entertainment

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The Top 20 Jewish Comedians of All-Time

Picking only 20 was hard. Comedy is just something Jews do well. I once asked Jon Lovitz, one of many comedians left off the list, why the comedy circuit was dominated by Jews, a people who only make up 2% of the American population and 0.227% of the world's population. He said, "To be funny, you have to suffer, suffer, suffer. Jews, blacks, we've suffered a lot in the past. That makes us funny, I guess." N.B. This Top 20 is not in order. It was just too hard to decide who was no. 1, who was no. 4 or 14,... READ ON

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8 Songs Inspired by Real Women

This article originally appeared in a 2006 issue of mental_floss magazine. Songwriters have found inspiration in all sorts of places, from transvestites to team tennis titans. Maggie Koerth-Baker has read between the liner notes to find out for whom 8 famous songs were written. 1. "Philadelphia Freedom" Written by: Elton John & Bernie Taupin Written for: Billie Jean King, as a thank-you for a tracksuit she gave Elton. And what a tracksuit it must have been! The 1975 song remains one of the... READ ON

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Book Your Trip Now: 12 Literary Pilgrimages

A few weeks ago, we talked about how a tiny, unassuming, former timber town in Washington state has found new life as a tourist magnet for Twilight-obsessed tweenage girls. Last week, with the 70th anniversary of the premiere of the film The Wizard of Oz, there was a flurry of reporting about the Oz towns of Kansas. Places like tiny Wamego, which have turned Kansas's connection with Dorothy and the errant Wizard into big tourist draws. But these little towns are just the tip of the literary... READ ON

Article

The Late Movies: Olympic Fever!

Do you realize how insane Usain Bolt is?Â After capturing the gold in the 100-meter dash at the World Track and Field Championships in Britain, he demolished his own record in the 200-meter dash today, besting his own time by .11 seconds.Â At one point during his mad dash in the 100-meter race, he reached a speed of almost 27 mph, which means he legally wouldn't be allowed to run in a school zone.Â Someone get that man behind a bobsled pronto. Maybe it's Bolt's incredible performance. Maybe... READ ON

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8 Retro Airline Commercials

The airline industry has undergone several upheavals and gut-punches in the past two decades. There was the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978, the Air Traffic Controllers' strike of 1981, and the tragic events of September 11, 2001, to name just a few. But once upon a time airlines competed for customers not by price, but by services offered. Of course, throughout the 1970s, airlines earned the bulk of their revenue from business travelers (who were overwhelmingly male at that time), rather than... READ ON

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5 Famous Fights Between Teammates

Oakland Raiders head coach Tom Cable is in the news for allegedly slugging defensive assistant Randy Hanson in the jaw a few weeks ago. Sure, Cable's punch was probably the strongest hit any Raider will make this season, but is it really all that unusual for teammates to mix it up? Here are a few more examples of fisticuffs between teammates: 1. Michael Jordan vs. Steve... READ ON

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The Quick 6: Six Children's Book Characters Inspired by Real People

Children not only read children's books, they sometimes inspire them as well. It shouldn't come as any surprise that some of the most classic characters of all time were based on someone the author knew in real life "“ perhaps that's why the not-so-fictional people seem to come right off the pages (well"¦ that, plus good writing, obviously). Here are six of the most... READ ON

Article

7 Movie Stars Who Really Were Heroes

For over a century, movie stars have brought countless screen heroes to life "“ but of course, there has usually been a slight gap between the actors and the heroes they played. Yes, we know that a third of Angelina Jolie's income goes to charity, that Sean Penn took a canoe to help Hurricane Katrina victims, and that Tom Cruise once stopped to help a hit-and-run victim and paid her hospital bills. Nonetheless, most famous actors have been normal people like everyone else. But just so you... READ ON

Article

Who's up for a Swine Flu Party?

The story making the rounds these days is that swine flu parties "“ flu flings "“ are all the rage here in Merry Olde. Now, I've been to the odd garden party and birthday party, even a "fancy dress" party, but I have not yet been invited to a swine flu party (at least, not... READ ON

Article

The Late Movies: Creepy Commercials

I don't watch a lot of commercials, mostly because I DVR my favorite shows, but also because I usually flip channels or zone out whenever they come on. But lately, a certain thin, pale blonde woman has managed to hold my attention, the same way those dead twins got Danny's attention in The Shining. Creepy commercials just fascinate me, mostly because I always wonder how they get produced in the first place. Do the creative directors set out to make a Twilight Zone episode, or is it just bad luck? In... READ ON