Re: Videos

1

I guess she deserves some respect for not going with the vocodered pop star route. (But then, I really did like Paris Hilton's "Stars Are Blind," so maybe she doesn't.)


Posted by: destroyer | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 11:24 AM
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She doesn't deserve any credit for anything; the entire project is an abortion.


Posted by: ben w-lfs-n | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 11:31 AM
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3

Whoa. She sounds like a really REALLY stoned Amy Winehouse.

For all the MMA lovers, Redbelt is pretty darn good, if a little contrived.


Posted by: Klug | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 11:32 AM
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4

I thoroughly enjoyed it, but I don't have sound. Her outfit might have been a bit skimpier.

She's an atheist, you know.


Posted by: John Emerson | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 11:44 AM
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5

Holy crap that is craptastic.


Posted by: Belle Lettre | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 11:45 AM
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6

ok, yeah, that was bad.


Posted by: rob helpy-chalk | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 12:07 PM
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I can't believe she's engaged to Ryan Reynolds, who looks like a Ken doll (see also that Simon Baker). Then again, I couldn't believe that Ryan Reynolds was engaged to Alanis Morrisette.

I know way too much celebrity pop culture. I am going back to my article now.


Posted by: Belle Lettre | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 12:11 PM
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8

The thing is Waits is an incredibly emotive singer, who doesn't need to write strong melodies, because he's just trying to set a mood. Since he generally sounds like he either going to start weeping or cough up a lung, it doesn't matter that the vocal line only has three notes.

You take away the emotive aspect, and you're just left with three notes.


Posted by: rob helpy-chalk | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 12:17 PM
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The Unfogged motherfuckers are off in the real world satisfying their carnal desires.

"Why?", I ask. The real world ain't shit.


Posted by: John Emerson | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 12:21 PM
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What do you need, John? Do you want me to defend analytic philosophy for a while?


Posted by: ogged | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 12:24 PM
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The real world ain't shit but good people.


Posted by: ben w-lfs-n | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 12:24 PM
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Carnal desires, laundry.


Posted by: Cala | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 12:25 PM
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13

Cala is prioritizing.


Posted by: rob helpy-chalk | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 12:26 PM
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vacuuming, carnal desires, baking.


Posted by: Sybil Vane | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 12:27 PM
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15

Remember, Cala. Me + your sister = perfection.


Posted by: ben w-lfs-n | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 12:27 PM
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16

I'm blowin' shit up!


Posted by: Beefo Meaty | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 12:28 PM
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17

16. Is this prior to burning shit down?


Posted by: md 20/400 | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 12:30 PM
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18

Who could resist?.


Posted by: John Emerson | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 12:31 PM
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17: since I'm at home, I certainly hope not. But I wouldn't put it past me.


Posted by: Beefo Meaty | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 12:32 PM
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Going running, defending analytic philosophy, maybe a movie. My desire to have fouls called on LeBron James: Is that Carnal?


Posted by: baa | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 12:32 PM
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21

15: She'd certainly be tempted by your cooking, ben.

13 made me giggle.


Posted by: Cala | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 12:33 PM
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22

20: the most delicious perversion.


Posted by: Beefo Meaty | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 12:34 PM
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23

Update: Q Tonic acquired, mixed with Aviation gin, consumed. Verdict: very tasty, champagne-like mousse, just enough sweetness, all of which qualities are overwhelmed by such a flavorful gin. Would be best in a tonic-heavy mix with a more subtle gin or vodka.


Posted by: Jesus McQueen | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 12:39 PM
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24

20, 22: You lot shouldn't rest your hopes on this world. All that awaits you at the end of the long road is a very good Lakers team.


Posted by: SomeCallMeTim | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 12:41 PM
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The rules of pro basketball baffle me. I was a scorekeeper for Jr-Hi/HS ball 1960-64 and 1985-90, and a few rules changed but most were the same: travelling, palming the ball, reaching in, charging, backing in, and contact in general. And everyone tells me that there's been no rewrite, but that the pro refs call things differently now.

