Archive for celebrities

Awkward in the White House

November 27, 2007 · Filed under Al Gore, celebrities, climate change, environment, George Bush, global warming, Inconvenient Truth, news, politics, president

The Whitehouse hasn’t seen awkward since President Clinton got down and dirty with the interns.

But, alas, awkward has revisited again. 

 Al Gore was invited by former rival and favorite environmental-ignorer George W. Bush to his Pennsylvania Avenue home, a.k.a., the White House .

 How’s that for a party??

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 It was all part of a recognition party for the Nobel Prize winners.

 CNN had the Oval Office play-by-play: 

“The two men stood next to other, sharing uncomfortable grins for photographers and reporters, who were quickly ushered in and out.

‘Familiar faces,’ the former vice president said of the media. Bush, still smiling, added nothing.”

 

Bush and Gore met for 40-minutes, although Whitehouse spokesmen declined to comment what the meeting was about. Gore, however, disclosed that the entire meeting was devoted to the topic of global warming.  OOoooo.

Call me crazy, but I don’t think Gore and Bush saved the planet in one 40-minute session.

So those of you worried about rising sea water taking over your backyard– there’s no need to worry. George booked almost a FULL HOUR in his day-planner to solve the problem!  It’s getting cooler already.

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Global warming: who’s laughing?

November 13, 2007 · Filed under Al Gore, celebrities, climate change, energy, environment, global warming, Hollywood, humor, jokes, Leno, Letterman, pictures, politics

Who’s laughing? Well apparently a lot of people.

Not many things, serious or not, get past Leno, Letterman and others. Global warming seems to be no exception to this rule. The fact that global warming is being joked about should be a compliment to activists like Al Gore who try to bring the climate crisis to the national spotlight. Nobody jokes about things that aren’t mainstream, and with global warming being poked-fun-at just about everywhere, it shows just how well-publicized the climate crisis is.

On the other hand, there are a lot more jokes than activism going on. Joking doesn’t help conserve energy, or bring about political reform. To some people, it makes a complete mockery of a serious issue. Jokes alone, aren’t the solution.

TAKE A LOOK, AND LET ME KNOW WHAT DO YOU THINK…  funny OR not?

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“Here’s good news: George W. Bush says that he is committed to fighting global warming. Yeah, well, he nipped that in the bud, didn’t he? … President Bush says he’s really going to buckle down now and fight global warming. As a matter of fact, he announced today he’s sending 20,000 troops to the sun”

–David Letterman

“President Bush told reporters he won’t see Al Gore’s documentary about the threat of global warming. He will not see it. On the other hand, Dick Cheney said he’s seen the global warming film five times, and it still cracks him up.”

–Conan O’Brien

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“According to a survey in this week’s Time magazine, 85% of Americans think global warming is happening. The other 15% work for the White House.”

                     –Jay Leno

 

Leave a comment, let me know: joking about global warming, FUNNY or NOT?

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the TODAY SHOW, “LIVE” from the polar icecaps!

November 5, 2007 · Filed under Al Gore, celebrities, climate change, environment, global warming, Hollywood, journalism, NBC, news, television, Today Show, water

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Matt Lauer was at the top of the Earth in Greenland.

Ann Curry reported from the bottom of the Earth at Antarctica’s McMurdo Station.

Al Roker joined them from a forest on the equator in Ecuador.

And putting it all in perspective was Al Gore, Nobel Prize winner and former vice president.

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“Environmental journalism,” as it’s called, took a giant step into the national spotlight, as 3 of the TODAY SHOW’S top anchors were hosting from world’s away from each other. It was all to shed light on the environmental crisis facing our planet.

When I turned on the TV this morning, I couldn’t believe it was actually happening. A show known for its New York City Rockefeller Center studio, was now reporting from the top, bottom and exact middle of the Earth. Not only an amazing feat, but an ode to the amazing technology available in the communications world.

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I still laugh at those who question the planet’s climate crisis. Would the TODAY Show really travel all the way to the Arctic Circle just for kicks? They’re sending a message, and a strong one at that. NBC is just one of several large organizations taking a stand to bring climate change into the spotlight.

