The Post About Which Oscar Nominees to See and Skip

The Oscars are this Sunday. That may not even be on your radar, but I adore films and fancy dresses and awkward small talk on a red carpet so I’m counting down the hours.

Dozens of films have been nominated for writing, acting, directing, hairdos and the stuff like that there. I watched them all for you. And they’re not all worthy of your time.

Here's a list of the films nominated for the major awards. I've listed them in order you should see them and where you can catch them.

Wild. (2 nominations) As good as the book, which was perfection. 
March 17: iTunes, Amazon

Selma. (2 nominations) Wow. Everyone should see it. All of us.
In Theaters

Birdman. (9 nominations) Delightful. Quirky, yet superb acting from a fantastic ensemble.
Google Play, iTunes, Amazon

American Sniper. (6 nominations) Not as good as the book, but still great. Bradley Cooper's accent is distracting at time, but then he's so pretty.
In Theaters

Whiplash. (5 nominations) Really just two actors and some jazz music. But intense and so very good. 
February 24: Amazon, iTunes

The Imitation Game. (8 nominations) Benedict Cumberbatch is beloved for a reason. Thriller and learning history all in one. 
In Theaters

Gone Girl. (1 nomination) The book is magic…dark magic. The movie captures that darkness perfectly. If you don’t like weirdness, it’s not for you.
Amazon, iTunes, Google Play, Redbox, Netflix DVD

The Theory of Everything. (5 nominations) It's a beautiful true story of romance and science. If you can pretend they didn't eventually divorce, then it's worth it. 
iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, Redbox, Netflix DVD

Still Alice. (1 nomination) It will break your heart in all the ways you think.
In Theaters

Foxcatcher. (5 nominations) Steve Carell is worth the hype. It's based on a true story that's fascinating. However, it's weak in several areas which is why it didn't get a nod for Best Picture.
March 3: iTunes, Amazon

Nightcrawler. (1 nomination) It's a ruthless thriller set in the world of LA crime reporting. It's a lot to digest, but good.
iTunes, Amazon

Boyhood. (6 nominations) Hmm...I wanted it to have a plot beyond just normal day-to-day life. It does not.
iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, Redbox, Netflix DVD

The Grand Budapest Hotel. (9 nominations) Director and Screenwriter Wes Anderson gathers the same old crew for another weird and whimsical film. Good, but shouldn’t have been lauded this way.
HBO GO, iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, Redbox, Netflix DVD

Into The Woods. (3 nominations) You MUST love singing. And not happy endings.
March 24: iTunes, Amazon

The Judge. (1 nomination) I wanted this film to be good, but it really wasn’t. I think Robert Duvall received a nomination simply because he’s over 80. It's the Betty White effect. 
Amazon, iTunes, Google Play

Inherent Vice. (2 nominations) Nope. Even Reese Witherspoon cannot redeem it.
Amazon, iTunes, 

Two Days, One Night. (1 nomination) It's in French. I CAN'T EVEN YOU GUYS. But it's not bad if you can pay attention to read the screen. This is not my strong suit.
In Theaters (but probably not where you live)

Bonus
How To Watch the Oscar-Nominated Animated Shorts Online
Where to Watch the Oscar-Nominated Documentaries

This is just an overview. For a detailed look at all things Oscar, consider buying my first ebook The Popcast’s Guide to the Oscars. 

One review: "Truly brilliant work on the Oscars guide. My friend was reading excerpts out loud yesterday and we were both cracking up."







What were some of the best films you saw in the last year?

The Post About The Oscars Giveaway

Knox McCoy and I have been cohosting a podcast called The Popcast for 77 episodes.

Our mission statement is simple: Educating the world on things that entertain, but do not matter.

For example, this week we tackled these hard hitting subjects:

• Book and movie sequels
• Brian Williams
• The Grammys
• Channing Tatum
• Madonna
• The BAFTAs
• Jennifer Lawrence

It's one of the most fun things I do each week. We don't teach people how to start a business, or write a book, or wax poetically about the Middle East - we just chat about pop culture in the most entertaining way possible.

And believe it or not, people listen. People, other than my mom.

When we launched, we were featured in New & Noteworthy. Last month, we were featured in What's Hot.

Do you know how long I've waited to refer to myself as "what's hot?"

A LONG TIME INTERNET.

To celebrate that milestone, Knox and I wrote our first e-book. The Podcast's Guide to the Oscars. 

