Smoking will be a bigger factor in determining film ratings, the Motion Picture Association of America said Thursday, but critics said the move does not go far enough to discourage teens from taking up the habit. MPAA Chairman Dan Glickman said his group's ratings board, which previously had considered underage smoking in assigning film ratings, now will take into account smoking by adults, as well.

That adds smoking to a list of such factors as sex, violence and language in determining the MPAA's G, PG, PG-13, R and NC-17 ratings. Film raters will consider the pervasiveness of tobacco use, whether it glamorizes smoking and the context in which smoking appears, as in movies set in the past when smoking was more common.
--Yahoo! News

Soon we won't have to be responsible for any of our own actions! We can just blame it on the movies!

Some of George's Peeves:

1 - When song titles use the word "Runaway" instead of "Run Away" when the line they are drawing from for the title is as in "I will run away" not "I am a runaway." Del Shannon is fine; he means she's a runaway. Cher, the Corrs, Janet Jackson, Avril Lavigne, and Pink have all pissed me off and written their track as "Runaway" when they mean "Run Away." And what's worse: I like each of those songs!

2 - Ditto that for "Everyday" and to a lesser extent, "Anyday." Damn it Sheryl Crow and Ani DiFranco. Unless you mean an "Everyday event" stop it! Every...day is a winding road! Not everyday! Raaaaghhh! "Anyday" seems more stylistic for DiFranco, really, as if she means "anyday event."

Raaagh.

I was putting out the garbage and as I was walking back, a middle-aged couple met me on my way back to the house. I actually interrupted them as the wife was chastising her husband for the taking the "long" way by using the sidewalk when she would prefer to cut directly across the grass.

I said, "Excuse me, do you use this backyard as a walkway usually?" I got a gruff "Yeah, right to the church[across the street from my backyard]." I politely said, "Would it be alright if you didn't? This is a private residence now."

"Well, we've been doing it for years," he said. "Well, we live here now. And I would appreciate it if you didn't go through this way. I live here."

"Well," he mumbled, acting as if I was telling him that up was down and left was right. He struggled for words and motioned to the dealership, "A lot of people do it because you have the dealership next door." And...?

"Well, we would prefer if they didn't."

"Well, y'know..." he shrugged and they walked off. His wife remained stoically puzzled throughout the exchange.

This is one of a dozen or so instances we've had with people since we've lived here. Everyone seems so confused by this. It's a backyard, not a parking lot. I have never known anyone to cut through a backyard even if you didn't know it wasn't a 9-5 business. Or people to be so taken aback when called on it.

This calls for a fence, barbed wire, and attack dogs, if ever.

And, no, it's not the end of the world that people are doing it, but there's no reason that they should be. Walk the fuck around. And at least lie to me and say it won't happen again; don't argue when I say to get off my property.

Much love and respect to the Dresden Dolls tonight. If ever I thought the Panic! At the Disco tour was a shifty idea, it's been very much confirmed. First off, let me say: I don't like people in general. I really wish that I could simply limit it to people at concerts, or people at the movies, or people who do certain things... It's just easier to just say people.

The fact that you are unable to pry yourself from a band that you do not like and get on with your next 45 minutes speaks volumes about a person. The Dresden Dolls gave their all tonight, which amazed and inspired me--something I told both Amanda and Brian after their set, which they seemed genuinely touched by. They could have gone out there, rocked the fuck out of "Modern Moonlight," smashed through "Backstabber," and then realized the audience just wasn't feeling it for "Missed Me," and then phoned in the rest of the performance, and left mopes.

But they didn't! They are clearly in this for their music and their fans (and they're willing to suffer through the boo's, or catcalls from the 14 year old girls with "Fancy" or "2Cute" written in pink letters on their mini sweatshorts), and bringing out powerhouse performances.

It's also unfortunately seeming to have an unhealthy response for Panic! At the Disco because there's no respect at all between the two fans at that show, and probably many of the others; the Dolls fans just aren't having much to do with them. It's just not a cross-section of fans.

I love the Dresden Dolls, and downloaded the mp3's and listen casual to Panic!, but I just was so turned off by the attitude that I just didn't want to see Panic! anymore. I don't expect Panic! to say something like "Dudes, audience dudes... that's fucked up--stop that," both because I just don't think it occurs to them, and also just because I just don't have that kind of faith in most bands.

