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New Review of American History X is up - check it out!

I've been watching a lot of late night TV lately, and that's never a good thing. I've seen some of the most ridiculous crap, especially infomercials. My favorite is the Psychic Friends. I use the term favorite loosely - I don't enjoy it or even like it, and yet I am somehow compelled to watch. The reason is the blond psychic - she always nods very sagely, as if only she understands the mysteries of the universe. I love when the man calls up and says he is a skeptic, and he is only calling because his girlfriend made him. Blondie speaks up and says, "Well you should really call her your fiancee, since you bought the ring yesterday." and the guy says, "How did you know that?" and the hostess yells "No way!" and Blondie just smiles and nods. It cracks me up every time.

Sometimes at night I also like to watch MTV because they generally show actual videos, although frequently it's MTV Jams Countdown or something. Why has every R&B or rap video embraced metallic backgrounds and leather? It's the Matrix-i-zation of MTV. Liquid chrome is to 1999 as the fisheye lens was to 1998. And Busta Rhymes is leading the pack as usual. Actually, I like to watch MTV to get design ideas for my website, since I can't afford to buy those $25 design magazines.

The other night I watched VH1 Pop-up Divas. This is a brilliant concept. They take last year's Divas concert (Gloria Estefan, Shania Twain, Carole King, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion and Aretha Franklin) and turn it into Pop-Up Videos. I could've watched it for hours. The best part was how they pointed out all the ways in which the divas tried to upstage one another. The only person I felt bad for was Carole King, who has more talent in her little finger than Mariah Carey has in her whole body, and yet her one song almost got cut (a pretty rendition of "You've Got a Friend" with Carole playing piano, and Celine, Gloria and Shania harmonizing). Frankly, I thought that was the best song of the entire show.

But the best part was watching the other divas even try to put one over on Aretha. Aretha was having none of that, baby. When Mariah tried to sing in a voice so high that only dogs could hear, Aretha sang higher. When Celine tried to sing loud, Aretha sang louder. The best part was at the end of "Natural Woman", when Aretha just took over the stage. Celine kept trying to jump in (and the pop-ups pointed this out) but Aretha just overpowered her. This is Aretha's world, honey, and we just live in it. Apparently, after Natural Woman was finished, Aretha just kept going, and sang a 12 minute gospel song. I love her. She has earned the title of diva, unlike most of the other women on the stage.

Other times I watch Nick at Nite or TV Land. I have this strange fascination lately with All In the Family. In the politically incorrect 1970's, they got away with a lot more than shows would today and I find that interesting in a sociological sense. That show certainly challenged a lot of beliefs back in the day, and even now it can be relevant. It's hard not to picture Sally Struthers asking me to save the children.