Gorgeous cover design by Molly Gentry

Nine chapters to fully prepare you for Hollywood's biggest night. Whether you watch or not.

1. When To Watch, When To Not Watch
2. But What About If I Haven't Seen Some of These Movies?
3. So Who Is Going To Win?
4. But Who Do We Want To Win?
5. The Oscar Cake Pop Eating Game / The Oscar Drinking Game
6. Let's Get Weird
7. Blondtage Bingo
8. Oscar Snubs
9. Who Are We Irrationally Rooting For?

Reader Review: "Truly brilliant work on the Oscars guide. My friend was reading excerpts out loud yesterday and we were both cracking up."

Support us by grabbing your own copy here. 

To celebrate this milestone of celebrating another milestone, I wanted to host a little giveaway.

Two winners will be chosen to select between one dozen Oscar cake pops shipped anywhere in the US ($40 value) or a $25 Amazon gift card.

P.S. I make cake pops.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

The Post About The Popcast Anniversary Giveaway

Last year, on August 14, I launched a pop culture podcast with my internet turned real-life friend, Knox McCoy. It's the The Popcast.

Fifty episodes later, we're still talking. And surprisingly, more than a few folks listen.

Here are our most recent episode topics:

• Episode 50: The power of names. We guess which celebrity names are fake, which ones are real, and talk about how your name can influence your life.
• Episode 49: Celebrity couples - our favorites, least favorite and the ones we feel embody everything there is to embody about celebrity-ness.
• Episode 48: Movie Soundtracks. Is Garden State or The Bodyguard the best? What about Dirty Dancing? Best, worst, and in-between.
• Episode 47: Bromance. What does it mean? Can women be involved? What are the iconic ones? Which famous people have bromanced the best?
• Episode 46: Supporting characters who deserve their own thing and the idea of spinoffs. We also delved into introverted behavior.
• Episode 45: Urban Dictionary entries, technology we just can't get into, and the blurry line between meeting someone online and translating that to real life. 

Never miss an episode of The Popcast by Subscribing via iTunes or adding our feed to your podcast app.

If you need more encouragement to become codependent on us, we're hosting an anniversary giveaway.

Simply follow the instructions from PromoSimple below. FIVE winners will be chosen randomly to win one of the pop culture prizes listed. Bonus entries for following us on Twitter and liking us on Facebook.

The Post About The Summertime Musical Popcast

Previously...
I host a podcast with Knox McCoy called The Popcast. It is the Brad Pitt of podcasts: solid, dependable, hard-working and charmingly humorous. More specifically, The Popcast is a weekly argument / conversation about all things pop culture.

In this week's episode (#40), it's a musicpalooza.

We answer questions like:

• Who will own the summer music scene?
• What are the all-time favorite summer songs?
• Why do we listen to the specific music we listen to?
• If Miley Cyrus never existed, who would have taken her place?

Click to listen to Episode #40.

What's a perfect song for summer?

This is our Popcast Summertime collaborative playlist. Add your favorites!

The Post About The Popcast and Summer Movies

Previously...
I host a podcast with Knox McCoy called The Popcast. It is the Brad Pitt of podcasts: solid, dependable, hard-working and charmingly humorous. More specifically, The Popcast is a weekly argument / conversation about all things pop culture.

In this week's episode (#39), we throw a Summer Movie Extravaganza. We discuss the upcoming movies of the season, name the worst blockbusters, talk about actors who do their best work only in the hotter months, and we each pitch our own ideas for the perfect summer film.

Click to listen to Episode #39.

What's your favorite summer movie of all time?

The Post About Dated Pop Culture and The Bachelorette

Previously...
I host a podcast with Knox McCoy called The Popcast. It is the Brad Pitt of podcasts: solid, dependable, hard-working and charmingly humorous. More specifically, The Popcast is a weekly argument / conversation about all things pop culture.

In this week's episode (#37), we discuss the idea of "datedness" within pop culture and how to best define what is dated versus what is simply a relic of pop culture's history. Also, we tackle Jay-Z and Solange, Amy Schumer, performing for dictators, and Johnnyswim.

Click to listen to Episode #37.

We also posted a very special bonus episode this week. We preview the 25 contestants of the newest season of The Bachelorette premiering Monday, May 19 on ABC.

Click to listen to Episode #Bachelorette.

What classic TV show do you think still holds up years later?

