| Culture evolves, foul words made fair
The same could be said for a list of other words and phrases that have gained more of a foothold in pop culture. The word "retarded," for example, has been largely shunned by polite society, including those who work with the mentally challenged, the preferred term. Different definitions In the past decade, however, entertainers and teenagers have begun using the word with more regularity in a variety of ways, including to mean being out of control (in good and bad ways), being severely intoxicated or inebriated, being silly or as a way of describing a melodic piece of music. In 2003, the pop group Black Eyed Peas released the song "Let's Get Retarded," a catchy party anthem that gained buzz. To gain more mainstream acceptance, however, the song's lyrics had to be changed to "Let's Get It Started," a minor recasting that led the image-conscious National Basketball Association to use the tune in its advertising.
The wo-ooo-oes of feminism
When a term such as 'hot pussy' can be seen as empowering for women, you know it's still a man's world, writes Jim Schembri. WHEN most people consider the state of modern feminism they think of equal rights, respect in the workplace, political influence, social change, stuff like that. I used to, too. But now when I consider the state of modern feminism I think of just two words: "hot pussy". Tap "hot pussy" into a search engine and you pretty much get what you expect hardcore porn. "Hot pussy" is also the term Channel 10 is using to advertise its new reality TV program, Pussycat Dolls Presents: The Search for the Next Doll. The show chronicles the talent quest to fill a vacancy in the popular girl group whose main claim to fame is off-the-chart sexiness. Nothing wrong with that.
Revisiting the mind of Utah and its Internet search choices
A story published in the Salt Lake Tribune in August, titled "Google Trends: The Mind of Utah," made some interesting and funny, yet unscientific allegations about the Internet searches of area residents. The idea that a city's "cyberspace doppelganger" can be determined by charting its top Internet search terms is an intriguing one, and Google Trends helps make that kind of study accessible. However, the story offered a selection of search terms that seemed aimed at digging up the "mundane, bizarre, ribald, homey, gluttonous, addictive and slightly perverse and surreal world" of Salt Lake City. .
Quiksilver Launches Tropidelica Travel Journal Website
Quiksilver, the trailblazing guide to boardriding culture, has just launched the Tropidelica mini-site. Check out quiksilver.com/tropidelica to experience the behind-the-scenes, multimedia travel journal of the surf team's trip deep into Mexico. Click through the interactive slideshow featuring Quiksilver's freshest action and lifestyle photos. Watch all of the exclusive movies documenting the surfing and crazy antics from Mark Healey, Danny Fuller and Ry Craike. Healey will even tell you how to ride a bull in boardshorts. The Tropidelica site also highlights Kelly Slater, Dane Reynolds and Fred Patacchia's brand new Pro Series Boardshorts. For the first time ever, read about each of the riders' influences and watch "design inspiration videos" to see how these signature boardies were created.
GSN Orders New Game Show from Buena Vista Productions
SANTA MONICA, March 29: GSN, the network for games, has ordered 40 half-hour episodes of Camouflage, a new hidden word puzzle and trivia game show, from Disney's Buena Vista Productions. Camouflage marks the first collaboration between Buena Vista Productions and GSN. The series is set to begin production the last week of May, and will be executive produced by Terrence McDonnell and Jonathan Barry. Producers are currently casting the role of the host. Taping in Hollywood, Camouflage is a fast-paced game show of hidden word puzzles with crossword type clues ranging from general knowledge to pop culture. Contestants are shown letter puzzles and they must find the correct words hidden among the puzzle's decoy letters. Jamie Roberts, GSN's SVP of programming, commented: "I couldn't be more thrilled than to be in business with Buena Vista Productions on this smart, playful, first-class game show.
Research finds that culture is key to interpreting facial expressions
The University of Alberta study reveals that in cultures where emotional control is the standard, such as Japan, focus is placed on the eyes to interpret emotions. In cultures where emotion is openly expressed, such as the United States, the focus is on the mouth to interpret emotion.
Across two studies, using computerized icons and human images, the researchers compared how people from Japanese and American cultures interpreted images, which conveyed a range of emotions.
"These findings go against the popular theory that the facial expressions of basic emotions can be universally recognized," said Dr. Takahiko Masuda a U of A professor in the Department of Psychology. "A person's culture plays a very strong role in determining how they will perceive emotions and needs to be considered when interpreting facial expression"
These cultural differences are even noticeable in computer emoticons, which are used to convey a writer's emotions over e-mail and text messaging.
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