May 07, 2008

'Grand Theft Auto IV' Tops Half-Billion Dollars in Sales in One Week

Grand Theft Auto IV has achieved sales of over $500 million during its first week. Will the nation survive?

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May 02, 2008

Cheap Chic

Customers are flocking to big-discount clothing stores such as Steve and Barry's, and celebrities are lining up to endorse them. Is it a welcome rejection of materialism and slavery to fashion, or simply making a virtue of limited expectations in relatively tough economic times?

 Actress Amanda Bynes showcasing her new “Dear” line available at Steve and Barry's stores

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May 01, 2008

Best-Selling Book Shows Market Power of Christian Media

A strange, spiritually infused novel by a troubled Oregonian tech representative has hit the best-seller lists, thanks to plenty of free publicity in Christian media outlets. But it may be a very un-Christian book.

  Garage warehouse: William P. Young, left, author of The Shack, helps publishers Brad Cummings and Wayne Jacobsen pack books for shipping.

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April 30, 2008

Lifetime Network Pursues Homosexual Audience

The Lifetime TV network is pressing forward with a campaign to lure a younger, more urban, more homosexual audience, giving the lie to the notion that American homosexuals are endangered by widespread oppression.
Publicity photo for Lifetime TV show 'How to Look Good Naked' 

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Mel Gibson to Star in Crime Drama

For the first time since 2002, actor Mel Gibson will be the lead actor in a new movie. Gibson has signed on to star in Edge of Darkness, a crime thriller based on a 1985 BBC miniseries.

Mel Gibson, Rory Culkin, Abigail Breslin, and Joaquin Phoenix in 'Signs' 

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April 29, 2008

Obama Move Suggests Limits to Acceptable Black Americans' Hatred of Whites

Finally suggesting that there are some boundaries to acceptable hatred of white people by black Americans, Sen. Barack Obama has cut his ties with his controversial former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) and the Rev. Jeremiah Wright 

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'Grand Theft Auto IV' Game Tackles Serious Ideas, Issues

The latest installment in the Grand Theft Auto video game series takes on an interesting subject: immigration and the American Dream.

 Image from Grand Theft Auto IV video game

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April 28, 2008

Miley Cyrus, Unprotected Celebrity

The embarrassing Miley Cyrus Vanity Fair photo shows the value of public relations people—and why investing real money makes people more careful about what they do.

Miley Cyrus in Vanity Fair photo shoot 

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April 24, 2008

Fallon to Host NBC's 'Late Night'

Saturday Night Live alum Jimmy Fallon reportedly will take over Conan O'Brien's spot as host of NBC's Late Night next year.

Jimmy Fallon (r) and Justin Timberlake as Bee Gees on 'Saturday Night Live'

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S. T. Karnick's writings on popular culture and other related topics have appeared in numerous publications, including The Weekly Standard, National Review, Tech Central Station, The National Interest, The American Spectator, The American Enterprise, FrontPage Magazine, Books and Culture, Christianity Today, Insight, The Washington Times, The Indianapolis Star, The Washington Examiner, Chronicles, American Outlook, and many others. Please visit this site regularly for an informed perspective on movies, books, music, TV, and other cultural topics.

Contact S. T. Karnick.