Email Author AMANDA PARSONS

2009 Stories by AMANDA PARSONS

• Robots and Us

  published May 21, 2009

  If watching The Jetsons taught us anything as a society, it’s that robots shouldn’t be trusted. Thankfully, as a society we... More >>

• Pauly Shore

  published May 21, 2009

  Pauly Shore might be the single greatest actor the world has ever known. He’s been called the Keanu Reeves of stoner movies, only hotter.... More >>

• Richard Edwards of Margot and the Nuclear So and So's Curbs His Enthusiasm

  published May 14, 2009

  Curb Your EnthusiasmDeclining comment with Richard Edwards of Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s Making... More >>

• Kathy Griffin

  published May 14, 2009

  Lets face it: we’re all obsessed with celebrity gossip. That’s why newspapers are folding left and right while gossip rags are still as... More >>

• Forbidden Broadway

  published May 14, 2009

  Every time a friend returns from a Broadway show raving about their experience (the costumes and the dancing and the blah, blah, blah) you feel a... More >>

• Pretty: Disturbing

  published May 14, 2009

  Recycled waste art depicting the defacement of nature in our consumerist society is not a new concept. However, the Orange County Center for... More >>

• Sake Lecture

  published May 14, 2009

  Wine snobs are so 2004. These days, it’s all about sake. The Japanese rice wine is served hot, cold or at room temperature and boasts a... More >>

• The Big Lebowski

  published May 14, 2009

  Perhaps no person on the planet can surpass the cool factor showcased by Jeff Bridges as “The Dude” in the Coen brothers’ 1998 cult... More >>

• And the War Came

  published April 30, 2009

  War, what is it good for? These poignant words brought forth to popular culture by Edwin Starr in the ’70s have been mulled over by countless... More >>

• Butterfly House Opening and Eco Faire

  published April 30, 2009

  Few creatures in nature are more beautiful and majestic than the butterfly. They begin life as a worm-like insect that eats all day, naps for... More >>

• Pretty: Disturbing

  published April 30, 2009

  Recycled waste art depicting the defacement of nature in our consumerist society is not a new concept. However, the Orange County Center for... More >>

• In Darfur

  published April 23, 2009

  In honor of Genocide Prevention Month, some of the world’s leading humanitarian organizations have joined together to launch public-awareness... More >>

• The Unauthorized Autobiography of Samantha Brown

  published April 16, 2009

  A lot goes into the making of a musical. In this case, you can be one of the not-so-secret ingredients: The new Broadway musical The... More >>

• Orchestre Surreal

  published April 16, 2009

  Imagine the music of Elvis Presley and classical composer Arnold Schoenberg combined with daring acrobats, dancers and avant-garde... More >>

• Britney Spears

  published April 16, 2009

  The harsh spotlight of child stardom can be rough, especially when our young celebs grow older, lose their cuteness factor and become irrelevant.... More >>

• Sabrina Fair

  published April 9, 2009

  Few romantic comedies sparkle enough to warrant more than 50 years on the stage and two major motion pictures (one starring Audry Hepburn and the... More >>

• Guys and Dolls

  published April 9, 2009

  Compulsive gambling can be a real downer. It has the power to destroy lives and rip families apart and has led countless men to the... More >>

• Meet OC Sheriff Sandra Hutchens

  published April 2, 2009

  After nine months in OC’s top spot, Sheriff Sandra Hutchens has seen her share of political controversy. She has angered NRA members with her... More >>

• The Sleeping Beauty

  published April 2, 2009

  Most of us know the story of Sleeping Beauty as it was told through Disney animators. While visually stimulating, their rendition was a bit... More >>

• Bob Saget

  published March 26, 2009

  What is there to say about a man who made a name for himself in the ’80s as a wholesome, G-rated family man, and then spent all of his energy... More >>

• The Magic Flute

  published March 26, 2009

  When Whitney Houston (pre-crack) sang “Queen of the Night” for her hit film The Bodyguard in a metallic outfit, you thought you’d... More >>

• Voice of the Forest

  published March 26, 2009

  It’s a strange dichotomy—wanting to preserve the traditions and heritage of struggling African tribes while simultaneously seeking to... More >>

• Kung Fu Monks

  published March 19, 2009

  Typically, the thought of monks brings forth images of peace and tranquility—not supreme kung-fu beat-downs. For 1,500 years, the monks of... More >>

• Attacking the Epidemic 
of Gender-Based Violence 
in Central Africa

  published March 12, 2009

  Imagine having your homeland invaded by violent, lawless militias and living in fear of your own national army and police because going to them... More >>

• Rascal Flatts; Jessica Simpson

  published March 12, 2009

  What do country music, Tony Romo and a box of Twinkies have in common?... More >>