The fact that the Dolls pulled out "War Pigs" mid-set showed they were going head-first and giving their all; having Meredith Yayanos come out for "Missed Me"-- c'mon, it's almost wasted. During "Coin-Operated Boy," Brian stopped after one of the "I want a..." and said something like "Ok, get it out of your systems; 'you suck,' 'fuck you,'" and let the audience that clearly wasn't having it shout a-frenzied. And then they went back and killed again with "Half Jack" and "Girl Anachronism." It was disheartening to see people just so fucking rude for the sake of being rude.

I ended up meeting another street teamer named Seri, and just ended up waiting to be told where to go (the Nokia Theatre did not allow posters to be hung inside or swag to be handed out in or right outside the venue). Amazingly, I was let in with my bag. The other two street-teamers weren't so lucky; when the security saw they had promo stuff confiscated it til after the show... And I don't understand why, considering, well, it's licensed and you'd think the label would plan for something like that. That's ok; it was a nice theatre and not in the same way Webster Hall is, where hanging posters with duct-tape looks ultra-underground and snazzy. After the show, we did hand out lots of stuff, and much of that went over well (and the posters went like hot cakes, all things considered... guess we got the people who just wanted free shit, or the 3rd of the crowd that weren't assholes).

I didn't see much of Panic! at all; I mostly just wasn't in the mood, and I wanted to be accessible for the street team in case someone appeared and offered some word of what to do. I saw "I Write Sins, Not Tragedies" and their cover of Smashing Pumpkins' "Tonight, Tonight." I wasn't particularly taken, but the audience was ecstatic. I heard almost all of it though, from outside the theatre room (guests could roam pretty freely during the show). I'm not sure if I was underwhelmed because the reception the Dresden Dolls got, or just because the music wasn't particularly inspired onstage... that it really did seem kinda phoned-in.

Dolls still get high kudos... and I can't believe how many more dates they have to struggle through.

I was roaming on Last.fm in the forums, and I found a group there for people born in 1993, which astounded because it sometimes doesn't occur to me that people born in 1993 would be old enough to use the Internet. It just seems like those people should still be like 5. Word.

A 17-year-old posted a cheap shot, "Do your mothers know you're not on Yahooligans?" to the 12 and 13 year olds.

Someone responded with "discrimeinasion against these of a particularrly age grouped will not stand . who agrees cares what year you wre born in it cant be helped! its the same think as being of mean to african americans because they were born african ameri can they cant help it so you shouldent b like that to them or to us! ONE DAY TWEENS WILL RULE THE WORLD!!!!!!!! fucker"

I probably shouldn't have chimed in, but it was leering at me, wanting to say something probably as equally cheap, "Not with that grammar." I even added a little winking smiley face, which can make the different between a joke and a firestorming attack on the nation, on the Internet subtlety meter.

That Someone posts on my profile's "shoutbox" (sorta like a quippy comments section on the page): "are you gay" and so I responded with "Why, are you hitting on me?" He comes back with, "not at al" and while I should've been offended he would leave me for Al, he posts right after, "my dad says your going to hell."

Ah, the youth. Admittedly, that last period wasn't actually his, so maybe it should be put outside the quotation marks... I tried to keep it light: "I've always enjoyed travel." All I get back is "do you even no what hell is?" He seems concerned, here. He wants to make sure I didn't just put my foot in my mouth and confuse it with the new Ibiza-esque gay-vacay destination. Because I would be embarrassed.

How he responds to "I've learned that it's a threat proposed by righteous individuals who have no evidence of it's existence, to promote fear of the masses," should be fun. Fighting with 13 year olds is the best! Especially when their goal to spread "discrimeinasion."

MySpace makes me want to break things sometimes. I see bulletin after bulletin of "Omigod, this 14-year-old girl was killed 'cause of MySpace," and "The cops are using MySpace to find underage drinkers!" and "Check out how if you follow this bizarre sequence of numbers, it proves 9/11 was planned in advance 200 decades ago by elves..."

It's a huge old chainletter, and people just blindly forward it.

Sometimes VH1 makes me skin want to fly off my body. For the most part, it's their incessant need to bite the hand that feeds them, and they seem to hate music videos and celebrities.

