Wallowing in the lowbrow.

I have not been proud of my online activities this week. The up side is that I have been working a lot on a variety of projects, but the down side is that, when I do a lot of work on the computer, I feel I've earned "breaks" for my eyes.

My first break? You got it: People Magazine's Sexiest Man list! There's absolutely nothing wrong with Hugh Jackman* and Daniel Craig. When I worked at the library, I always enjoyed the day the Sexiest Man People came out; I'll admit, we kept that bad boy at the counter and in the break room for a day rather than putting it right out on the shelf. (I always preferred Sexiest Man day to Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit day, when the Swimsuit Issue came out, and I would spend the next week pulling it out of the men's bathroom.)

I've also discovered a whole new lowbrow time suck: OMG! Yahoo. The title alone should tell you that the celebrity news, blogs, and photos at that site are meant for a crowd with a low attention threshold. I am addicted to the "What Were They Thinking?" photo sections where they critique celebrity outfits.

So there you have it. I'm not proud of it, but when your eyes need a break, they need a break. Have a great weekend, all, and remember our BOOK MENAGE starts Monday, December 1, with our books: John Bowe's Nobodies and Reg Theriault's How To Tell When You're Tired.

*I'm thinking of going to see Jackman in Baz Luhrmann's new film Australia, even though I'm neutral on Nicole Kidman. I LOVE Baz Luhrman--director of three of my all-time favorite movies: Strictly Ballroom, Romeo + Juliet, and Moulin Rouge.

Comments

[Care]

Yes, Hugh is nice to look at.

I just realized that I will be out of town and lacking PC access until the 2nd week of Dec! ack! But I will take the Menage books and participate when I get back. :)

[lesbrarian]

I knew who, like, three of those guys were in the People list. Maybe it was because I hardly recognized any of them that I didn't find them all that sexy. Guess I'll go back to my cave now.

[Citizen Reader]

Care,
Yay Hugh! He's the only reason I was able to sit through the abysmal chic flick "Someone Like You." No worries on the Menage--we'll chat the books over for a coupla weeks and the comments will always be open!

Lesbrarian!
Well, I still remember the day I knew I was old: when my Entertainment Weekly came and I didn't know more than half the people in it. On the bright side, I could then save some money when I ditched the subscription.

This year's People list didn't particularly set me on fire, but I always have to look at it, in the wee hopes that someday, somehow, Ewan McGregor will make the list. Also: to whom did Blair Underwood sell his soul to stop aging? No way does that guy look 44. (Guys have it so much easier than women, no fair!) And I can't say I agreed with the Joshua Jackson pick...

Okay. I have now officially spent too much time on the People Sexiest Man page.

[Jessica]

I think brows are designed to go up and down for a reason. Did you know that raised eyebrows are the only universally recognized human facial expression or gesture? You read so much highbrow stuff that you should feel entitled to read whatever the heck you want the rest of the time. Nuff said.

(Of course, my reading habits are much like yours, so I'm probably arguing for my own weaknesses here!)

[Katharine]

moulin rouge? I would have never guessed.
Come over and see me at the new Sequoya sometime, I'm gonna be there permanently. It is a fancy pants library you have to see. Early Happy Turkey Day!

[Venta]

Why, oh why did you show us a link to celebrities who dress badly? How will I ever get my work done? The "everything a librarian looks at on the web is essential to work" excuse can only go so far.

[Citizen Reader]

Jessica!
That is a very interesting point, about the eyebrows--I like to raise a good eyebrow myself so I'm glad to know I'll be universally understood.

Sadly, I probably don't read enough highbrow stuff. But sometimes you do just need the eye candy, don't you?

Katharine!
Congrats on being at SEQ permanently--are you excited? That is so great for you, but even greater for SEQ, to have you there. I'll come see you soon!

I LOVED Moulin Rouge. It stands as the one movie I've ever gone to see by myself because I wanted to see it again and nobody else would go. (Of course, a large part of the charm: a singing Mr. Ewan McGregor.) And Romeo and Juliet? I saw that so many times in the theater it was the majority of my entertainment budget for that year.

Happy Turkey Day right back at YOU!

[Citizen Reader]

Venta,
Tee hee. The trick is: "I'm keeping up with pop culture so I can better work with teens." I'm not saying that's true, but it certainly sounds plausible, doesn't it?

You're welcome for the OMG!Yahoo tip. You're going to love it, even if it is a big time waster.

[Jessica]

Technically, the universal raised eyebrow is the one that indicates recognition - the other meanings of raised eyebrows tend to vary. But I raise my eyebrows in recognition to you!

[Sarah]

My parents have their name on a brick in the new SEQ - I told them it was money well spent b/c it meant that their children had spent time there instead of becoming delinquents.

I too saw the list - I am glad they divided it into "decades". I completely skipped the 20-somethings. A few of the 30-somethings were eyeball-worthy. You know you are getting up there when you think Gov. Richardson is sexy.

[Citizen Reader]

Right back at you, Jessica--the one eyebrow salute!

Sarah,
You're not a delinquent? You know I had to say it, mainly because I know you're kind of a wild woman underneath your mild librarian-ish cover. I haven't yet seen the actual magazine (only looked online, where they don't list everyone), but am going to rectify that the next time I go to the library, or I'm stuck in a grocery store line. The last time I looked at a magazine in the grocery store, I got so involved with looking at pictures of Tara Reid's botched lipo and boob job that the nice checkout boy had to come tell me to move forward in line. Sad. I couldn't help it--why do these young, beautiful women permanently muck up their bodies just for a bit more cleavage? Sad.

Oh, and Gov. Richardson is totally a good-looking guy. I love his, for lack of a better word, luxurious hair.

[Lisa]

Do you know what's better than a singing Ewan McGregor? A singing (and dancing) Hugh. Have you seen him in Oklahoma? Sigh. And I'm not going near OMG!

[Citizen Reader]

Lisa,
Oh, it'd be tough to beat a singing and dancing Ewan (which is why I saw Moulin Rouge multiple times), but if anyone can do it, I bet it'd be Hugh. When was he in Oklahoma? Is that something I can get on tape? If so, I needs must!

Come on, click over to OMG Yahoo, you'll love it...