The Post About The Popcast Celebrity Politics

Previously...
I host a podcast with Knox McCoy called The Popcast. It is the Brad Pitt of podcasts: solid, dependable, hard-working and charmingly humorous. More specifically, The Popcast is a weekly argument / conversation about all things pop culture.

In this week's episode (#36), we talk about celebrities involved in politics; Rihanna; and our red, yellow, and green lights.

Highlights:

• Knox is blogging again: http://www.knoxmccoy.com
• Local Elections
• White House Correspondents Dinner
• Joel McHale
• Oliver North
• Veep
• Presidential Cabinets
• Vin Diesel
• Chyna
• Lady Gaga
• Hart of Dixie
• Jacqueline Mars
• Dolly Parton
• Sandra Bullock
• Benjamin Bratt
• Alicia Florrick
• Julia Sugarbaker
• Roseanne Barr
• Joss Whedon
• Katie Holmes
• Kevin Costner
• Brendan Fraser
• John Hartnett
• Matt Damon
• Eva Longoria vs. Scarlett Johansson
• Selfies
• Rihanna
• Emma Stone
• Andrew Garfield as Justin Timberlake
• Teen Pregnancy
• The Neighbors
• James Franco vs. Dave Franco
• Friends
• Seinfeld
• Naya Rivera vs. Lea Michele
• Monica Lewinsky
• Sally Field

Note: It's just an hour - we chase A LOT of rabbits. In a good way.

Click to listen.

Do you follow celebrities on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook? Who and why?

The Post About The Popcast Stock Market

Previously...

I host a podcast with Knox McCoy called The Popcast. It is the Brad Pitt of podcasts: solid, dependable, hard-working and charmingly humorous. More specifically, The Popcast is a weekly argument / conversation about all things pop culture.

In this week's episode (#35), we talk about the future landscape of pop culture and the fortunes of those who most visibly populate it. Also, we addressed a scandal.

Highlights:

• Amber Heard and Johnny Depp
• Zac Efron
• Townies
• Rose Byrne
• Jesus-y Pop Culture
• HBO
• Orphan Black
• The Leftovers
• Parks and Rec
• All of Sports
• Coldplay
• Mariah Carey
• Bass Players
• Angelina Jolie
• Origin Stories
• Channing Tatum
• Tony Awards
• Stay-At-Home Dads
• People's Most Beautiful Issue
• The Royal Family
• Seth Meyers
• Star Wars Cast
• Macbeth
• Amy Poehler & Paul Rudd

Click to listen.

Do you listen to podcasts? If so, share your favorites in the comments...

The Post About The Popcast Amazon Giveaway

In August of last year, Knox McCoy and I launched a podcast called The Popcast. Thirty-three episodes later, we're still going strong. The fact that people listen is celebrity gravy. It's also a bit overwhelming since I'm not always confident about the difference between Judy Garland and Natalie Wood or how to pronounce the word "totalitarianism."

But we all know on the Internet that a lack of knowledge doesn't have to be an obstacle.

See YouTube.

Here's a sample of our recent episode topics:

• Episode: Controversy surrounding Noah, the response to the How I Met Your Mother series finale and feelings on this past season of The Walking Dead.
• Episode: The idea of casting beyond race, musical superlatives and the dark side of Girl Scout cookies.
• Episode: Ill-fated TV romances in light of The Mindy Project's return, celebs who escaped the life to become productive citizens and favorite LOST plane theories.
• Episode: The musical and cinematic career of Mandy Moore versus her contemporaries, the Oscars and Andrew Garfield's alleged villainy.

Never miss an episode of The Popcast by Subscribing via iTunes.

If you need more encouragement to become codependent on us, my podcast partner Knox is hosting a little giveaway.

He and his fantastic wife, Ashley, are birthing their third child on April 16. We want you to guess the gender and the weight.

Simply follow the instructions from Rafflecopter below. The winner who comes closest to guessing the gender AND weight of the McCoy tiebreaker baby will snag a $50 gift card to Amazon and one random winner will get a $25 Amazon gift card. Bonus entries for following us on Twitter and liking us on Facebook.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Post About The Rabbit Recommends: February 2014

Each week or so I post things of which I'm fond. You can choose what happens after my recommendation. Ignore, embrace, debate. Earlier volumes of The Rabbit Recommends can be found here.

1.Classic Movies in Miniature Style. As part of his graduation thesis, Murat Palta decided to blend traditional oriental motifs with contemporary western films. Pop culture art is a favorite. Particularly when it features such delights as Star Wars, Inception, and Kill Bill.