But when they act fucking stupid when mocking others... that's what bothers me most. They had this special called Totally Canadian or something vaguely that. It basically "lovingly" trashed on the country, which is... whatever. It consisted mostly of "Oooh, caribou is funny word!" and made Americans seem like bigger morons than they were implying of the Canadians.

After the obvious mentions of William Shatner and Alanis Morissette (and mind you, I was watching this, so I am to blame for my irritation partially), the start talking about the national bird of Canada: the Canadian Goose.

Well, see that's all well and good, but it's not a fucking Canadian goose! It's a Canada Goose. What pisses me off most is that they had actual Canadians on the show commenting on the goose (although none of them mentioned it by name, because their comments were after the initial introduction), and if any of them either corrected the producers, they were ignored entirely. Or, they let it happen.

I know it's a stupid little thing. But it was a stupid little thing that could've been corrected, and shines really bad on the people that are supposedly southernly superior.

My work e-mail is getting more and more SPAM... I have like six e-mail accounts that get forwarded to me (either intentionally or not)... Mostly I'm still getting shit for ___@homeofhappiness.com, which I think is an automatic redirect to info@_____, which is already a redirect to me at george@______...

It used to be all drugs, like "V1agra" and "Val_traxx" and so forth... Now, it's "slutty Latina Asian lesbian gangbang blowjob anal." That just sounds like a very complicated game of Twister.

A telemarketer goes on-and-on after I say "Hello," and by the time he's done telling me that I can get some suspicious not-free sounding free things that involves a trip to Atlantic City, he says "...You don't like Atlantic City?"

It was the mixture of disbelief and annoyance. Definitely a challenge.

"No, I don't." He didn't say anything after that and I hung up.

Ah, I'm on my way to slumber probably. I think "slumber" may be an inaccurate word simply 'cause that implies a peaceful side to it. At the time being, I'm only going to sleep because I require it. I rarely have much to look forward to in dreams.

At the moment, I'm a little irritated, but about things that I don't feel much like posting (lucky Genevieve and Danielle's cell voice mail got the unapplying-to-them news instead). Maybe because I find it blatantly obvious and the reasoning behind some peoples' actions is senseless. But, hey, I suppose if I am given the impression I no longer have to care, then I might as well not. Not that easy. It disturbs me, it really pisses me off, and it's just another notch in a rapidly fraying belt. And, plus, I have less of a standing as "friend" anyway, so my opinion is useless.

I hate 'useless'.

SOMEONE: George
Liquid Datura: Um. Hi.
SOMEONE: remember me?
Liquid Datura: Vaguely.
Liquid Datura: I've forgotten your name, I'm sorry.
SOMEONE: [edited]
Liquid Datura: You've not been at the show in weeks.
Liquid Datura: [edited]. Right. Hi.
SOMEONE: i know! i have no transportation
SOMEONE: George hi
SOMEONE: George you have found another for yourself correct?
SOMEONE: Just because someone new is added to your life, don't let the others that meant a lot to you in the past and probably still do now, drift away
SOMEONE: you need each other, don't ever forget your friends
SOMEONE: your best friends
Liquid Datura: Um. What are you talking about?
SOMEONE: take a look inside you and you will see
Liquid Datura: Uh, yeah, you just stay concerned with your own insides, ok?
SOMEONE: nope
SOMEONE: i will get concerned with whoever i want
SOMEONE: and if you don't like it why don't you go cry about it
Liquid Datura: [edited], you really have no business with me and I'm not sure why you're speaking with me in the first place.
SOMEONE: George I make my buisness
Liquid Datura: What is it that you want?
SOMEONE: You will see
SOMEONE: goodbye
Liquid Datura: Excuse me?
SOMEONE: YOU
SOMEONE: WILL
SOMEONE: SEE
Liquid Datura: No, what do you want?
SOMEONE: No, you will see
SOMEONE: thats the end of it
Liquid Datura: I'm not about to play little mind games with someone who's face I've seen in a crowd of others once.
SOMEONE: ok great
Liquid Datura: Apparently it's not the end, if it's meant to be continued. What in the fuck do you want me to "see"?
SOMEONE: Do not get harsh
Liquid Datura: You're borderline threatening me, - What do you want?
SOMEONE: You will see when the time comes
Liquid Datura: What, when I wake up with a horse's head in my bed?
Liquid Datura: What do you want?
Liquid Datura: What have I done?
SOMEONE: lol
SOMEONE: what about a horses head?
Liquid Datura: Godfather reference. Irrelevant. What do you want?
Liquid Datura: [edited]. What do you want?
Liquid Datura: [edited].
Liquid Datura: Then fine, you're not worth it. Consider yourself blocked.

