A classic and beloved scene at Rockefeller Center.

New York City is known worldwide for its amazing holiday displays. It’s not just our gorgeous tree in Rockefeller Center that’s worth writing home about, but the stunning window displays carefully designed each year by retailers, like Macy’s, Barneys, Bergdorf Goodman, Tiffany & Co., Lord & Taylor, Bloomingdale’s and Saks Fifth Avenue.

I’ve put together a slideshow of the best Christmas windows and holiday displays exhibited in New York this year, featuring wild themes like “Carnival of the Animals” and “Gaga’s Workshop.” (Yes, as in Lady.) These displays vary widely in tone and style, but one thing is for certain: they’re all exquisite. Continue reading »

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Jonah Mowry

I finally saw Jonah Mowry’s compelling anti-bullying video “What’s Goin’ On” last night, and I was very moved by its content. It’s more than an anti-bullying video; it’s a cry for help from a 13-year-old boy who could be anyone’s son, struggling with early adolescence and all of the drama that goes with it, set to equally dramatic music.

In it, Jonah admits that despite the smile he wears most days, he’s not happy. He shows scars left from where he’s cut himself. Jonah’s emotional message has been going viral this week thanks to a post by Perez Hilton and a tweet from Lady Gaga, but it was filmed over the summer. Accordingly, after all the attention he’s received this week, Jonah left a message for YouTubers telling them though he was filled with dread about starting eighth grade, he feels much better now, having since come out to his parents. Hooray!

But in a strange twist to the story, Jonah has been accused of lying about his sorrow or exaggerating his plight, simply because he made a video more recently that shows him laughing with a friend. Ugh. Thank God that hasn’t stopped YouTubers from responding with reassuring messages of their own, however, for which Jonah’s mother says, “I’m thankful. There are a lot of people that are giving their warm wishes and uplifting Jonah, and I think that’s good.”

In case you haven’t seen it, take a look now at Jonah’s unintentional but powerful call to arms and a few of the best responses from his legion of online supporters: Continue reading »

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Be Yourself, Ladies!

Anyone who knows me or who has ever heard my stand-up knows I can’t stand Katy Perry. I think she’s a great talent, but her talent is being misused on this fraudulent image she’s created to sing foolish lyrics about life as a drunken floozy. Perry has proven to be great fodder for bloggers and comedians: I’ve blogged about her horrid song E.T. and why it’s bad for girls, a song I also parodied with the Key of Awesome. I’ve joked about her song Firework in Time Out New York, which I also parodied for Key of Awesome. Twitter celeb and comedian Rob Delaney wrote a brilliant open letter to Perry for Vice magazine, analyzing the lyrics of her most recent radio release, Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.).

All of those pieces are great, but I just saw the best, most hilarious, incisive bit of comedic criticism of not only Katy Perry but pop superstars Lady Gaga and Nicki Minaj as well. I give you, “Be Yourself,” a video by UCB’s Alison Bennett, co-starring Violet Krumbein and Sasheer Zamata. It cuts through the crap that these pop tarts are trying to sell our daughters about individuality and beauty and shows these clowns for, well, who they really are. Enjoy! Continue reading »

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There has been an outpouring of grief from all over the world in memory of the  innovative, inspiring, and dynamic Apple founder and ex-CEO Steve Jobs.

The visionary touched and transformed all our lives in a variety of ways from how we work, play, learn, teach, and communicate. Steve Jobs really made an immeasurable impact on our world.

To celebrate the work, life and innovations of Steve Jobs, many went to Twitter to share their tender, touching and sometimes amusing thoughts about the death of this icon of industry.

Check out who tweeted what from Lady Gaga to the Library of Congress right here:

Continue reading »

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Miley has come a long way from her Hannah Montana days

We can argue until we’re blue in the face that parents alone should be their kids’ role models. But the reality is that unless your kids live in a bubble, they will likely and inevitably look up to public figures like athletes, politicians, musicians and actors for what they accomplish on the field, in office and on stage and screen — as well as what they do in their free time.

Some in the spotlight do their best to ensure their overall professional message is in line with the wholesome image they project on a daily basis, like, say, Taylor Swift and Daniel Radcliffe. Then there are those don’t seem to care much what others, or kids in particular, must think of them. Perhaps what’s hardest to explain to little ones is when the stars they admire are setting bad examples.

I don’t fault famous people for doing what they do for a living and then ensuring their private lives remain out of the glare of the paparazzi — in fact, I applaud them for that. But the ones who go after our kids’ wallets and then set poor examples by living their lives publicly and poorly is disgraceful.

Take a look at some of at some of the new worst young role models for kids (and no, Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan, Heidi Montag, Tiger Woods, Snooki, Ke$ha, Taylor Momsen and the cast of Teen Mom aren’t on the list — they’re old news):

Continue reading »

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Youngster Laura Fontana has gone viral as Mini Lady Gaga.

I missed 8-year old YouTube sensation Laura Fontana’s intriguing performance as Lady Gaga for the Brazilian talent show Qual e o Seu Talento last year, zooming her into the spotlight and viral video world. She’s still making videos known as the Mini Lady Gaga, and is becoming quite the sensation.

So, I watched the Bad Romance video featured below and thought she was adorable – no doubt- and she can sing, but. Yikes. Not sure I can say much more. You can watch the video and decide for yourself. I just hope she’s having fun with it and it’s her own choice to be like Lady Gaga. (I’m remembering the days I wanted to be Tiffany or Debbie Gibson and sometimes Madonna, so.) Continue reading »

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Lady Gaga: hero for the bullied?

Lady Gaga’s camp released a promo today for her concert film, “The Monster Ball Tour,” debuting May 7th on HBO.  In an intimate dressing room conversation filmed during her February dates at Madison Square Garden, the then 24-year-old megastar reveals her desire to be a Queen for her fans, many of whom she feels are tormented for being different.  Gaga tells her backstage companions, “I just get so wrapped up when I do these benchmark shows, you know, ’cause I start to think about all the people that have tried to stop me…. I just sometimes feel like a loser kid in high school… and I have to tell myself I’m a superstar every morning so that I can get through this day and be for my fans what they need for me to be.” Continue reading »

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