2. The Popcast. This month on our pop culture podcast, Knox and I tackled the Olympics, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, House of Cards, Jimmy Fallon, Pharrell, Valentine's Day, True Detective, The Oscars, Alec Baldwin, Canada, Seth Meyers, Boycotts, The Super Bowl and much more.

3. Rapper's Delight. The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon debuted this month. Jimmy's wheelhouse is viral video content. Don't hesitate to check out his Lip Sync Battle with Paul Rudd or The History of Rap 5 with Justin Timberlake. My personal favorite is Brian Williams' Rapper's Delight.


4. Pixar Theory: Last summer, Jon Negroni wrote a great piece called A Grand Unified Theory of Pixar which hypothesized all the movies were connected in one cohesive timeline. It's a fascinating read. This month, Negroni put forth my favorite theory: Andy's Mom in Toy Story is Jessie's Previous Owner. Perfect.

5. Ellie Holcomb: I've always enjoyed the music of Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors. Drew's wife (and one of the "neighbors") Ellie Holcomb released her first full-length solo album this month, As Sure As The Sun. It is special. Not only was it a Kickstarter baby, but it's good music. Each song is like a page torn from a journal of a person wrestling with God and faith and trust. It hit home.

6. Stormscapes. I live in "tornado alley" in a city full of trees so it's rare to see the beauty in storms. Last summer, Nicolaus Wegner camped out in South Dakota and Wyoming and captured thunderstorms and supercells at their fanciest.


7. My Life in Middlemarch. Rebecca Mead writes a book that's part memoir, part literary criticism and part Eliot biography. This exquisite novel made me fall in love with that high school required reading and believe it to be more than I recall.

8. Sean Lowe's I Am Second. I'm a fan of this particular Bachelor. His video and Annie Downs' take on it confirms why. 

9. The Americans. In the aforementioned Popcast, Knox has tried without fail to have me fall for this 1980s cold war spy drama on A&E. I finally caved when the first season went up on Amazon Prime. After a 4 day binge, I was completely hooked. The KGB is just a wallpaper for this tumultuous drama about a marriage in crisis. So good. Not suitable for all grandmothers.

10. This Old Man. Roger Angell wrote this frank piece for The New Yorker about living in your nineties. Here's just a sample of the goodness:

But I believe that everyone in the world wants to be with someone else tonight, together in the dark, with the sweet warmth of a hip or a foot or a bare expanse of shoulder within reach. Those of us who have lost that, whatever our age, never lose the longing: just look at our faces. If it returns, we seize upon it avidly, stunned and altered again.

11. Unlikely Simultaneous Historical Events. A list that will make you furrow your brow. Includes: The first wagon train of the Oregon Trail heads out the same year the fax machine is invented.

My Favorite February Tweets

Frozen: A cautionary tale about isolating an extrovert based on the special needs of an introvert sibling.
— Rachel Callahan (@ObjectivityRach) February 4, 2014

Life is 10% what happens to me, 75% how I handle it, and 15% how I share it on social media.
— Jared Hollier (@JaredHollier) February 5, 2014

"My current stage of life is much better/worse than yours and here's why..." -Majority of today's viral blog posts
— Cindy Warren (@cindy_warren) February 13, 2014

David, you're the John to my Aeryn. The Wash to my Zoe (please don't die). The Rory to my Amy. The Daryl to my Horton Scout 125. #makeyoutey
— Ruthie (@bogueandweejer) February 14, 2014

Note: I included this because each of those pairings is truly the most romantic. And I was proud I knew them all.

If I was blind I could tell who the hot girls in the nail salon were by how boring their stories are
— Mindy Kaling (@mindykaling) February 18, 2014

Ironically, the more camo you wear, the more people see you.
— Corey Boyd (@CoreyBoyd) February 19, 2014

"Haha you're way fatter than you thought!" -stairs
— Amber Krogel (@amberkrogel) February 21, 2014

Twitter: where we gather to complain about our Facebook friends.
— Laura McClellan (@laura_mcclellan) February 21, 2014

Tip: NOTHING worse than tweets about how cool your life is. Everybody hates that and resents you for them. *Sent from the #Oscars stage
— andy lassner (@andylassner) February 27, 2014

Linking up with the delightful Leigh Kramer to share what I loved in February.

What did you fancy last month?

The Post About The Rabbit Recommends v. 122

Each week or so I post things of which I'm fond. You can choose what happens after my recommendation. Ignore, embrace, debate. Earlier volumes of The Rabbit Recommends can be found here.