::shiver::

I don't understand it.

IM SmarterChild. He will say wonderfully self-affirming messages like:

SmarterChild: Please don't die!
Just kidding. I'm actually not sure if I want you to die.

Bots are weird.

---

P.S. - thanks, SexierGenn, for the tune suggestion!

I got a most disturbing e-mail from Tori'spiano22, a most unstable individual at the atforumz (www.atforumz.com) that I frequent. I got lambasted like most everyone else there (especially the boys) for reasons I've never understood. However, this is the first time she's ever e-mailed me. I present her letter and my responses I sent to her. I am mostly appaled, slightly amused, ultimately sympathetic. She is just bizarre.

---

Hey okay you are a fan of female artists, but since you are obsessed and spend all your money on buying their stuff and going to see them, you are nothing but a loser...
Ok, let me know when you stop spending cash to seeing them live and buying CDs from them. For the record, I've only seen Tori twice and never have I seen Madonna.

... and yes I'm sure you want to sleep with Tori Amos, also you are a loser cause you bought everything Tori and Madonna ever made...
Actually, I never plan on sleeping with any women, regardless of their celebrity staus. I don't have everything ever made, but my collection is sturdy. I consider buying only what I want and never what I find unneeded, such as import singles with tracks already on domestic releases. I'm a discriminating buyer. I don't whore myself for the music industry.

... The stuff will be worth nothing in the end. You will pay for your obsession with Tori and Madonna, and they will not love you more than other fans...
That sounds like a threat. And an empty one at that. I am not asking for anyone's love, especially Tori or Madonna's. How pretentious it would be to ask.

...I don't care that Tori told you she loves you at every show you ever went to...
She never has.

...You are just a pimple on the elephant no matter what...
What elephant are you referring to?

...Also she does tell fans who meet her that she loves them, and I know you want to believe that Tori loves you the most cause you are a guy, and guys who are in love with female artists are known as sissies by the way...
Known as sissies by whom? I don't know if I really understand your aggression to me. Why are you threatened by male fans?

... Also do you love Tori cause people hate her?...
Why on earth would anyone love someone for everyone else hating them? And what people hate her? I understand a few do, but are realizing how hypocritical you are sounding?

...And you will pay for your obsession with Tori 1 day, cause no one gets away with obsession...
Again with the threats.

...I'm not saying that I will make you pay, but you will go down the tubes for loving Tori Amos, cause all your money has been going to see her and getting her stuff ever since 88-91 when you fell in love with Tori...
Funny... I didn't become acquainted with Tori until 1999. And not all my money has gone towards her, anyhow.

...Did you pay 500.00 to be with Tori?...
No, actually.

...I was never lucky enough to be with Tori, but next tour I will meet her even if I have to pay...
Tori is not your whore either.

...Please don't make fun of me or brag that you have Tori Amos either...
She's not a doll that fits in my pocket.

I have tried to meet her, but couldn't, I will though.
Well, that was a concluding sentence if I ever heard one.
You're erratic and unstable. Seek help. I don't mean to offend you, but you certainly set out to offend me, but you ended up doing was sounding obsessed, childish, and potentially dangerous to yourself and others. If you are so convinced my life is in ruins for enjoying the music of a particular songwriter, exactly how is your life doing if all you can do is yell at others for exactly what you are doing?

All my best,
George

---

People are weird.

Other news, Kristen finally saw "Hedwig and the Angry Inch"... Yay! Seeing it again was great as was watching the deleted scenes again (hey! I found an Easter egg in the deleted scenes section, yay!) and the documentary for the first time. Sorry Linz couldn't make it, but good stuff. Danielle and I concluding the evening by going over her Magenta blocking and watching RHPS special features. Patricia Quinn rules.