Category Archives: Entertainment & Culture

Jul
04

Set off Katy Perry fireworks

By Katie Kieffer Pink fireworks Imagine this: It’s the Fourth of July. You are a notorious pyro and your frightened neighbor lady sways you into reading my column on her flashy new iPad to temporarily distract you from setting up your annual fireworks display. As you read this, she is “accidentally” dropping her garden hose, running full blast, on the pile of fireworks you’ve been stashing up all year. Yes, by now, your fireworks are wet garbage. Don’t panic. Keep reading. Trust me, she’s not as sneaky as she thinks. I’ll tell you how to ignite your neighborhood with a show like it has never seen before. You won’t even need to make an emergency run to the tent down the street selling fireworks.

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Posted in Economy, Entertainment & Culture, Humor | Comments Off

Jun
27

Pure awesome All-American fun

By Katie Kieffer Minnie and Mickey Mouse Apple pie. Baseball. And Disneyland? I never thought of visiting Disneyland as “All-American” recreation on par with watching a baseball game—beer in one hand, hot dog in the other. But, last week, I vacationed in California. Before I left, my friend insisted, “You have to go to Disneyland. It’s practically un-American not to go.”

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Posted in Economy, Entertainment & Culture | 4 Comments

Jun
07

Gossip Cheats Men & Capitalism

By Katie Kieffer

"News" signage

Lately, the media has been whetting the public’s appetite for gossip, handing out cupcake stories like Weinergate, Arnold’s affair, John Edwards’ criminal infidelity and reports of Tiger Woods’ marital affairs still affecting his golf game.

Reporting scandal may be justifiable if public figures are criminals in addition to sinners. But, shouldn’t “objective journalism” have some standards for reporting gossip? Extreme coverage of high-profile male cheaters misclassifies all men as deviants and mischaracterizes capitalism – which rewards innovation with money and power – as immoral.
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May
09

Five ways to outsmart China

By Katie Kieffer

Expo 2010 Shanghai China

In 1893, Americans hailed competition, individualism and entrepreneurial innovation. Chicago hosted a six-month World’s Fair to show the world “American Exceptionalism.” A Pennsylvania bridge-builder named George Ferris even invented the historic Ferris Wheel to outdo the Eiffel Tower, which Paris debuted at the 1889 Exposition Universelle.

Today, China is desperately trying to snatch America’s spot as the world leader in economic development and innovation. Last year, China invested $4.3 billion into public improvements to flaunt her progress before a historic 72 million attendees at the six-month Shanghai World Expo. Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Entertainment & Culture, Free Speech, Law | 1 Comment

May
06

Justice for Poker Entrepreneurs

By Katie Kieffer

Poker hand, flush.

A young man wearing a dark gray hoodie knelt down beside me in church. I couldn’t help overhearing his prayer:

Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa. I’m a self-made multimillionaire. I take calculated, aggressive risks with my own money. I prefer online gambling to betting around an antiquated poker table. Yes, I am socially inept, I live in sweatpants and I don’t remember the last time I dated an attractive girl. But, I do make piles of money and I can create jobs for media professionals, advertisers, web developers and bankers. Forgive my personal success, my New York penthouse and my killer sports car. Forgive my social awkwardness. If I recklessly bet away my wealth, I alone will suffer. Let me play online poker. Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Entertainment & Culture, Law | 1 Comment

Mar
29

FDA headbangs with condoms

By Katie Kieffer

KISS concert: Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley.

If young people have casual sex, they’re rock stars, as long as they use condoms. If they casually smoke cigarettes, they’re borderline criminals. According to the FDA, that is.

The FDA takes a hypocritical and overly invasive stance on two adult products: Condoms and cigarettes. The FDA’s inconsistent and excessive regulation of these adult products hurts free enterprise and represents an inappropriate extension of government in our daily lives. Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment & Culture, Health Care | 3 Comments

Mar
07

Banksy waffles in the streets

By Katie Kieffer

Banksy poses for a portrait in NYC. Image credit: banksy.co.uk

Banksy is an internationally-known British graffiti artist and filmmaker who leaves his political and satirical tags around the world. Banksy’s work is anti-war and anti-free markets. Banksy is a rising “underground star” in the U.S. Last year, he partnered with The Simpsons to create an opening sequence for an episode. His film, Exit Through the Gift Shop: A Banksy Film, was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature at the 2011 Academy Awards.

Banksy markets himself as an evangelist for pacifist and socialist ideas so it’s no surprise that Matt Damon’s Hollywood adores Banksy. But, should America love him? Banksy hides his true identity from the public (after all, he chooses illegal canvases) so I did some stealth research to find out who the real Banksy is. It may shock you. Continue reading →

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Feb
23

Why young people are happy

By Katie Kieffer

Image credit: "sunlight smile" by espresso marco on Flickr via Creative Commons.

The latest Pew Research Center poll shows that young people (ages 18 – 28) are happier now than they have been in over 30 years. Why is this? Aren’t we in the middle of a financial meltdown in America? Aren’t the costs of living going up? Aren’t young people losing their jobs? If you are down on America or down on your life, I’ll help you change your mindset to match that of today’s youth. I promise you, you’ll be happier for it.

I believe young people today are happier for two reasons: First, most Millennials want to live more like grownups and less like their parents who sometimes act like babies. And, second, they understand and are excited by the opportunities America has to rebound out of recession and back to greatness. Let me explain: Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Entertainment & Culture, Free Speech, Humor, Law, National Security | 1 Comment

Nov
23

Thanksgiving is not for royals

By Katie Kieffer
Britain's Prince William recently asked his long-time girlfriend, Kate Middleton, to marry him. Image credit: AP Photo/Chris Ison/PA.

The 1621 Massachusetts Thanksgiving was modeled after fall harvest festivals that were popular in Europe, but don’t expect Prince William of Wales to carve a turkey this week. The Prince may believe in marriage, but he does not believe in Thanksgiving.

When Americans celebrate Thanksgiving, we express gratitude for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness in a country where the terms “commoners” and “ruling class” are meaningless. Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment & Culture | 2 Comments

Nov
09

Get the dealio on Four Loko

By Katie Kieffer

Image credit: "Drink colors!!!" by FL4Y on Flickr via Creative Commons.

If an under-age college student overdoses on vodka and is rushed to the emergency room, do we ban vodka from society? No, because we recognize that vodka was not the reason for the hospitalization – irresponsible behavior was. So, why is Washington state’s Atty. Gen. Rob McKenna trying to ban caffeinated alcoholic beverages from his state?

Why is Sen. John Tassoni Jr. (D-R.I.) pushing forward legislation to ban Four Loko from Rhode Island? The drink is already banned at the University of Rhode Island, so why does Sen. Tassoni want to push the entire state back to the Prohibition era? Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Entertainment & Culture, Law | 1 Comment