Warm Fuzzies And Wackadoodles: All The Good Or Strange News To Share

[Dimity]

18 hours ago, Irlandesa said:

I love Dolly.  She's not the only one, though.  Taylor Swift is donating 5 million to Feeding America for hurricane relief in areas affected by both Milton and Helene. 

Dolly and Taylor definitely give back through their donations.  I'm sure others do too but what I particularly am struck by with both Dolly and Taylor is the consistency of their charitable donations.  I know Dolly best for her work with childhood literacy but Taylor Swift has made a practice, for years now, of donating to food banks in every city she has concerts in.  I heard the other day about a city in the UK where the manager of the food bank said her donation was so generous they don't need to fundraise for a full year. 

[andromeda331]

2 minutes ago, Dimity said:

Dolly and Taylor definitely give back through their donations.  I'm sure others do too but what I particularly am struck by with both Dolly and Taylor is the consistency of their charitable donations.  I know Dolly best for her work with childhood literacy but Taylor Swift has made a practice, for years now, of donating to food banks in every city she has concerts in.  I heard the other day about a city in the UK where the manager of the food bank said her donation was so generous they don't need to fundraise for a full year. 

I didn't know that Taylor did all that. I've known for years Dolly has always made donations. Including a million dollars for Covid-19 research. I also loved that she didn't think she deserved a spot in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and went to write and record a rock song. And turned down a statue of her being made. She really is the best.

[Notabug]

4 hours ago, andromeda331 said:

I didn't know that Taylor did all that. I've known for years Dolly has always made donations. Including a million dollars for Covid-19 research. I also loved that she didn't think she deserved a spot in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and went to write and record a rock song. And turned down a statue of her being made. She really is the best.

Bruce Springsteen has linked with local foodbanks at every stop on all his tours for decades.  During the show, he will talk about the local foodbank and ask people to donate as they're leaving.  Last time he played here, the local foodbank collected over $18,000 in cash from the crowd at a single show.

[SoMuchTV]

I kind of have mixed feelings about asking for donations from concert goers, who have just paid $$$ for tickets to your show. Actually maybe Ticketmaster is the one who should be making the big donations here!

[Palimelon]

Various musicians though have always had donation booths or whatever for different causes though.

[Shannon L.]

Dolly turned down the Presidential Medal of Freedom twice, too. It was only because the first time, her husband was ill, and the second because it wasn't safe to travel due to covid.  She's since said that she'd be reluctant to take it if offered a third time because at that point, she's afraid it would look like a political move on her part (declining 2 offers from Trump, but accepting from another president) and is quoted as saying "I don't work for those awards. It'd be nice, but I'm not sure that I even deserve it. But that's a nice compliment for people to think that I might deserve it."

[peachmangosteen]

Speaking of celebrities and donating to charity:

[andromeda331]

5 hours ago, Shannon L. said:

Dolly turned down the Presidential Medal of Freedom twice, too. It was only because the first time, her husband was ill, and the second because it wasn't safe to travel due to covid.  She's since said that she'd be reluctant to take it if offered a third time because at that point, she's afraid it would look like a political move on her part (declining 2 offers from Trump, but accepting from another president) and is quoted as saying "I don't work for those awards. It'd be nice, but I'm not sure that I even deserve it. But that's a nice compliment for people to think that I might deserve it."

Oh, Dolly, you do deserve it.

[Blergh]

At age 78 [!?!], Cher has DONE it! She's gotten into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (and put out a good rendition of 'If I Could Turn Back Time' before giving an acceptance speech paying tribute to her late mother who pressed for her to never give up)! Need I say more?! Way to GO,Cher!

