BuzzSugar

TV Nicknames: The Good, The Bad, The Baffling

BuzzSugar — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 08:15:47 PST

The unveiling of Turtle's real name on the most recent episode of Entourage - it's Sal! - got me thinking about other nicknamed TV characters and the (occasionally even goofier) real names they hide. You can see some of my favorite nickamed characters, from Thirteen to Tootie, and learn their real names if you just hit "Start."

Foxy Knoxy: 8 Things to Know About Amanda's Crazy Case

Annie Scudder — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 16:50:59 PDT

"The nightmare is over," explained Deana Knox, after an Italian jury decided to overturn her sister Amanda Knox's murder conviction today. The bad dream continues for the family of the victim, Meredith Kercher, but after a generally shady legal drama filled with shaky evidence and sensational statements made in the press and the courtroom, many onlookers believe justice has finally been served for 24-year-old Amanda Knox and her former boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito. The pair will be free to leave prison now, after spending four years behind bars for Meredith's murder. As the bizarre case continues to capture the attention of people around the world, here are some of the details you might want to know.

Who was the victim? "Meredith has been completely forgotten in all of this," the sister of the victim lamented at a press conference before today's verdict. On the night she died, 21-year-old English exchange student Meredith Kercher had decided to watch The Notebook and eat pizza with her English friends before heading home. Known to those close to her as "Mez," Meredith's family described her as "a lovely, intelligent person," and she had earned a degree in European studies.
Why Foxy Knoxy? Many murders happen every day without catching the attention of international media. Amanda Knox's youthful good looks brought her the tabloid nickname "Foxy Knoxy" (originally given to her for her sly performance on the soccer field) and many strong opinions based not on the evidence, but the public's perception of her.
Was she Jessica Rabbit or a she-devil? It's not just the press who paid attention to Amanda's looks. In court she's been called a "she-devil," a "witch," and a "femme fatale" by the prosecution, and her attorney called her an "angel face" similar to Jessica Rabbit. He said, "Jessica Rabbit looks like a man-eater, but she is a faithful and loving woman," he continued, she "is not bad, she's just drawn that way."
Who is Rudy Guede? Following the murder, Ivory Coast immigrant Rudy Guede, an acquaintance of Meredith, fled Italy. His fingerprints and DNA were found in Meredith's room and on her body, and he was convicted of the murder and sexual assault after being granted a fast-track trial. He originally said he had sex with Meredith and then came out of the bathroom to find a strange man standing over her with a knife, but later changed his story to fit the prosecution's, saying it was Raffaele and Amanda participating in a sex game gone wrong. He is now serving his prison sentence, and some protesters outside the courthouse today chanted, "Shame, shame. They condemned the black man."
What about the dark sex games? The prosecution alleged that Amanda and Raffaele killed Meredith in a drug-induced orgy, and the fact that Meredith dressed as a vampire the night before her death - as it was Halloween - fueled rumors that Amanda had a thing for witchcraft. In fact, the prosecutor in Amanda's case, Giuliano Mignini, had used this reasoning before, reopening a previous murder investigation on the theory that the killer was a satanist from a cult.
How was her sexual history used against her? Much was made of the fact that Meredith had become upset with Amanda for leaving a sex toy around their flat. There were also mentions in the press of Amanda's "visible cold sores" on her lips. And when she went out with Raffaele to buy underwear after being locked out of her crime-scene flat, it was considered an insensitive reaction to the murder. Footage of them shopping for the thong underwear, recorded by the store's cameras, was played across the TV and Internet. Amanda's sexuality was meant to somehow prove her guilt.

Find out more about her bizarre behavior and the bad evidence below.

Gwyneth Paltrow and Matt Damon Team Up For a Contagion Photo Call at Venice

Allie Merriam — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 08:12:30 PDT

Gwyneth Paltrow and Matt Damon joined director Steven Soderbergh today at the Venice Film Festival. Along with their costars Jennifer Ehle and Laurence Fishburne, they posed for photos at a press event for Contagion. Matt, still sporting the shaved head he needs to shoot Elysium, was in LA recently for the movie's junket - Matt shared his nickname "Red Alert" and spoke about working with Steven and Gwyneth. Gwyneth, meanwhile, added to the festival's glamour in a bright Prada dress. She rose early for the photo call after recently getting engrossed in a new TV show. She tweeted yesterday, "Just finished AMC's The Killing. Devastation! Any suggestions for a new series to get into?" Steven and Matt will team up later this week in NYC for their US premiere; though, Gwyneth isn't expected to join in on the Big Apple fun. However, Matt will have another leading lady from their star-studded cast for company on the red carpet, since Marion Cotillard will attend.

Roundup: Let's Play Ball!

Elka Karl — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 03:05:00 PDT

Baseball games have been a constant at our house this year, from attending home Giants games to watching them on TV and listening to them on the radio. If your household has a similar preoccupation, celebrate your love for the game by adding some vintage baseball poster art to your walls.

