hopefully, this trend, as opposed to the latest LA club or NYC restaurant, will last.

A History of Black Nail Polish: just because I like to keep my blog readers abreast of the latest historical developments (i.e. please see A History of Violence). And if anyone needs to get me a belated birthday present - Black Satin would be perfect - or anything else from the Fall 2006 collection.

PS. I know that my earlier posts showed my obssession with the World Cup. But, I have been suspiciously quiet re: the final match. I still haven’t decided what I think. Was Zidane defending his family and faith? There is no excuse for bad-mouthing another person’s culture and heritage. On the other hand, should a headbutt have been the solution? Either which way, Zidane will go down in history as one of the greatest soccer players, and I will always support him. Bisous Bisous!

The comedian writers at VH1’s Best Week Ever are totally underappreciated. This is the funniest comparison, featuring L. Lo as Biggie, Paris as Pac and MK as S N double O P: A History of Violence. The only observation lacking is the hollywood peace sign response to paparazzi in juxtaposition to the gangbanger middle finger response to anyone.

Yes, gonna jump on the bandwagon, be goleh amrekaya. Is this what the future is – every child born with a cell phone, myspace and blog? Well, this blog is not going to be anything special, maybe a few pictures, some thoughts, confessions of a twenty-something drama queen, etc. I’m not even sure who my target audience will be. Whoever you are, don’t have high expectations. I might be an overachiever, but I’m not too computer savvy. Although I do know how to post pictures thanks to myspace/photobucket! XOXO