[Trini]

(Linking several articles because each has different snippets of info and photos)

Thought this was kinda funny: 'Timothée Chalamet Surprises Fans At Timothée Chalamet Lookalike Contest In NYC'

'Timothée Chalamet crashes his own look-alike contest after police shut down crowded event' -- (They didn't have the proper permit, and had to move to another location.)

https://people.com/timothee-chalamet-crashes-lookalike-contest-nyc-police-disperse-crowd-8735037

https://variety.com/2024/film/news/timothee-chalamet-lookalike-contest-surprise-appearance-new-york-1236191974/

https://www.thewrap.com/timothee-chalamet-crashes-lookalike-contest-new-york-video/

https://www.vogue.com/article/timothee-chalamet-lookalike-contest

[Blergh]

2 hours ago, Trini said:

(Linking several articles because each has different snippets of info and photos)

Thought this was kinda funny: 'Timothée Chalamet Surprises Fans At Timothée Chalamet Lookalike Contest In NYC'

'Timothée Chalamet crashes his own look-alike contest after police shut down crowded event' -- (They didn't have the proper permit, and had to move to another location.)

https://people.com/timothee-chalamet-crashes-lookalike-contest-nyc-police-disperse-crowd-8735037

https://variety.com/2024/film/news/timothee-chalamet-lookalike-contest-surprise-appearance-new-york-1236191974/

https://www.thewrap.com/timothee-chalamet-crashes-lookalike-contest-new-york-video/

https://www.vogue.com/article/timothee-chalamet-lookalike-contest

 I wonder if with Miss Parton will look him up or vice versa so she can trade tales with him about the time she entered (and LOST) a look-alike contest for herself.

Edited October 28 by Blergh

[Trini]

I'm not going to link any more articles, but I'm surprised at how much coverage that Chalamet lookalike story is getting; clearly, people were craving some lighter news in contrast to everything else happening in the world.

[Shrek]

11 hours ago, Trini said:

I'm not going to link any more articles, but I'm surprised at how much coverage that Chalamet lookalike story is getting; clearly, people were craving some lighter news in contrast to everything else happening in the world.

Well there's also the fact that the organizers were ticketed by the PD for not having a permit that actually makes it funny.

[Irlandesa]

2 hours ago, Shrek said:

Well there's also the fact that the organizers were ticketed by the PD for not having a permit that actually makes it funny.

I also think that the top prize is $50 dollars is pretty amusing.  It sounds like it was a low key fun fan event that blew up beyond expectations. 

[Blergh]

This hardly is 'warm or fuzzy' news but it is a rather unexpected twist re a onetime celeb:

 

As per the recent interview with People magazine the 1990's exercise and diet guru Susan 'Stop the Insanity' Powter (born 1957) has claimed that her fortune from the diet, exercise videos and books has long since gone and she has been recently been a meal delivery driver to make ends meet. On a positive note, she has made the acquaintance of Jamie Lee Curtis who has produced a documentary telling Miss Powter's side of the story and Miss Powter herself has a new bio coming out . Hopefully, this will help her golden years be more comfortable.

Miss Powter had had two ex husbands before the year 2000 then afterwards had a longtime partnership with another woman. However, where any of them or her three sons are now (much less if any of them have attempted to help her out) went unmentioned in the article.

[Spartan Girl]

A warm fuzzy for today:

 

[DearEvette]

This absolutely falls under the 'Wackadoodle' but Per many sites, but Variety:

Quote

A snafu by Mattel — which accidentally printed the URL for a porn site on packaging for dolls based on Universal Pictures’ “Wicked” movie — has yielded a bonanza of traffic for Wicked Pictures, the adult-entertainment company that actually owns the web address.

And yeah it is true. We were in Walmart yesterday and found the dolls, and sure enough the Wicked.com site is printed there and that is NOT the URL for the movie. 

[MissAlmond]

1 hour ago, DearEvette said:

This absolutely falls under the 'Wackadoodle' but Per many sites, but Variety:

And yeah it is true. We were in Walmart yesterday and found the dolls, and sure enough the Wicked.com site is printed there and that is NOT the URL for the movie. 

This reminds me of the old whitehouse dot com days. 😆

Edited November 12 by MissAlmond

[BetterButter]

 

[peachmangosteen]

Um, no lol.

[Blergh]

Maybe because this is where I've put other Cher news in. ..

