Heartbreak Hotel

"I Will Always Love You" is the mournful cry of Whitney Houston fans as the music world still reels from the superstars sudden demise.

On Saturday, February 11, the world lost a music legend with the unexpected death of Whitney Houston. Whitney Houston was only 48 years old, and died in her hotel room after a rehearsal for the Grammys.

Whitney Houston was a marvelous talent, with a flawless voice. She inspired countless other singing talents that came after her. She was so amazing and paved the way for others in the industry. Her incredible singing prowess was displayed throughout her career, but can be clearly displayed in her 1991 Superbowl rendition of The Star Spangled Banner.

Houston was not only a singer, but also an actress, producer and model. One of her most famous roles was in the 1994 movie The Body Guard where her infamous song "I Will Always Love You" was featured.

Unfortunately, her career was plagued with controversy. Although her voice was amazing, her personal life had many ups and downs. After she married Bobby Brown, her frequent drug use was publicized. The hard partying, alcohol, and drugs, took their toll on the singer, as her voice was not quite the same in her later years.

While the cause of death has still not been discovered and reported, many fear that drugs and/or alcohol played a role. This is not an illogical assumption, as Houston had a famous past of drug and alcohol abuse. However, she had been trying to get clean in recent years.

I would not want to speculate on her cause of death, but if it were due to drugs and alcohol, maybe Houston could be an example or an inspiration one more time.

Countless artists have used drugs and alcohol, shortening their lives and ruining their talent. This is not the first time this tragic fate has been bestowed on a legend, but maybe it could be the last. Talented artists of today and the future hopefully will use this tragedy as a reason to stay clean, preserve their talent, and make positive, constructive life decisions.

When I first heard the news, I was totally shocked. I am a pretty big fan of her music, and own her greatest hits album. I discovered Houston when I was a child, and I was mesmerized by her beautiful voice. It is incredibly sad that this huge talent will no longer be able to sing another note.

Even in death, Houston is not quite allowed to be at peace. There has been a firestorm over photos that were published from her funeral service. The National Enquirer printed photos of Houston in an open casket, displaying her lifeless body to the masses.

This seems to be an invasion of privacy and all kinds of morbid. This is not the first time that photos like this have been taken and shared, as similar photos of Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson (two other music icons who met tragic ends) were also circulated. However, despite the precedent, family, friends, fans, and the funeral home are outraged at this invasion of privacy.

The National Enquirer stands by their decision, stating that the photos were artistic and beautiful.

Personally, I don't think the world needed to see these photos. It seems distasteful and taking advantage of someone's pain and grief. Let the woman rest in peace.

As generally happens in life, the good memories greatly outweigh the bad over time. Hopefully, all of the negative aspects of Houston will fade, and she will be remembered for her incredible talent and the good she did for music and society.

However, I also hope that her struggles are remembered, so that people know that fame and fortune aren't everything. Everyone has their issues and no one is immune. Fame has its price, and people need to be extra careful not to fall in with a bad crowd, as sadly Houston did.

After I heard the news, I started playing all of the Houston songs I owned. I was not alone, as I could hear many Houston songs being played throughout my residence hall.

To honor her, I will end this blog post with another classic Houston song. May Whitney Houston finally  be at peace and join the angels in Heaven with her angelic voice.

What's Love Got To Do With It?

Today is Valentine's Day, a holiday all about love. At least, that's what commercials, department stores, Hallmark, and restaurants proclaim in the weeks leading up to this major holiday. It is a day where those in a loving relationship feel obligated to do something nice, while single folks either lament their single status or frantically search for a date. Whether you love it or hate it, Valentine's Day is upon us once again.

While thinking of a topic for this blog post, I asked myself this question: Where exactly did the idea of Valentine's Day come from? I did a little research about this infamous holiday, and found out some interesting things about its origin. 

Valentine's Day, also known as St. Valentine's Day, is the saint day appointed to St. Valentine by the Roman Catholic Church. However, there is surprisingly few concrete details about the man that this super holiday is named for. According to History.com, it is known that Valentine was a martyr, but how and why are unclear. 

One theory is that Valentine was a priest and he performed marriages for young couples secretly after Emperor Cllaudius II outlawed the practice for young men so that these men could become soldiers. In this tale, Valentine died protecting and fostering love and marriage, thus the connection between Valentine and modern Valentine's Day is clear.

Another idea about Valentine is that he was killed for trying to "help Christians escape from harsh Roman prisons, where they were often beaten and tortured." It is said, in this tale, that Valentine actually sent the very first "Valentine" card to his girlfriend while he was in prison. It is said that he signed this note to his love "'from your Valentine', an expression that is still in use today."

