Naked Cowboy in New York City VS blue M&Ms

by Jamie Rhein on

Perhaps you’ve been at Times Square in New York City and noticed a guy wearing brief style underwear (often white), a cowboy hat, cowboy boots and playing a guitar. I saw him two summers ago. Actually, my daughter and her friend noticed him first. “Say what?!” was their response as they craned their necks when our taxi passed where he strummed. “That’s ‘The Naked Cowboy,'” I told them.

“The Naked Cowboy” is one of Ohio’s own. Robert Burck is from Cincinnati, once the frontier of wilder country eons before the west was won. Burck does look a bit wild and he’s taking on the makers of blue M&Ms. See, Burck has been acting the part of “The Naked Cowboy” for quite some time. His look is a trademark, so much that he has appeared in films and TV shows as “The Naked Cowboy.” A blue M&M in white underwear and a cowboy hat is now playing the guitar on two billboards in Times Square, something Burck is not too pleased about, and he’s suing Mars Inc., the company that makes M&Ms for the infraction.

For Burck, $6 million should make up for the fact that the company co-opted his look for a blue M&M without giving him any compensation. In the meantime, he keeps strumming away in all kinds of weather. Look at picture number two in the photo gallery. It’s snowing.

Actress Bai Ling arrested for shoplifting at LAX

by Aaron Hotfelder on

Bai Ling, an actress famous for her work on The Crow and Entourage, was arrested Wednesday afternoon at Los Angeles International Airport on shoplifting charges. No, she wasn’t trying to steal a diamond necklace or a digital camera. Apparently, she was charged with stealing two Star Magazines and a pack of batteries, worth a total of $16, from the Crews of LA gift shop. Whatever happened to the days when our actresses had the good sense to steal expensive items?

But actually, Bai Ling’s airport theft sort of makes sense to me. I mean, who wants it to be known that they read Star Magazine?

She was charged with misdemeanor shoplifting and ordered to appear in court on May 5, at which point her name will be legally changed to Steal Ling.

Really have no life? Read the arrest report [pdf]. Then find a hobby.

Celebrities to make announcements over airport PA systems

by Catherine Bodry on

You know those routine announcements at the airport that just blend into the fluorescent-lit background? They’re about to become more distinct — or at least that’s what airports are hoping. Many are getting rid of the generic automated voices and replacing them with recognizable celebrity voices. A few have already implemented celebrity announcements; for example, country artist Lee Ann Womack greets visitors this way: “This is Lee Ann Womack inviting you to relax and unwind in one of the airport’s many restaurants. Thank you for choosing Nashville International Airport.”

It seems to me that celebrity announcements will tend to sound commercial, as though the airport were a product being pushed on travelers. I don’t care if Lee Ann Womack invites me to relax — it’s not like I chose the airport. It’s far more likely that I chose the cheapest ticket and my route took me through Nashville.

But then again, as airports become destinations in their own rights, with museums and shopping malls, perhaps it is a good marketing ploy to make each airport stand out from the others.

Listen to Rodney Dangerfield, Ted Kennedy, and other celebrities instruct you in airport etiquette here.

Strange things on planes:


Click the image to read the bizarre story…

“No” to Valentine’s Day sex for Thai teens

by Anna Brones on

Seems like this Valentine’s Day is all about banning things; in Saudi Arabia it’s red roses and in Thailand it’s teenage sex. All jokes aside, the Thai government sees this as a serious issue. That might be on account of the fact that polls show one in four teens plans on celebrating the day of Cupid by sleeping with someone.

So instead of fluffy teddy bears and boxes of chocolates, Thai malls, motels and parks of will be full of police on the love patrol.

But whether or not teens act on the poll predictions remains to be seen; a sluggish economy and the recent death of Princess Galyani Vadhana — King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s sister — have put a general damper on celebrations of any kind.

National Trust for Historic Preservation’s 2008 Dozen Distinctive Destinations

by Anna Brones on

We’ve recently been covering the World Heritage Site “Tentative List” of places in the US under consideration for inclusion as official World Heritage Sites, which has helped to shed a little light on historically and culturally important places to visit. To add some more destinations to your travel list that offer a little more than flashy bars and hotels, and instead some good ole educational value, the National Trust for Historic Preservation has come out with its 2008 Dozen Distinctive Destinations.

The annual list features 12 American cities that stand out for their cultural and recreational experiences different from standard vacation destinations.

And this year’s winners are: Aiken, SC, Apalachicola, FL, Columbus, MS, Crested Butte, CO, Fort Davis, TX, Friday Harbor, WA, Portland, OR, Portsmouth, NH, Red Wing, MN, Ste. Genevieve, MO, San Juan Bautista, CA, and Wilmington, NC.

Coming up with a list every year since 2000, the National Trust for Historic Preservation has a total of 108 distinctive destinations, you can check them all out here, or browse through our photo essay below:

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