I don't know what's more warm and fuzzy,etc.- the fact that she's written the first part of her autobio entitled Cher: The Memoir Part One  or that she's freely telling her age when pitching her new work!

One thing that can't be denied is that she's never followed a conventional path and it would seem that she's marched to her own beat from birth so this work might be worth thumbing/scrolling through!

[Bastet]

Dolly Parton's latest good deed:  The Dollywood Foundation gives $4.5 million to the Nashville Public Library Foundation in support of its new early literacy program.

Quote

The Begin Bright early literacy program works to ensure children start kindergarten “reading ready” by combining Parton’s Imagination Library—an international program that mails more than three million books directly to children each month—with training from the library and resources for parents and childcare providers. The literacy initiative will deliver a Little Library filled with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Books and a host of Nashville Public Library resources to every childcare center in Davidson County, where Nashville is located. In addition, Vanderbilt University’s Prenatal to 3 Policy Impact Center will study the initiative's results and create an actionable, measurable, replicable model.

The foundation aims to raise $20 million for Begin Bright’s implementation and build an endowment that sustains the program. The library will roll out the program in the spring of 2025.

“I really believe this partnership can make a huge impact on inspiring a love of reading for children and families,” said Parton. “One of the best parts is that Nashville can once again light the way for the nation.”

 

[andromeda331]

4 hours ago, Bastet said:

Dolly Parton's latest good deed:  The Dollywood Foundation gives $4.5 million to the Nashville Public Library Foundation in support of its new early literacy program.

 

That's wonderful!

[Vermicious Knid]

Quote

“One of the best parts is that Nashville can once again light the way for the nation.”

Except Tennessee has one of the most oppressive abortion bans in the country. And more than 1100 books have been removed from Tennessee libraries. 

[Bastet]

1 hour ago, Vermicious Knid said:

Except Tennessee has one of the most oppressive abortion bans in the country. And more than 1100 books have been removed from Tennessee libraries. 

Yeah, I had quite a scoff at that, but felt I needed to quote her in full.

[Blergh]

On 11/21/2024 at 10:57 PM, Vermicious Knid said:

Except Tennessee has one of the most oppressive abortion bans in the country. And more than 1100 books have been removed from Tennessee libraries. 

Well, maybe Miss Parton's donation can help COUNTER that!

[Anduin]

Dolph Lundgren is free of cancer! I didn't know he was suffering in the first place, but this is good news no matter what.

[andromeda331]

26 minutes ago, Anduin said:

Dolph Lundgren is free of cancer! I didn't know he was suffering in the first place, but this is good news no matter what.

That's wonderful!

[Trini]

I guess this one falls under "wackadoodles" --

That Tim Chalamet Lookalike contest spawned a whole bunch of copycats; I assume to try and replicate the same viral fame, or to get the celebrity to show up. (I had heard about a couple of these before, but I'm only posting about it now because someone else compiled a list, LOL.) It looks like the only one that managed any direct celebrity response was the Glen Powell one.

[Vermicious Knid]

No, there was one more. Gordon Ramsay Looked the Most Like Gordon Ramsay at a Gordon Ramsay Look-Alike Contest.

[Blergh]

40 minutes ago, Vermicious Knid said:

No, there was one more. Gordon Ramsay Looked the Most Like Gordon Ramsay at a Gordon Ramsay Look-Alike Contest.

I wonder if part of the competition  might have included the contestants chewing out  apprentice and assistant chefs (e.g how many f-bombs,etc. could be squeezed into a single sentence,etc.).

[Vermicious Knid]

Britney may be going off the deep end again. Declares she's five and moving to Mexico. 

Quote

 

In the footage posted to her IG account, the troubled pop star starts off by talking about how the paparazzi put her on a plane with a mask over her face while carrying a torch given to her by a friend.

As if that wasn't bizarre enough ... Britney discussed her B-day, falsely stating that she turned 42 when she's actually 43, but that wasn't the worst part.