While it is unclear which of these stories about Saint Valentine is true, there are some commonalities between all of the accounts of him. All of these tales "emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic, and--most importantly--romantic figure." Now knowing a little bit about Saint Valentine, it does seem fitting that a holiday all about love coincides with the feast day of Saint Valentine. 

The date of Valentine's Day also has historical origins. Some believe that Valentine's Day was strategically placed in the middle of February to coincide with the pagan celebration of Lupercalia. Lupercalia was a fertility festival that took place on February 15. By placing Valentine's Day at the same time, the Christians could try to take over and influence this pagan holiday, making it a great time for this celebration to take place.

The romantic element of the holiday did not emerge until the Middle Ages, when someone realized that the birds mating season coincided with the time frame of Valentine's Day. This revelation spawned the idea that romance and love should be an integral part of the holiday, and, as they say, the rest is history.

Fast-forward to today, and we have a very different image of Valentine's Day than the holiday of long ago. What started out as a nice, small holiday where loved ones shared small affectionate cards and tokens has become commercialized and almost fake. People feel obligated to send gifts, cards, and flowers to their loved ones, whether they actually want to or not. Does that sound like a romantic or loving gesture? Not to me.

The sentiment behind Valentine's Day is nice, but has somehow been eroded into something less sweet. Showing love and appreciation for loved ones is a great idea, and it is nice to take time out to celebrate these relationships. One should take time to tell the one's that they love just how much they mean to them. However, this gesture should not be confined to one day a year. If one shows their affection, gratitude, and love to the important people in their lives every day, Valentine's Day becomes unnecessary. People should not need to be reminded or forced to say "I love you" or treat their sweetheart on February 14; they should be doing it all of the time.

This does not mean big romantic gestures or lavish gifts. A simple "I love you", a hand-written note, a homemade meal, small gestures can go a long way to conveying this message of love and appreciation.

Unfortunately, this idea of love is not all that prominent in the commercial holiday. What exactly does candy, flowers, cookie-cutter cards, teddy bears, etc. have to do with love? Why can't people just express how they feel, or show their love every day, not just Valentine's Day?

It also takes the spontaneity and personal aspect of doing something nice for someone. On Valentine's Day, it is expected that couples will go out and celebrate, making the gesture hollow and inorganic.

Don't get me wrong, I actually really enjoy Valentine's Day. I always have, ever since I was little. I love the cards, the flowers, the candy, the whole nine yards. Even though I am not in a relationship, I still enjoy the holiday and taking this day to celebrate love and all the wonderful people in my life. I just wish that it wasn't so commercialized, and could go back to being small and personal, like the sentiment of love.

Regardless of what side of the candy heart fence you land, going out to eat is a Valentine's Day staple. Usually it is someplace romantic and very nice. However, some people in this difficult economy are changing things up. The Waffle House is one of the up and coming Valentine's Day restaurants. Don't believe me? Check out this link: 

Waffle House for Valentine's Day

I for one love the Waffle House. They serve the best omelet I have ever tasted (and their waffles aren't bad either). If someone wanted to take me to the Waffle House for dinner on Valentine's Day (or any night really) I would be over the moon and racing to the restaurant. However, most people prefer the nice, romantic dinner. While the Waffle House is classing up the experience, it is still the Waffle House. If this is all you can afford, go for it, but I would let the date know where you are going first. While I think the commercialization has gotten out of hand for this holiday, that won't change overnight, so it might be best to bite the bullet and pay for a fancy dinner.

With Valentine's Day, it is really all about the attitude. If you lament because you are lonely, or put too much pressure on your date, the day is going to be a major let-down. But if you take it in stride, accept it for what it really is, and reach out to your loved ones, it can be a really great day.

Simple gestures can go a long way. Just ask Snoopy and Woodstock.

And, if you are one of the Valentine's Day haters, cheer up good friends. There is a positive out of this powder keg holiday. February 15th is the day for you. Enjoy 1/2 priced candy day at department stores everywhere!

What's In A Name?

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose/By any other name would smell as sweet" is a quote from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet that seems appropriate to start this post. Why? Because this post is all about names!


According to Juliet in this quote, it really doesn't matter what the name of an object is, as the name does not change the essence of the item. Therefore, if a rose was called something else, it would still be a red flower with a nice fragrance. A television with a different moniker would still broadcast television shows. A lamp with a different identifier would still provide light in the dark. Basically, Juliet is saying that the name of something is trivial compared to what it is. This is likened to the notion of not judging a book by its cover, and in theory is a great notion.