My question is, they still do call these things occasionally. How do either the refs or the players know when that will be? Is it all just personal ref taste now?


Posted by: John Emerson | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 12:42 PM
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Also, it inspired me to come up with a slogan I offer free of charge to makers of a luxury food or drink product: "Unconscionably expensive. Unconscionably delicious."


Posted by: Jesus McQueen | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 12:42 PM
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27

Carnal motherfuckers. Hate 'em. That includes laundry and baking.


Posted by: John Emerson | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 12:43 PM
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24: yeah, and not like they could beat them in the regular season or anything.


Posted by: Beefo Meaty | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 12:45 PM
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24: You misspelled Hornets.


Posted by: JP Stormcrow | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 12:46 PM
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26: I'm really curious how it would taste in a liquor-free southampton. It is absurdly expensive.


Posted by: Beefo Meaty | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 12:46 PM
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Is it all just personal ref taste now?

Yes. Like everything else that's subject to interpretation.


Posted by: SomeCallMeTim | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 12:49 PM
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32

Aviation gin tastes like jet fuel?

Probably better than retsina.

Retsina, lutefisk, natto: the foodie triathlon.


Posted by: John Emerson | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 12:50 PM
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33

I don't think retsina belongs on that list.


Posted by: ben w-lfs-n | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 12:51 PM
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34

Actually, I rather like retsina.


Posted by: Jesus McQueen | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 12:51 PM
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35

back in the day, sonny boy, if you brushed someone's arm with your finger that was interpreted as a foul. Interpretation was limited to processing the data: did he really brush the guy's arm?

Well, not quite. But it was not as pomo as it is these days.


Posted by: John Emerson | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 12:53 PM
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36

Retsina may be a good drink for someone who likes to drink very slowly. To me it evokes fermented 2x4s and for whatever reason, that seems just awful.


Posted by: John Emerson | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 12:55 PM
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37

You guys would do well on that leg of the triathlon. That's all that means.


Posted by: John Emerson | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 12:56 PM
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35: Keep on telling me about the good old days of two-handed set shots, John, 'cuz it makes me want to puke. You know, back when all the interpretation you needed was "the black guy charged."


Posted by: JP Stormcrow | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 12:57 PM
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39

So I hadn't realized until after that thread, but I've had Natto, and it's perfectly good.


Posted by: Beefo Meaty | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 12:58 PM
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natto is good for regulating the irregular cycle
and general PMS, though i forgot what is the active compound
i remember in my childhood we used pine resin instead of the chewing gum, hopefully it's not carcinogenic something
my blot was good, so i'm all good mood :)


Posted by: read | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 1:00 PM
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It would be fine with me if the rules were changed. It just seems peculiar that they haven't. And you have to wonder how the calls are made, especially because you're always hearing people whining. Rashid Wallace got run out of Portland on Ts after bad calls.


Posted by: John Emerson | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 1:00 PM
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I've always enjoyed a good natto maki, and been warned by every single waiter when I ordered it that natto is disgusting. Thanks, sir. It's very appetizing to be told my food choices are disgusting.


Posted by: A White Bear | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 1:01 PM
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Sifu only has to master the lutefisk leg and he'll be a champ.

Maybe I'll have to throw in a hakarl leg.


Posted by: John Emerson | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 1:03 PM
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44

To me it evokes fermented 2x4s

If that's right, it would seem to render the lutefisk leg otiose.


Posted by: Merganser | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 1:17 PM
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I'm in the midst of inexcusably botching a batch of cookies. Half and half white sugar and molasses ≠ brown sugar. Who knew? And I didn't have chips, so I chopped a couple of bars of baking chocolate, which worked out less well than I'd hoped -- some of the lumps have lost their identity and melded with the batter. They'll still be edible, but they're ugly.

