Celebrity Baby Names

June 18th, 2009

Celebrities are not like everyday people. They have busy schedules, drive expensive cars, and wear jewelry that others can only dream of owning. Maybe it is because celebrities are so far removed from normal life that they often give their babies unusual names.

Some names are just a little different. John Travolta and Kelly Preston have two beautiful children. Their daughter’s name is Ella Bleu. Their son’s name is Jett. Jett is different, but anyone who knows anything about John Travolta knows he has a love for flying. Gwyneth Paltrow, pregnant again, came under scrutiny for naming her first child Apple. While it is unusual, it is somewhat cute, like in the “apple of their eye.” Chris Martin, her husband, tired of the controversy over the name Apple, has jokingly stated their second child, whether male or female, will be named Banana. Another cute name is Dandelion, the name of Keith Richards’ daughter. Julie Roberts recently gave birth to twins - a boy and a girl - and received flack over the names she chose. She received almost as much grief over the choice for her daughter’s name, Hazel, as she did the more eccentric choice of Phinnaeus for her son.

Many people speculated what Madonna would name her first child. Lourdes Maria seems a fitting name for child who’s mother’s name is Madonna, but she often goes by Lola. Her son is named Rocco, which sounds a bit like a cartoon character, but at least it is a tough sounding name. Actor Casey Affleck and fiancé Summer Phoenix recently had a son named Indiana August, which leads one to wonder what state and month their son was conceived in. Toni Braxton has two sons, Denim and Diezel. While both useful products, they make somewhat strange names for children. Rob Marrow decided it would be cute if he named his daughter Tu Simone Ayer, calling her Tu Morrow. Wonder if she will think it is cute 20 years from now? Actor Jason Lee named his son Pilot Inspektor, but magician Penn Jillette may have topped them all. He named his daughter, Moxie Crimefighter, saying “because when she’s pulled over for speeding she can say, `But officer, we’re on the same side, my middle name is CrimeFighter.”‘

While having an unusual name might be difficult for any child, the celebrity of a child’s parents may enhance it even further. Thankfully, celebrity children who decide they don’t like their given names can switch to a nickname or even eventually have their names legally changed.

Analyze This (Movie Review)

January 3rd, 2009

A satirical examination of the serious mafia films of the past several decades, Analyze This is a witty and clever comedy about the seedy underworld of organized crime. Arguably the best mafia parody to hit the big screen, the film showcases Robert De Niro’s diversity as actor who can crossover into different genres. His success foreshadows later triumphs in Meet The Parents and Meet The Fockers, where De Niro truly shines and manages to steal the show from comedy master Ben Stiller. While far from the greatest comedy ever written, Analyze This still manages to keep the laughs coming, and as long as the viewer recognizes the film’s satirical aims and doesn’t take the movie too seriously, it becomes quite an enjoyable experience…

Billy Crystal plays the role of Dr. Ben Sobel, an eminent psychiatrist unchallenged by his patients who is seeking to branch out into more difficult case work. But at the moment, his life is filled with wedding plans (for his impending marriage to a TV reporter), the eavesdropping of his adolescent son (Sobel sees patients in his home), and the reluctance of his parents to attend his own wedding. All of this confusion is further compounded when Ben rams into the back of a black sedan driven by a man named Jelly (Joe Viterelli). The trunk pops open and almost reveals a man inside. Ben gives his card to Jelly who later hands it to his boss Paul Vitti (Robert De Niro).

It turns out Vitti is a notorious mafia boss recently suffering from anxiety attacks, crying bouts, and impotence (screenplay most likely written prior to Viagra hitting the market). Vitti arranges a meeting with Ben, making it clear that he will be his newest patient. Believing Ben can work wonders and is a genius, Vitti forces him to be on call at all times - refusing to recognize his obligation to other patients or his impending wedding. With a meeting of the mafia bosses just two weeks away, Vitti fears that his problems will become known, and he believes Ben can cure him. Meanwhile, Ben’s problems are further complicated by the FBI’s insistence that he wear a wire Will Vitti discover the wire? Will he kill Ben? Will the mafia bosses kill them both? Analyze This is home to some funny scenes in which we find out all the answers.

The multi-talented Billy Crystal (who has starred in his share of cinema busts) makes one of the high marks of his career with Analyze This. The general chemistry between De Niro and Crystal when their two characters are in a session is onscreen magic. The two work well together, and hopefully they’ll appear as colleagues in future films. Analyze This is one of those movies you don’t expect to enjoy until you’re watching it. But some of the scenes in this film are unsurpassed in their hilarity. As a farce, Analyze This is a funny sequence of events, and that’s why the film ranks as a definite must-see…

About the Author

Britt Gillette is author of The DVD Report, a blog where you can find more reviews like this one of the Analyze This (DVD).

Made In America

December 18th, 2008

In a time where very few of the products we buy in this country are made in this country there is a TV show on the air that makes everything own their own. That show is the Discover Channel’s highest rated show, “American Chopper”. There is a tremendous following for this show and I think it is easy to see why. This show is not just about motorcycles, it is the ultimate in reality TV.

Even people who are not into motorcycles enjoy this show and I think it is because they can relate to the show in one way or another. Either they are fascinated by the workmanship displayed by Paul Jr. and Vinny, on the theme bikes they build. Or they have been a part of a dysfunctional family at some point in their life. Or, maybe they even work for a boss that thinks he/she knows what he/she is talking about all the time, even when he/she really does not.

I started watching this show because I was always amazed at how the bikes turned out. Paul Jr. comes up with some amazing ideas for his bikes. The paint jobs on the bikes are unbelievable as well. It is simply amazing what they are able to do with some metal and tools. After a few episodes I found myself laughing at the people and enjoying that part just as much as I enjoyed the end result of the bikes. If you examine the family, they are a real life family. They fight like some families, if not worse. Paul Sr. has been divorced, he has used drugs in the past, he has one son that helps run the business and build bikes while the other one shows up to work late, has no motivation to succeed or get ahead. I understand we only get to see what the editors want us to see but if you have seen them in an interview they basically say that what you see is what you get. They are a typical real-life family. (except now they are famous and get to give their mother/grandmother the opportunity to meet the Yankees which has been a dream of hers.)

Paul Sr. as a boss? I think most people can see things in him that they see in their boss. He always thinks he knows it all. He likes to remind people that it is his way or the highway and that he is the boss. And, he really does not appear to do any work himself, while always professing he is so busy. Once again, I realize we only see what the editors want us to see. In order for him to make his business as successful as it has become he must be doing something right. But, we are watching the show and the dynamics involved on the show and this is what the audience gets to see. We see Paul Sr. yelling, swearing, hitting things, and then he goes into his office and sits back in his chair and puts his feet up on the desk.

All the things mentioned above are factors in why the show is so popular, in my opinion. There is one other reason I feel it is so popular and that is because it shows that it is possible to become a success in this country if you work at it and make good decisions. It gives hope. You do not need to graduate from Harvard to become rich. You can be a steel worker, a painter, an electrician, or an accountant. Opportunity is endless in this country. American Chopper’s success was “Made In America” and yours can be too. This shows supports the motto I live by which is; “To be a success you do not always have to work the hardest, you need to work the smartest.”

Scott Bianchi operates http://www.best-internet-bargains.com If you would like to be included in his mailing list when he publishes a new article send an email to articles@bestinternetbargains.com