The 3 chosen locations by NBC are all linked by their environmental significance. Greenland is the largest island, and 81% of it is covered by ice. Antarctica holds 90% of the frozen water on our planet. Ecuador, the third location, hosts a large mist forest that consumes vast amounts of carbon dioxide.

“It’s about getting this message out to as many people as possible as quickly as possible.

We face a planetary emergency.”

–Al Gore

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Donald Trump’s birds

October 15, 2007 · Filed under celebrities, Donald Trump, environment, golf, news, overpopulation, politics, Uncategorized

If Donald Trump wants to build a golf course, he will build a golfcourse.

Unless, of course, some birds can stop him.

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The billionaire, who has plans to build the “world’s largest golf course” on a stretch of remote Scottish coastline, is facing a huge environmental setback.  The area is home to some of the country’s rarest birds.

Keeping him from his plans are seven of the country’s most endangered birds on the World Conservation Union’s “Red List.” Skylarks and breeding waders, particularly Lapwings and Redshank are among those in danger.

“Each and every golfcourse I have built has got awards for environmental protection, and I do not think anyone has got as many awards as we have. When we are finished, the course will be better environmentally than before we started.”

-Donald Trump

The golf course, which would also include a luxurious 450-bedroom hotel, 950 vacation homes, 36 golf villas and 500 upscale homes, would create about 800 jobs in its peak season. But not all residents of the area are thrilled. Many of them claim the resort would take away from the beauty of the area.

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Trump is excited for his proposed project because it would not only honor his Scottish heritage, it would honor the sport of golf which originated in Scotland.

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Gore documentary causes alarm, lawsuit in Britain

October 2, 2007 · Filed under Al Gore, celebrities, climate change, environment, global warming, Hollywood, Inconvenient Truth, politics, president

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The British government distributed Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth to over 3,500 secondary schools in England, but not without controversy.

Steward Dimmock, a school governor, is now sueing the British government.  He says the idea to distribute the An Inconvenient Truth is overtly political and shows bias.

“Given the serious inaccuracies in the film and the misrepresentations it contains, the film is irredeemable.”
-Paul Downes, a lawyer for Dimmock

Dimmock, who has two children in British public schools, aged 11 and 14, claims only half of the Academy Award winning  movie contains “scientific fact,” while the rest, is “pure politics” and “sentimental mush.”  He believes the movie is out to influence rather than inform, and says the British government is taking part in propaganda in public schools.

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 The government argues the movie can be presented by teachers in various ways.   For instance, posing the question “what do you think?” or merely advising them that the movie is just one opinion.

Would showing the movie fly in public schools in America?  Not if it was sanctioned by the government.   According to most, the Bush administration is more likely to censor the movie than sponsor it.

The lawsuit does, however, bring up some great topics for discussion.   Is climate change a political issue?  Afterall, Gore claims it is much more than politics, it is a “moral issue.” And at what rate should school children be subject to climate change predictions?   They are, of course, the generation to make a difference.

Haven’t seen it yet??? Watch the trailer here.

 

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And the Emmy goes to…Earth!

September 22, 2007 · Filed under celebrities, global warming, Hollywood, recycling

 At the Emmy awards last week celebs didn’t walk down a green carpet– but, it wouldn’t have been all that surprising if they did.

The executives in charge of the awards show, FOX and the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, launched an environmentally-friendly campaign to lower the carbon emissions of the entire event.

Celebs showed up in alternative fuel and hybrid vehicles, then walked the red carpet created entirely of recycled plastic bottles.  The sun, water and wind powered the Shrine Auditorium in L.A.  Meanwhile, the after-party featured an array of local and organically grown foods.  Behind the scenes, stage lighting was reduced by 15%, and biofuel generators were used as backup power. The solar panels will be donated to a local school, plants and flowers will be donated and reused, and the left-over food will be given to a shelter.

Hollywood once again proves that “going green” isn’t just good for the environment, it’s also the latest trend. Is it meaningful?  Who cares!

Sure, the hybrid is the “cool” car to have, and maybe that new organic garden of yours is just to impress your neighbors. Perhaps An Inconvenient Truth is “accidentally” left on your coffee table, and Al Gore just “happens” to be your favorite politician. Yeah, ok.

Green is cool and Americans know it.  Besides, if Leonardo DiCaprio is doing it- why wouldn’t you?

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