On the bright side, I took the kids to volunteer in the local community garden this morning. The nice old guy who runs it gave me the (mild, pained) stinkeye when I showed up with two little kids; after they'd spent a couple of hours planting begonias, mulching, and generally making themselves useful, he made a point of saying they were welcome to come back and volunteer in future. They may behave like savages at home, but by god they can put on a front.


Posted by: LizardBreath | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 1:52 PM
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Sifu had that realization because I informed him that the thing we get at the Japanese restaurant is called the "tuna natto box". The servers there have never warned me about natto, but they did inform a friend who was about to order the tuna yam box that the yam part was almost certainly not what he was expecting.


Posted by: Blume | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 2:00 PM
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The nice old guy who runs it gave me the (mild, pained) stinkeye

It took me three times not to read this as "The nice old guy gave me the runs and (mild, pained) pinkeye"


Posted by: heebie-geebie | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 2:03 PM
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48

I'm also pretty sure I would be down with lutefisk. A Swedish friend used to get care packages from his mother full of all sorts of fish products deemed gross by his wife and other roommates, so he'd call me up to come over and feast.


Posted by: Blume | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 2:05 PM
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Half and half white sugar and molasses ≠ brown sugar

There is some conversion along these lines that's reputed to work, though.


Posted by: ben w-lfs-n | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 2:07 PM
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50

Yeah, I was too lazy to look it up.


Posted by: LizardBreath | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 2:13 PM
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51

Scarlett, why must you commit such crimes?

Somewhat relatedly, I just bought Tom Waits tickets today. For a show in Alabama.


Posted by: Matt F | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 2:18 PM
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52

Cup of brown sugar = Cup of white sugar + 2T molasses.


Posted by: Cala | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 2:19 PM
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||

One of my cow-orkers directed me to this Will-Eisner-drawn comic intended to teach US soldiers in Vietnam how to care for "the spunky teenager of the small arms world", the M16A1.

|>


Posted by: Hamilton-Lovecraft | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 2:20 PM
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54

Could we have a thread where we just link to a bunch of cool comics, like the music threads?


Posted by: David Weman | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 2:27 PM
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Thread.


Posted by: David Weman | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 2:28 PM
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I was too lazy to look it up

Not even on your Eee. Which I can't help but notice you still haven't reviewed. (Okay, I'm a little bit pushy. But I like a blogger that responds to my needs.)


Posted by: Ari | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 2:29 PM
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57

I think I'm going to buy one, Ari.


Posted by: Cala | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 2:40 PM
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56: Jeez, man. I've got a couple of minutes now, so I'll toss one up. It will be absolutely empty of any technical information, but I'll tell you how I've been liking it.


Posted by: LizardBreath | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 2:42 PM
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57: I don't really care if you buy one. I just want you to review one. On your seekrit blog!

58: If you think that I care about technical information, you're completely misreading my skillz and interests.


Posted by: Ari | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 2:44 PM
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Really, I just want to know if you can run MS Word or some such wp program. That's all I care about, if it's possible to write on the thing. Well, I'd also like to know if it's nifty. And if the keyboard is maddening. And could you send me some of your cookies? I don't care if the chocolate is all melty. Thx.


Posted by: Ari | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 2:48 PM
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It will run Open Office with no problems, according to reviews. You can go to this site for lots of information.


Posted by: Cala | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 2:50 PM
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62

The fuck? How did I do that? Here, dammit.


Posted by: Cala | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 2:51 PM
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63

Wow, Ari's gone totally evil.


Posted by: Walt Someguy | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 2:52 PM
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How did I do that?

Because you're commenting from your Seekrit Blog. Duh. Also, what's Open Office? Okay, okay, I'll check your link. You don't have to get all touchy (just because I've outed your SEEEEEKRIT BLOG).


Posted by: Ari | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 2:53 PM
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||

I tried to switch to Open Office a few years ago, but is was just slow enough and just annoying enough to keep me using Word. Has it gotten any better?

Similarly, I just started using Google docs, but I'm finding that formating changes I make don't stick, folders I rename take their old name back, and in general, the whole thing is just annoying enough to make me want to stick with Word. Similar experiences?

|>


Posted by: rob helpy-chalk | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 2:58 PM
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Wow, Ari's gone totally evil.