This week's episode of my new pop culture podcast with Knox McCoy tackles life changing topics such as the war on emojis, Lindsay Lohan predictions and Kanye West as artist and j-hole. Knox and I had the biggest fight we've ever had. We may recover.

• Listen or download episode two.
• Subscribe on iTunes.
• Read episode show notes.

 

Plus, we answered these listener questions:

• Will there be a new Friday Night Lights movie?
• What will life be like after Breaking Bad?
• Is Ryan Gosling the Antichrist?

 Learn the answers here:




I've written about being a Mary Poppins fan. A new Disney movie Saving Mr. Banks follows MP author P. L. Travers as she meets with filmmaker Walt Disney during the production of her grand novel. The trailer above has me primed and ready for this Christmas season release.


Georgia Tech sophomore, Nicholas Selby, brought down the house in less than 2 minutes at this freshmen event.

 John Mayer released a new album this week, Paradise Valley, which I like quite a bit. I also want to like John Mayer again. I'm following the 7-Step Plan to Not Hating John Mayer Anymore. It's working.

Jessica from Meet the Buttrams wrote A Letter For My Children. I don't have kids and it wrecked me.

I will always love you thoroughly, even if it is imperfectly. Even when my heart wants to explode just from the sight of you sleeping, I can’t love you the way you were created to be loved.

Favorite Instagram

...via Erin Moon (erinhmoon). This is how a parent should document their child's life.

Favorite Tweets

The only unforgivable sins are murder and spelling it “should of"
— Brian Gaar (@briangaar) August 15, 2013

sometimes you just have to leave the piles of clean clothes on your bed and sleep around them. it's why I have a queen size bed.
— Molly Gentry (@mollsabeth) August 20, 2013

I'm convinced my mom just walks into the cable company each month, says "Fox News and Judge Judy" lays 20 bucks on the counter, and leaves.
— Nick Flora (@NickFlora) August 21, 2013

What have you recently read or seen or listened to that you've loved?

P.S. We have two winners from last week's Popcast Giveaway!

• Amazon Gift Card: Jacey (@thebalancedwife)
• iTunes Gift Card: Charlene Kuser

Email me at jamiesrabbits@gmail.com to collect your swag!

The Post About True Love Waits for KY Jelly

I am not a courageous person.

I'm no Daniel in the Lion's Den. I'm no Rosa Parks on the bus. I'm no Vin Diesel in Fast & Furious 6.

But this summer, I decided to be brave. I filled my seasonal bucket list with items to push my comfort zone out into the wilderness. Or at least the far end of the parking lot.

Let's start with #6: Speak at Arc Light Stories.

Arc Light explains it best:

Imagine sitting around the dinner table with your closest friends. You’ve just cleared the dishes, and you’re moving on to coffee, or possibly a glass of wine. Someone says: you’ll never believe what happened to me today. Listen to this... That’s Arc Light Stories. Inspired by events like The Moth in NYC, Arc Light Stories features live storytelling. No notes, no outlines. Just great storytellers sharing great (true) stories. Sometimes funny, sometimes moving, and always engaging, Arc Light Stories brings people together as only good stories can.

Photo via Arc Light Stories. By Todd Helzer.

My friend Jen invited me to an Arc Light event many moons ago and then I kept going because of the laughing so hard and feeling all the things.

When I added "Be brave" to my summer to-do list, I knew storytelling at Arc Light would be one of the ways it could be accomplished. 

Now you may be asking yourself, "Umm...you seem pretty outgoing Jamie. And just pretty. Why is telling a story such a big deal?" Great question you.

I've written about how extroverts like to be with people. They DON'T necessarily like to stand behind a microphone in front of them and tell a story. Especially when note cards are traded for bright lights.

 Photo via Arc Light Stories. By Todd Helzer.

I was terrified to email Arc Light's founder, Taylor Robinson. But I did.

I was terrified to preview the story to him in rehearsal. But I did.

I was terrified to step on stage. But I did.

 Photo via Arc Light Stories. By Todd Helzer.

The story I told was about purchasing KY Jelly for the first time for a friend on his wedding day, Not as a prank, but because he needed it. It's as unseemly as you might imagine.

Listen to my 9 minutes of humiliation on the Arc Light podcast found on iTunes.  I can be found at #2.

My voice in the first 30 seconds will indicate how close I was to nervously nauseating on the front row. But I didn't.

