(photo courtesy of the Pittsburgh Tribune)

Poor Jo Dee Messina. The release of Jo Dee’s upcoming Unmistakable C-D has once again been postponed by her record label and she’s none too happy about it. Jo Dee tells Belleville, Illinois New Democrat, “The album has been (ready) since 2007, and there is always some sort of reason they have not to release it … In fact, it was supposed to be released April 13th, and now (it) has been delayed (again). It’s just so frustrating for me.”

Popularity: 2% [?]

Have you heard about Chat-roulette? It’s a video chat site where you are randomly paired with another user for a real-time video chat. Yeah, I said random. Just think of the things you might do when you’re alone, and think about what strangers might be doing, and you’ve got it. Although the Russian teenager who invented it has put in some safety features, it’s really hard to police the site in terms of online safety. Read the article …

LiveScience.com

Popularity: 3% [?]

According to a new survey, 18- to 29-year-olds (otherwise known as “millennials” or “Generation Y”) lead the nation in getting tattoos.  Amazingly, 38 percent of “millennials” have at least one tattoo. While that isn’t a huge increase over the 32 percent of 30- to 46-year-olds who have ‘em, what makes the younger generation special is how many tattoos they get. 50 percent of all inked millennials have more than one tattoo — and 18 percent have more than five. On the other hand, among 30- to 46-year-olds with a tattoo, half only sport one and only 9 percent have more than five.

Source: Pew Social Trends

Personally, I’ve always considered tattoos as the economically challegned person’s way of investing in art, but it’s always fascinated me as to how someone could put a picture of something on their body that they wouldn’t ever hang in their living room. So, in order for me to learn, let me ask …

• Do you have tattoos? How many? How many do you regret?
• Anyone get a tattoo later in life? What inspired it?
• Are your kids involved in something or have they done something that shocks you? How did they get into it? Who influenced them?

Popularity: 5% [?]

First let me say that I have had zero interest in seeing “Avatar” from the very beginning.  From what I read, it just didn’t excite me to the point where I would want to beat the drum for it, let alone see it.  Besides, I don’t have time to go to movies anymore … although I saw “Star Trek” nine times last summer (because I’m a Trek fan).  Anyway, I just happened to find a three hour window in my schedule with nothing to do, so I thought I’d add to James Cameron’s retirement fund. 

This, by the way, was the first 3D movie I’d ever seen.  By the time I started going to movies in the 60’s, Hollywood’s initial venture into 3D was over , so I’d never seen one before.  I was actually kind of looking forward to THAT anyway.  So, I sat myself down in my 13 dollar seat with my 15 dollars worth of food and settled in for my evening of  ”Avatar”  viewing.  I expected to be, and was, blown away by the visual effects.  But as the story progressed, I got the feeling that I’d seen this movie before.  Then it dawned on me.  And THEN it bothered me!  I remembered Cameron saying that people were craving original storytelling.  Original my foot.  “Avatar” is “Dances With Wolves” in outer space.  ”Dances With Wolves” on acid, to be honest … with a bit of ”The Empire Strkies Back” (the Imperial walkers), a dash of ”Shane” (noble gunfighter takes on a whole town), and a sprinkling of “How The West Was Won” (Yankee imperialism).  I found the script to be weak … as in, there wasn’t a time that I didn’t know what was going to happen next.  In short, I didn’t think ”Avatar” lived up to the hype.  Would I recommend it?  Yes … because it was so beautfiul to look at. Watch “Dances With Wolves” first.  That way you’ll know the story and can just watch it for its beauty.  If you haven’t seen it, and you DO go to see it, see it in 3D.  Would I go see it again?  Nah.  “Gone With The Wind”, it ain’t.

Popularity: 4% [?]

 (photo: Getty) 

This one’s for the girls.  Texts.  So easy … so convenient.  But firing off too many messages can kill a new relationship!  According to Cosmo.com, here are times when you need to resist texting …

1. AFTER YOUR FIRST FEW DATES. It may be tempting to text him after an amazing date, but resist the urge.  ”Reaching out lessens the thrill of the chase for him,” says psychologist Diana Kirschner, PhD, author of the upcoming book Love in 90 Days.

 2. WHEN YOU’RE DRUNK. Yeah … don’t … just don’t.  Especially if the text you send suggests something intimate.  “Being too available lets a guy know he has all the leverage,” Krieger says.

 3. WHEN YOU’RE ANGRY.  A sure-fire way to look insecure is to fire off texts when you’re too chicken to call. Remember, you can’t take it back, the way an in-person comment can be overlooked (maybe).

 4. WHEN YOU’RE TRYING TO BE FUNNY.  Sarcasm and joking can come off, well, wrong in a text.  That goes for e-mails too.

Popularity: 9% [?]