Eeevil.


Posted by: Jesus McQueen | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 2:59 PM
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Open Office is an open-source clone of MS Office apps such as Word.


Posted by: Hamilton-Lovecraft | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 3:07 PM
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Yes, but is it still just slow enough to make me want to stick with Word.


Posted by: rob helpy-chalk | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 3:09 PM
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I use Open Office Writer right now and it is annoyingly slow. I'm using Windows and I firmly believe that MS deliberately sabotages Open Office.


Posted by: John Emerson | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 3:13 PM
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OK, I only listened to 35 seconds, but ScarJo was not as bad as I was led to believe by the first few comments.

I mean, Lord, it wasn't good. But my ears weren't bleeding or anything. 8 seems like a good analysis.


Posted by: JRoth | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 3:15 PM
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Wow, Ari's gone totally evil.

I just want a review of an Eee. And LB, who thinks that a plot to destroy the world's computers is actually free WiFi on the subway is just the person to write said review. Ideally, of course, she'll write the review from Cala's seekrit blog.


Posted by: Ari | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 3:17 PM
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on the subway, is


Posted by: Ari | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 3:24 PM
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65: Yes, similar experiences with googledocs. I've had to use it this semester for a course, with documents and a spreadsheet accessible to all the grad students teaching the course, and it has been a pain.


Posted by: Blume | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 3:48 PM
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I've really liked Open Office. It's slow to load, but fine to type on.


Posted by: Cala | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 3:54 PM
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For what little it's worth, I hated Open Office. If you only really use the word processor, you might try AbiWord (which I didn't exactly love, either, but much smaller, IIRC).


Posted by: SomeCallMeTim | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 4:02 PM
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Somewhat relatedly, I just bought Tom Waits tickets today. For a show in Alabama.

Lucky skunk.


Posted by: ben w-lfs-n | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 5:22 PM
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Oh, and I like open office just fine; oowriter does take forever to load on my increasingly creaky computer, but once it's open I've never had any problems with it.


Posted by: ben w-lfs-n | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 5:23 PM
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69: Oh please.


Posted by: Hamilton-Lovecraft | Link to this comment | 05-17-08 8:33 PM
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69, 78: A good relatively recent article (and discussion in comments) of "DOS Ain't Done til Lotus Won't Run?" (The article is from an MS employee, so read the comments as well.)


Posted by: JP Stormcrow | Link to this comment | 05-18-08 10:01 AM
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MS is certainly sabotaging things at the political level in regard to establishing open standards for document formats; I won't speak to that.

For them to try to deliberately technically sabotage OpenOffice by making it run slow on Windows would be unbelievably counterproductive; since OO is available on both Windows and Linux, a side by side benchmark would show Linux outperforming Windows, which is not going to help MS's cause any. (I couldn't find any OO Win-vs-Linux benchmarks in a few minutes of googling, unfortunately -- lots of MS Office versus OO benchmarks though.) Even if OO performed slightly better on Linux, I would chalk that up to open source developers spending more time optimizing for Linux and knowing better how to do so.

Microsoft has a hell of a lot more engineering resources on MS Office than are being applied to OO. If there's a big difference between performance of the two on Windows, that's a more plausible explanation than deliberate sabotage.


Posted by: Hamilton-Lovecraft | Link to this comment | 05-18-08 3:11 PM
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FWIW, OO works just fine on my XP box, and in fact loads noticeably faster than Word XP. It's significantly smaller, too; the entire OO suite is something like 300 M, as opposed to the -- what is it now, 2+ G? -- of Office's bloatware.


Posted by: Anarch | Link to this comment | 05-18-08 4:14 PM
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Scarlett's no Zooey Deschanel when it comes to singing, but that video is sort of adorable. She's obviously more determined than talented. I think that's what I like about it.


Posted by: Populuxe | Link to this comment | 05-19-08 9:44 AM
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