There is some truth to this statement, even in terms of names of people. Whether a child is named Robert or John or Sampson, it is still a little human with arms, legs, eyes, nose, hair, and a personality just waiting to be discovered.

However, if this were true that names do not mean anything, why do parents-to-be stress so much over naming their children? The answer is simple: because, in reality, names do matter.

Think about it. Names can help to form and shape who the individual becomes, and could even effect their self-esteem. Someone who is named Cornelius or Birdie is probably going to have a harder time fitting in than someone named James or Elizabeth.

Even though human beings should be treated as equals and it should not matter what their name is, unfortunately in our society they do. People are made fun of or judged based on their name, even before meeting and getting to know a person. This is why picking out the "perfect" name is such an obsession.

It isn't helped by celebrities. For some reason, celebrities seem to really subscribe to Juliet's suggestion, as they name their children after inanimate objects and other things that are not traditionally names. For example: Apple, Sailor, Free, Egypt, and Knox. These are all actual names of celebrity children, even though none of these sound like names of people.

Maybe the fact that their parents are rich and famous will keep these kids from getting teased or beat-up on the playground? I sure hope so, for the sake of these poor children.

The trend of celebrities giving off-the-wall names to their children continued in January when superstars Beyonce and Jay Z named their daughter Blue Ivy

The couple has not explicitly explained why they chose this name for their new bundle of joy, but there are several theories. The number 4 seems to have a lot of significance for the couple, as their birthdays and anniversaries are on the 4th of various months. This could explain Ivy, which is a play on the Roman numeral IV. Jay Z has many songs with the word "Blue" in them, and it is his favorite color, which could be the justification for the first name.

If my parents had named me this, my name would be something like 5 Blue 15. The only thing missing from that name is a "Hike" and you've got yourself a football play. If these truly are the reasons behind the name, all I can do is shake my head and thank God my parents were not famous.

For me, the name "Blue" conjures up several images, none of which I would want to be associated with my child. Blue describes the mood of someone who is sad, lonely, and down on life. It has this gloomy connotation that just doesn't jive with the joy and excitement of the life of a newborn.

The name "Blue" has also been given to two cartoon characters, neither of which I would really want to name my children after. One is from Cartoon Network's Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends and the other is the title character in Nickelodeon's Blues Clues. Their images are below, and I think, in this case, a picture is worth a thousand words as to why I wouldn't want my kid associated with them.

The couple also made headlines for the way little Blue Ivy was brought into the world. Check out these photos of their alleged hospital room. Never before did I think I would be envious that my house did not look like a hospital room, but these photos certainly change that!

Hospital Room Pictures

As if this wasn't enough, the power couple is in the news again with this child's name. Now, the proud parents are attempting to trademark the name Blue Ivy for a future company. Although it seems unlikely that anyone else would want this name, apparently others have already tried to trademark this moniker.

According to an article from the LA Times, the couple want to use their daughter's name for a future line of baby items. They also want to ensure that this name is not only owned by their daughter, but legally owned as well.

LA Times Article

To me, this whole circus Jay Z and Beyonce have created with this child is unnecessary. They act as if they are the first people in the world to create and deliver a child. News flash! Women give birth every day. While it is wonderful and beautiful, certainly not original.

Personally, I would like this couple to get in the news for what has made them famous: their music! To end this post, I think I will leave you with an example of how talented baby Blue Ivy's parents are, and how they should be making headlines.

Super Bowl Review

I am a big football fan, so usually the Super Bowl is one of my favorite events of the year. However, this year the game was not as exciting, as I did not have a rooting interest. Being an avid Dallas Cowboys fan, it was difficult for me to root for either the Giants or the Patriots. So, instead, I took my mother's approach to the Super Bowl and watched for the commercials!

Now, before discussing the commercials, I must concede that it was a great game. Even for someone who was not at all invested in the outcome, I was enthralled with the action of the game, especially in the last quarter. For a while it seemed that the Patriots had the game sewn up, which made the Giant comeback more compelling. That catch by Mario Manningham which led to the Giants score was simply incredible. The last two minutes were so intense, and I was on the edge of my seat, wondering if Tom Brady could pull off another miracle for the Patriots. Overall, the 21-17 Giant Super Bowl victory was entertaining and a well-played football game.