Brit went on to say she's only 5 and going to kindergarten and has even moved South of the Border because the paparazzi are cruel in the way they portray her.

 

She's currently in Cabo San Lucas. 

[Blergh]

23 hours ago, Vermicious Knid said:

Britney may be going off the deep end again. Declares she's five and moving to Mexico. 

She's currently in Cabo San Lucas. 

I wish there was just ONE person in her life sincerely looking out for her best interests instead of those kin who imprisoned her then forced her to perform for their cushy lifestyle  and those employees who seem to just tell her what she wants to hear. Sadly, it's hard for me to imagine that she'd accept help or listen to heartfelt pleas from any employees (and might even fire them for not toeing her party line).

[Mabinogia]

18 hours ago, Blergh said:

Sadly, it's hard for me to imagine that she'd accept help or listen to heartfelt pleas from any employees (and might even fire them for not toeing her party line).

I do feel it might be too late for her. She has lived in her weird little bubble (not her own doing, but here we are) for too long. I was really rooting for her to get her life together, but it just seems like she is too far down her rabbit hole to know how to (or possibly even to want to) get out. I just hope her kids are not too badly affected by it all. 

[Blergh]

4 hours ago, Mabinogia said:

I do feel it might be too late for her. She has lived in her weird little bubble (not her own doing, but here we are) for too long. I was really rooting for her to get her life together, but it just seems like she is too far down her rabbit hole to know how to (or possibly even to want to) get out. I just hope her kids are not too badly affected by it all. 

I know the odds are very much against Miss Spears having a healthy, contented future at this time but it's not impossible for the odds to be overcome. Perhaps she can somehow take comfort and  encouragement that she HAD somehow been able to get the authorities to believe the evidence she presented that her DNA Donors and their collaborating kin were unlawfully imprisoning her and profiteering from the Conservatorship, that she DOES have the ability to switch on the light and seek a way out of this very sad tailspin. Of course, it would be a great boon if she had someone (anyone) she could truly trust in her life to sincerely champion her best interests but she WAS able to overcome earlier odds so maybe she can do so again.

As for her kids, at this time, it appears that they seem to regard her as a piggy bank/ family scapegoat but, hopefully, one or both will try to see out of the box and see the big pic that the grandparents they seem to consider buffers to her were THE main contributing factors (along with their own bio dad) to the problematic issues she has had.

[Cobalt Stargazer]

14 hours ago, Blergh said:

As for her kids, at this time, it appears that they seem to regard her as a piggy bank/ family scapegoat but, hopefully, one or both will try to see out of the box and see the big pic that the grandparents they seem to consider buffers to her were THE main contributing factors (along with their own bio dad) to the problematic issues she has had.

I mean, maybe, but I'm kind of uncomfortable putting the onus on Britney's children. If it's "just" that Jamie and Lynne messed her up in a way that can be eventually mended, that's one thing, but at this point I'm convinced she's mentally ill and can't/won't seek help, despite having the resources to do so. There's a piece here where the boys have already been parentified over themselves, because Britney and Kevin are disasters. I'm not sure it's fair to expect one or both of them to 'see the bigger picture' when she clearly is part of the problem in the present.

[Blergh]

10 hours ago, Cobalt Stargazer said:

I mean, maybe, but I'm kind of uncomfortable putting the onus on Britney's children. If it's "just" that Jamie and Lynne messed her up in a way that can be eventually mended, that's one thing, but at this point I'm convinced she's mentally ill and can't/won't seek help, despite having the resources to do so. There's a piece here where the boys have already been parentified over themselves, because Britney and Kevin are disasters. I'm not sure it's fair to expect one or both of them to 'see the bigger picture' when she clearly is part of the problem in the present.

I'm sorry but hoping that someone (even a minor) may somehow find a means to have a broader perspective re their  family dynamics is NOT 'putting the onus' on them. I mean I fully realize that it would be more likely than not that an individual would maintain their original perception of their family but that doesn't mean there is no possibility for growth. If there was no possibility for growth of change for the better than no one would have ever invented clothes or made shelters besides caves.

