Fugsip Girl

My work on a project at The Corporation led me to the website where one of my favorite blogs receives its fodder. Since I don't subscribe to its service, it doesn't appear as though I can publish the large version of this photo, but I wanted to pay a little tribute.

It looks as though Chace Crawford is working diligently to shake the preppy, cherubic look of his Gossip Girl character Nate by arriving to red carpet events with unkempt hair, a nine o'clock shadow and comfortable loungewear. We understand that this is an Old Navy event, but when your co-stars show up in besequined gowns and well-coiffed shiny hair, is it really too much to ask you to shave and invest in a comb?

Gotta eat

I'm intrigued by Lupe Fiasco's new album, mostly because one song is apparently written from the perspective of a cheeseburger. I do love his song "Superstar" and I'm tickled by the idea that he'll be touring with Rihanna and Kanye West this summer.

But really, who anthropomorphizes a cheeseburger on a rap album? I guess Lupe. Here's an excerpt from an interview:

And you've written a song from the point of view of a cheeseburger. How does that work?
"Well, I wrote a song called 'Gotta Eat' to try and talk about health in a cool way. I made the cheeseburger into this mafia boss who has a vendetta against humanity, which is to make sure everyone dies of a heart attack. It's all very satirical - the cheeseburger goes to church, but the church is a Chicken Shack, and the friar is actually a deep fat fryer."

So you've done it in quite a humorous way?
"Yes, but it's got a serious message though. In my neighbourhood there are no food stores and there's no attention to nutrition. If you look back at what you've eaten over the month, you're like 'Damn! All I've eaten is cheeseburgers and pizzas!'"

Not many people would think to tackle the obesity issue by writing a song about a cheeseburger. Do you enjoy trying to present difficult issues in quirky, original ways?
"I just love satire. A lot of satire's very funny, but a lot of it's very dark too. When I find a subject I want to write about, I do tend to think 'How can I present it in an entertaining way?', and that's how the cheeseburger song came about. I like a challenge!"

Hiring hell

One of the reasons I've been working crazy hours here at The Corporation is because there's an open headcount on my team. Thus, I've been reviewing resumes of a bunch of people who are interested in joining our department - some who are qualified, many who are not.

One applicant actually approached me several months ago after I spoke at an event and requested an informational interview to learn more about our work. As an obliging panda, I scheduled time to speak with him and realized that he seemed adrift on his career aspirations. He wasn't sure how to demonstrate how his skills and experiences could contribute to a company's efforts so I bid him good luck. And good riddance.

A few months later, this same individual contacted me with the good news that he landed a job, but wanted to learn different salary ranges for similar positions. I was reluctant to give him any information I had, so he let me be.

Well, I guess he either didn't accept that position or he is dissatisfied because he contacted me with the "good" news that he's applying for my open position. Little does he realize that his haranguing and his inability to explain why he would be an asset has put me in the position of completely dismissing his candidacy.

Kids, if you're going to send Panda!!!! your resume, make sure you can back up your qualifications!

Milk makeover

Thanks to an upcoming biopic of slain SF supervisor Harvey Milk, my little neighborhood is undergoing a face lift! The Castro Theatre's historic, gigantic neon sign, which usually reads "C STRO" or "CAST O" might finally illuminate "CASTRO"! And indeed, it's receiving fresh new paint ... to bring it back to its 1970s glory days.

It's fun to see other businesses in the 'hood undergo a short-lived transformation as the backdrop for the film. For example, an old-school "Double Rainbow" ice cream parlor sign has popped up. The bar formerly known as "Daddy's" is sporting a sign that declares "Toad Hall" (was this really a Castro bar in the '70s?). And there are Cutlass Supremes and Chevy Impalas a-plenty up and down the street. Impressively, they all sport the classic California license plate - the black one with the gold letters!

It all makes me want to throw on a velour sweatsuit with burnt sienna, gold and navy stripes!

Do we have to do the splits? I'm a Christian

Roommates A & J came over for some Thai take-out whilst watching several episodes of the defunct television series Popular. One of the campiest, most over-the-top shows ever made, Popular came to a sad demise after only two seasons and one hell of a cliffhanger.

So we watched a few episodes and thoroughly enjoyed re-connecting with Brooke McQueen, Mary Cherry and Nicole Julian, played by a very convincing Tammy Lynn Michaels. We wondered whether or not the wardrobe department realized that she would be the future Mrs. Melissa Ethridge because they certainly dressed her like a power lesbian and gave her haircuts to match!

You cock-blocked McLovin

Last night, after watching Superbad (a much more enjoyable movie with friends than with your parents, and a reminder of how Michael Cera is a hot comedic genius), PorkChop, Blanca, BritDJ and I braved the rains and headed out to get our drink on.

It was a surprisingly good crowd, considering the wretched weather. We ogled bar patrons, danced a bit, told fables of past hook ups and commented on the go-go dancers.

Earlier, I had been texting a very anxious young man whom I had met last week in LA. It seems he lives in Davis and was hoping for a little panda-loving during his weekend visit in San Francisco. But I'm sort of a tricky bastard and told him I was going to be one place, when in fact we were in a different part of town altogether.

Imagine my surprise when I relayed this to Blanca and he said he was doing the same thing with one of his current love interests! Is this something all people do? Or are my friends and I particularly despicable people?

Makes me that much stronger

VH1 is airing Christina Aguilera's "Back to Basics" tour and it's reminding me of the concert - which I attended last year. Danity Kane and the Pussycat Dolls opened for Xtina and it was truly one of the most fun, most energizing concerts I've been to.

More than that, I went to a local bar the night after the concert and there was Christina herself! She was with a group of gals and they were sequestered in the back section with two bodyguards vigilantly preventing people from disturbing her fun times. Of course, I approached one of the guards and asked if I could say hello. He, of course, declined. Then, I asked if he could relay a message - simply to tell her how great she was the night before. Again, with arms folded, he declined.

In any case, I got to see the petite vocalist in person and she did look like she was having a grand time, even if she would have had a better time with Panda!!!!