Super Bowl commercials are hyped almost as much as the game itself. There is a lot of pressure on these commercials to be entertaining, fun, and memorable, so as to attract the 100 million viewers and convince them to purchase the products being advertised. The companies have to pay millions of dollars for a 30-second commercial to air during the Super Bowl, so the ad better live up to the hype and pay off for the company!

Overall, I thought the commercials this year were very good, and there weren't many lemons. I enjoyed the commercials and thought many of them were entertaining. Here are a few of my favorites. My list is numbered, but these numbers aren't a ranking of the commercials, just a way to organize some of my top picks for Super Bowl ads.

1. Bridgestone

I like this commercial for several reasons. I like the concept of the commercial as a whole, it was a nice, cute demonstration of the Bridgestone tires. I like the idea of the "quiet basketball" as well, as the quiet is startling and attention grabbing. I also liked the use of recognizable faces in Steve Nash and Tim Duncan, making the basketball in the game more realistic and appealing. However, the real reason why I love this commercial is the sleeping baby. This child is just too cute! He is the star of the commercial and just so adorable!

2.  Volkswagen

A theme may be starting to form in the commercials that I chose as my favorites. Again, part of the reason I love this commercial is the cuteness factor. The dog is so cute, and as a dog lover, there was no way I could resist this gem! I also like the idea behind the commercial. The dog gets off the couch and starts working out, and by becoming more active is healthier and able to reach his goals in life. This commercial is not only entertaining but serves a good message. If people took the lead of the dog and got outside, got some exercise and just starting moving, we would all be healthier, happier, and better equipped to face the challenges in life. This commercial is a winner all the way around.

3. Skechers

Again, the cuteness factor makes this commercial great. The dog is just so adorable! The entire commercial is actually adorable and pulls at the heartstrings by portraying an underdog story (no pun intended). This little dog falls way behind in the race, but with his trusty Skechers, Mr. Quiqqly is able to win the race in style. This is a feel good, heartwarming commercial, and I thought it was a great use of advertising.

4. M&M's

This commercial was a great mix of fun and relevant. The use of popular music infused with the product was a great tool. The dancing M&M is really funny and helps contribute to the overall appeal of the commercial. The whole concept of the commercial is a winner and I give this ad two thumbs up!

5. The Voice

Now, there is really only one reason that I like this commercial and it can be summed up in two words: Betty White! The 90 year old actress is still as entertaining as ever. Everything she does turns to gold and this is no exception. While the rest of the commercial is okay, Betty White steals the scene and makes it great. Betty White has such comedic timing and she is just such a hoot! Start watching at around the 1:00 minute mark to see what I mean.

Not all of the commercials were great. This one in particular I thought was incredibly inappropriate.

6. Fiat

This commercial for Fiat is a very steamy ad. While there is nothing wrong with sex-appeal in advertising (it is used all of the time and sex sells), it was a little much for my liking. Furthermore, this commercial aired roughly between 8:30pm and 9:00pm. I'm not sure if it aired another time before this. Even if it didn't, children still could have been awake and watching the game at this time. If I were a parent, I would not want my young, impressionable child watching this. Overall, I didn't like this commercial and I think that Fiat could have done something different or less scandalous to sell their vehicle.

There is one last commercial I have to include. This was a wonderful commercial, and it would probably have to be classified my favorite. This advertisement isn't funny and (surprisingly) it does not include any cute animals or children, or any other advertising gimmicks. This commercial hits home, is real, and inspiring. The commercial I am referring to is the pep-talk given to America at half-time by Clint Eastwood and Chevrolet. Now, while this commercial is trying to sell cars, it also addresses some serious problems in our nation. It talks about how we are down and struggling, but encourages and inspires, stating that we can rise again in the second-half, and be stronger than we did before. This "game" is not over, and we can come out victorious. I really like the message and think it was a really well done add, appealing to American pride and talking about the state of the nation.

Any blog post about the Super Bowl would be remiss not to mention the halftime show. While it may be getting mixed reviews with critics and the general public, this fan LOVED it! Madonna was in her element and showed that even in her 50s, Madonna is still a pop star and an icon. The show had great graphics, dancing, special effects, and was truly a show worth watching. Now, being a full-fledged Madonna fan might make me a little biased in my assessment, but I thought it was incredible. Definitely the best half time show I've seen in several years. I think the proper way to end this post is with Madonna herself. Enjoy!

It's a Revolution... But of What Exactly?

Things can change drastically in a short period of time. Last year, there were six daytime soap operas on television, three of which aired on ABC. Now, the total number of soap operas has decreased to four, as ABC cancelled two of its long running beloved serial dramas, All My Children and One Life to Live last April. All My Children  ended its 41 year run on ABC in September, and One Life to Live aired it's final episode after 43 years on January 13.