Now, if I had said that one or both of Miss Spears somehow were obligated to seek out a more empathic perspective of their mother's MO OR they were bad or disloyal sons, THEN I would agree that would be putting the onus on them but I'm not doing that by any means.

I also sadly concede that both Miss Spears and Mr. Federline ARE part of the problem re their offspring.

 Still, I refuse to pretend that there's zero possibility for change for the better or hope-especially when it comes to minors.

[merylinkid]

On 12/5/2024 at 11:27 PM, Blergh said:

Of course, it would be a great boon if she had someone (anyone) she could truly trust in her life to sincerely champion her best interests

Everyone just wants her money.   Which is sick when you realize they are taking advantage of someone with a mental illness.

As for her kids, they are old enough to decide for themselves what they think of their mother.   They've seen her behavior up close.   One is an adult now and has pretty much said he wants nothing to do with her.   That's not the grandparents telling him what to say, or Kevin turning him against her.  Its from his own perspective of seeing her behavior.  Let's give him some agency here to make his own decisions.

On the other hand, Britney could just be messing with the paps knowing they will print it as gospel truth with no independent checking.

[Dimity]

4 hours ago, merylinkid said:

 One is an adult now and has pretty much said he wants nothing to do with her. 

I've heard this as well, but am curious.  Does anyone know if that includes no longer expecting any financial support from her?  Not that he had it directly really as the money went to dear old dad.  But as an adult is he getting money for college etc from Britney?

[Dimity]

3 hours ago, Dimity said:

But as an adult is he getting money for college etc from Britney?

Did a bit of research and it looks like all child support to Federline ended in November but I didn't see anything definitive about whether she is providing any kind of financial support directly to her sons.

Anyway I am a petty person I guess because I am loving the fact that Federline better have saved his pennies because the good times are over.   There is something about him that has always raised my hackles.

Edited December 7 by Dimity

[Blergh]

6 hours ago, Dimity said:

I've heard this as well, but am curious.  Does anyone know if that includes no longer expecting any financial support from her?  Not that he had it directly really as the money went to dear old dad.  But as an adult is he getting money for college etc from Britney?

That's a good question. Ironically Miss Spears's mother Lynne has been a schoolteacher but it seems couldn't care less about education re her progeny  which is too bad because I think Miss Spears and both of her sons could benefit from getting a college or university education to expand their horizons.

P.S. I know that her elder son is an adult who has formed his own POVs re Miss Spears but that doesn't meant that said POV will forever be set in stone to the end of time nor that there's no possibility of him looking at the bigger picture re family dynamics. I can think of a situation I knew where one family member was the punchline/ whipping person for everyone else including their own offspring  (and  nothing positive whatsoever about them was mentioned   to outsiders after they became adults) but no one in their immediate family ever considered how this person was raised led to how they related to everyone as an adult. Too bad. Hopefully one or both of the Federline offspring will avoid that trap despite the odds.

Edited December 8 by Blergh

[Dimity]

9 minutes ago, Blergh said:

I know that her elder son is an adult who has formed his own POVs re Miss Spears but that doesn't meant that said POV will forever be set in stone to the end of time nor that there's no possibility of him looking at the bigger picture re family dynamic

I am cynical enough to believe that given they were raised by Kevin Federline the most likely scenario is they will use Britney just like pretty much everyone else has.  As their own personal ATM.

[Mabinogia]

3 minutes ago, Dimity said:

I am cynical enough to believe that given they were raised by Kevin Federline the most likely scenario is they will use Britney just like pretty much everyone else has.  As their own personal ATM.

I hope you are wrong, but I fear you're probably right. It is very easy for children to follow the example of the world around them and the world, and their family, tend to treat Brittney as anything from ATM to punchline. Very few people in their lives seem to ever have treated her like the troubled human being in desperate need of help (not enabling, not a conservatorship, but actual help), that she is. 