My current favorite is the darling Saturday Evening Post cover (middle row, middle poster) from Aug. 10, 1940. Painted by Douglass. Contact the Julia Santen Gallery for pricing information.

Head to eBay to pick up this Signed Newark Eagles vs. NY Cubans Poster ($274). This replica game-day poster has been signed by 51 players. The poster itself was produced on cardboard as an advertisement and comes with a detailed letter of authenticity.

For something a little more whimsical, you can pick up Rabid Charlie Racater of the Detroit Wolverines ($13, top right). According to the artist, "During his day, Charlie Racater was one of the more popular players in the National League, despite his unfortunate nickname. He played second base for the Wolverines from 1883-89."

To shop the other posters, just click on each image!

Under the Fur: Discover the World of Furries and Plushies

Tara Sharp — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 12:38:00 PDT

The "furry congressman" David Wu has resigned. Wu earned his nickname when an image of him in a tiger costume surfaced earlier this year. With the bizarre accounts of Wu's behavior and the back story on the images, we don't know if the congressman actually is a furry, but even if he is it may not be as sexually deviant as you thought.

Furry fans dress up in animal suits, attend conventions, and create artwork and comics about animals with human characteristics and personalities. While furries may or may not be sexual, the term plushophilia ("plushies") is typically used for the sexual fetish we've seen on TV and in movies. Let's look at the world of this costumed fandom and how it has been portrayed in pop culture now! And share your personal experiences with furries and plushies, sexual or otherwise, in the comments.

The Shiba Inu Puppy Cam Is Back - Again!

Mandy Harris — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 11:50:57 PDT

Third time's a charm! Shiba Inu mama Kika, who brought us the first two adorable iterations of the Shiba Inu puppy cam, has just given birth to a third (and final) litter. The six puppies - nicknamed the C-Team 6-Pack - are available for your viewing pleasure now; last time I checked, they were nursing hungrily. Awwww. Take a look now, and kiss your productivity goodbye!

Broadcasting Live with Ustream.TV

Pet Profiles: Hi, My Name Is Lily

PetSugar — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 11:07:01 PDT

Reader mieko14 shares all about her little lady Lily for our Pet Profiles series. Chronicle your own pet tales in our Pet Profiles group for a chance to be featured on PetSugar!

PetSugar: When did you get your dog and what's her breed?

mieko14: We met Lily in November of 1998 and instantly fell in love with her, so she came home with us that very day. She was part of a litter of six Parson Russell puppies, and as soon as we saw her little fuzzy eyebrows, we were smitten.

PetSugar: What's your daily doggie routine?

mieko14: Lily is now nearing 12, so while she still has the occasional terrier energy streak, she spends much of her time leading the life of leisure and enjoying her golden years. She goes on a morning walk with my husband, wolfs down a quick breakfast, sunbathes on the deck in the morning, naps on "her" guest bedroom bed in the afternoon, and takes a walk with me in the evening after work before dinner. Then we veg in front of the TV.

PetSugar: What's your dog’s favorite food, pastime, and treat?

mieko14: Lily attempts to enjoy just about anything you put in front of her (edible or inedible). But she especially loves Spam, bacon, chorizo, and other processed meats (offered sparingly). Outside of sunbathing, her favorite pastime when she’s feeling spunky is to whip her knotted rope toy around her head like she is breaking the neck of a small animal.

To find out mieko14's favorite moment with her little one, read more.

PetSugar: What was your all-time favorite moment with your dog?

mieko14: It's tough to name just one, but my favorite thing about Lily is her quirkiness. She is a bit of a loner. Given the opportunity to play with a dog park full of other canines, she usually chooses to play by herself. The game of choice is long-distance sprinting, and she will run herself into the ground all by herself with no pursuer in sight. Occasionally, another dog joins in, but soon loses interest (I don’t blame him). At the beach, she chases the drops and splashes made by her feet hitting the water and attempts to catch them in her mouth. This behavior sometimes makes us question our parenting skills, but in the end she seems happy!

PetSugar: Anything else we should know about your dog?

mieko14: While we try to keep her coat cropped short (she's a rough coat Parson Russell), occasionally her fur gets out of control. It is those times when she sprouts bushy eyebrows that earned her the nickname “Lloyd” (after Lloyd Bridges).

View 4 Photos ›

Have a pet you want to praise? Share your pet's tales in our Pet Profiles group or send me a Private Message for a chance to be featured on PetSugar! If you want to show off your heartbreaker everyday upload your pet to your PopSugar profile.

City Kitty

Pet Community — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 13:38:38 PST

PetSugar Community member putalittlefireonit introduces us to her kitty Gridley, who's new to city life, in the Cat Palace group:

Meet Gridley - a Tabby formerly from Danville, CA, and now a resident of San Francisco! He enjoys watching "Cat TV" from one of three main windows. He loves his cat tree, small mouse-shaped toys and hiding from the noise of the heater. Gridley was named for a city in California, but I have nicknamed him Linus because he sucks on his baby blanket.