Why the sudden change? ABC claims that the daytime viewing audience is no longer interested in soap operas and wants a different kind of programming. In the press release announcing the cancellation of the soaps, then-president of ABC Daytime Brian Frons had this to say about the decision: "We are taking this bold step to expand our business because viewers are looking for different types of programming these days. They are telling us there is room for informative, authentic, and fun shows that are relatable, offer a wide variety of opinions, and focuses on 'real life' takeaways."

To this end, ABC decided to replace their soaps with two lifestyle programs; The Chew and The Revolution. The Chew is a show that focuses on food, while The Revolution is a type of make-over show, discussing how to eat, dress, and live right.

Now, I may be mistaken, but these shows seem EXACTLY like any other program on the Food Network, the Style Channel, TLC, etc. There are countless cable channels devoted to the same material of these programs. Why exactly are these shows so interesting, new, fun? Why do people want to watch these over soap operas, when they could watch a number of versions of these shows on a variety of channels?

Besides the unoriginality of these programs, I do not see the mass market appeal. Television historically is for escape and entertainment. I do not know many people who want to be scolded about how they are living their lives wrong. And, if the television viewer really wanted to better themselves, they would turn the television off and go outside, getting some exercise and enjoying the fresh air. How these new shows will drastically improve the quality of lives and makes millions tune in, I do not understand.

Of these two new programs, The Revolution is struggling the most to gain a footing. This might stem from the fact that it is trying to do too much, causing it not to have one clear niche, angle or goal. It is a show about changing what you wear, what you eat, increasing exercise, and bettering oneself inside and out. That's a lot to do in one hour.

Here is one of the commercials for ABC's The Revolution.

Clearly, quite a lot is going on. I do not know what exactly this show is trying to accomplish. Is it a makeover show? Is it a talk show? Wouldn't this get old day in and day out, five days a week, every week?

ABC's decision to air this program along with The Chew was not well received. After the announcement, outraged fans flocked to the internet and started Twitter and Facebook accounts in the name of saving their beloved soaps. These sites are still active, and you can check one out here:

Save AMC OLTL Facebook Page

ABC really underestimated the power of the soap fan base. Although the soaps were not saved from cancellation, upset viewers have taken matters into their own hands/ Since the soaps have gone off the air, many viewers have stopped watching ABC Daytime, refuse to watch these new shows, and some have even boycotted the network all together. 

It seems that these soap fans are having the last laugh. ABC looks to have egg on their face for their claims that viewers preferred these programs to the ABC soaps. The Revolution is performing very poorly in the ratings thus far, and has failed to live up to the ratings that One Life to Live generated in the same time slot. The breakdown of just how poorly The Revolution has performed in its infancy can be found here:

The Revolution Ratings

Was it a mistake to cancel the soaps and air The Revolution? It is too soon to say and only time will tell. However, I can guarantee that ABC's new shows will not generate the recognition and brand that All My Children and One Life to Live established.

To my point, when I mentioned the names All My Children and One Life to Live at the beginning of this post, I am sure that you instantly knew what I was talking about, even if you had never seen an episode. If you were familiar with them, you may have even started humming one of these catchy theme songs:

In contrast, when I mentioned The Revolution or The Chew, you probably did not know what I was talking about, prompting an explanation of what the program is (unless you are one of the handful of people who have actually bothered to tune in to the show. And if you did, you probably tuned right out shortly after). 

Even if these shows are cost-effective and stay on the air for years, they will not be the recognizable sensation that was and still is All My Children and One Life to Live.

In this day and age, there are only a select number of available viewers for daytime television. There are less and less stay-at-home moms, therefore less people to watch the programs, regardless of what they are. However, people invested and made time to watch these programs, even if they had to record them and watch them at night. I am pretty sure this kind of commitment won't be made for these new shows. 

ABC should have respected what the audience actually wants, or been honest and said that they were making a purely business decision. Either way, ABC will have to lie in the bed they have made, which at the moment does not look very comfortable.

ABC sure is "revolutionizing" their daytime line-up. However, this "revolution" seems to be for the worse, rather than the better. If they intended for low ratings and critic's distaste, then they have succeeded. But creating a new successful daytime arena? Not so sure that's happened.

I think the daytime landscape was just fine as it was. I'd much prefer a daytime soap opera over these programs any day. But, sadly, ABC didn't consult this viewer before making this decision.