[merylinkid]

Kids with parents with mental illness can understand its not the parents' fault they way are -- and still want nothing to do with the parent.   You can understand the person is mentally ill, but then also see the effect that had on your life and not want it anymore.

We have no proof that her adult offspring is using her as a punchline or an ATM because the kid just doesn't talk about her.   Which is the usual thing when someone has set a boundary with a parent.  I don't want this in my life and I am not going to talk about it.

[Dimity]

11 minutes ago, merylinkid said:

We have no proof that her adult offspring is using her as a punchline or an ATM because the kid just doesn't talk about her. 

If her now adult sons have actually drawn a line in the sand and want nothing to do with their mother, and want nothing from her then they are, from what I can gather, the first family members - or ex family members - to do so.  I will be impressed if they are able to move on with their lives without expecting handouts from their mother.  But I will also not be surprised if they follow the family pattern and are unable to do so.

I'd love it if her sons were able to move into a caring role with their mother and offer unconditional love and support but that's asking a lot from teenagers and life is not a Hallmark movie.

[Notabug]

13 minutes ago, merylinkid said:

Kids with parents with mental illness can understand its not the parents' fault they way are -- and still want nothing to do with the parent.   You can understand the person is mentally ill, but then also see the effect that had on your life and not want it anymore.

We have no proof that her adult offspring is using her as a punchline or an ATM because the kid just doesn't talk about her.   Which is the usual thing when someone has set a boundary with a parent.  I don't want this in my life and I am not going to talk about it.

I haven't seen any reports that Brittney's kids have publicly complained about her or have done anything other than decide to limit their contact with her.  I have a bipolar sibling, when he is off his meds, I tend to avoid him because he is exhausting and he tends to fly off the handle frequently which is very distressing to me.  I presume Brittney's kids have had similar experiences with their mother and I don't blame them if they want to maintain their distance for their own well being.

[Zella]

16 minutes ago, merylinkid said:

Kids with parents with mental illness can understand its not the parents' fault they way are -- and still want nothing to do with the parent.   You can understand the person is mentally ill, but then also see the effect that had on your life and not want it anymore.

We have no proof that her adult offspring is using her as a punchline or an ATM because the kid just doesn't talk about her.   Which is the usual thing when someone has set a boundary with a parent.  I don't want this in my life and I am not going to talk about it.

Yes this is my experience with my own mother. I can recognize how her life has shaped the person she is. I don't hate her and I wish her well, but I don't want anything to do with her. 

I think Spears is a deeply mentally ill person, and I have some sympathy for her, but some of the stuff she has posted about her kids on social media where she would rant and rave about them and even acknowledge they asked her not to post about them but do it anyway tells me a lot about what dealing with her is like for them. They aren't obligated to deal with that, and something tells me they likely have a lot of trauma of their own from her. 

[Vermicious Knid]

Quote

and even acknowledge they asked her not to post about them but do it anyway

This alone would justify cutting off contact. Complete violation of their privacy and agency. Kids recognizing and wanting to keep their toxic mother out of their lives is not 'being turned against her'.

[Notabug]

9 hours ago, Vermicious Knid said:

This alone would justify cutting off contact. Complete violation of their privacy and agency. Kids recognizing and wanting to keep their toxic mother out of their lives is not 'being turned against her'.

Precisely, if we, as third hand observers of her treatment of her sons via the internet think Brittney has been disrespectful of her sons' wishes concerning their privacy, I can only imagine how hurtful it has been for them.  They have every right to avoid spending time with her when she is so willing to share their lives with strangers without their consent.

[Blergh]

Two tiny but mighty entertainment pioneers born in Georgia and Puerto Rico (respectively) are celebrating important milestones today. Happy 80th Birthday to Miss Brenda Lee (born Brenda Mae Tarpley) and Happy 93rd (?!) Birthday Miss Rita Moreno (born Rosa  Dolores Alverio Marcano)! I'm not sure these two have ever crossed paths but I can't help but imagine they'd get along like a house on fire if they've ever done so!