Have you been brave recently? Tell me.

The Post About Where The Time Goes

I used to have time. Time to write 600 words. Time to take white balanced photographs. Time to make lists and check them twice.

That abundance of time kept this blog populated. I liked it.

But my time went missing. Suddenly there were only 140 characters. There were only Instagram pictures. There were only pressing immediate tasks.

This summer has been filled to capacity with goodness. It's also been dusted with sadness.

I took time to road trip.

Atlanta with Rachel.

The lake. The river. Another lake. A creek. I'm a fan of water without sand.

Blue Ridge Parkway. God is a grade A showoff.

Asheville with myself. An upcoming post will outline why extroverts shouldn't travel alone.

Jackson with Haley and Molly to see Joseph and Amanda. The latter is from Canada and featured above as we make the most of our museum entry fee.

Knoxville to see Jessica and avoid orange.

I have ventured through my own fantastic city of Birmingham. I could not love a place more.



I went to camp. Lots of camp.



I relished summer classics.



I watched and podcasted the worst season of The Bachelorette.



Like I said, goodness.

The traces of sadness have simply been classic cases of unmet expectations. More on those another day. Pinky swears.

However, blahs have birthed something I needed. The time spent this season on projects and people who have disappointed is free.

That time is leading to more words, photographs, and lists of what I'll be chasing next.

Let's start with rabbits, shall we?

What's one thing this summer that's been good? Or not so good?

{images: Jamie}

The Post About The Rabbit Recommends v.121

Each week or so I post things of which I'm fond. You can choose what happens after my recommendation. Ignore, embrace, debate. Earlier volumes of The Rabbit Recommends can be found here.

Leigh Kramer wrote a fantastic post last week titled "Nashville Doesn't Love Me." She shared about the struggle of moving to Tennessee and seeking depth but it alluding her. I think this post was brutally honest and vulnerable - in such a good way. I sense she received a bit of backlash and followed up with 2 additional posts to provide some context. However, I prefer the first swing she took at this tough topic of searching for community.


I can be red or blue or a gorgeous shade of purple on any given political issue. However, I'm definitively pro-life. The way in which Wendy Davis was deemed a hero last week was disappointing. This article by Kirsten Powers in The Daily Beast articulated what I could not.

Chad Gibbs wrote one of my favorite books Love Thy Rival (free on Kindle as I type this). Now, he is writing a column for the Opelika-Auburn News about being a new stay-at-home Dad. I couldn't pick just one article, so read them all.

There is so much goodness in The Atlantic's How To Be Better at Email: A Comprehensive Scientific Guide. Including:

• Check email no more frequently than once every 45 minutes.
• Turn off incoming email notifications and set up email clients to display the sender, subject line and the first three lines of the email to make messages easier to scan and triage.

Buzz Feed's 18 Babies Experiencing Things For The First Time is .gifs with babies. Your ovaries will thank you. You too, gentlemen.

My friend and blogger Rachel Callahan posted this picture on her family trip to Legoland.

The caption was “So my life has come to this.” Darth Vader

I’m keeping my kids. Daughter is screaming. SON: Do you know why she is screaming? ME: No, why? SON: (coldly) Because of you.
— Knox McCoy (@KnoxMcCoy) June 27, 2013

Knox's son is my new favorite.

Super Mario Bros. In Food. By Hunter Harrison.
 
Plus, rabbits I chased this week:
Podcast: The Bachelorette Recap in which I said: "The odds were against him but that doesn't mean all of America didn't stand by, flags at half mast, when Juan Pablo went home."

Podcast: Golden Moon Buffet in which we tackled Miranda July pulling an NSA hack on celebrity emails; Jay-Z as a bad parent; and the best, worst, and yet unmade patriotic movies.

Blog Post: I wrote about being called "annoying" by an Internet stranger. It was a good thing. I promise.

Tweet: I'm nothing if not spiritual.

Lunch small group discussed avoiding distraction in our walk with God. Then we focused on how to cheat at Candy Crush.
— Jamie Golden (@JamiesRabbits) July 2, 2013

Rabbit Sidebar: THIS is how to cheat at Candy Crush.


Cake Pops: A tribute to Doctor Who and America.

Now you recommend something to me. Do it.

The Post About Having The Most Annoying Voice Ever

 

As you may or may not know, I record a couple of podcasts.

• The Golden Moon Buffet: Pop Culture All You Can Eat
  
• TV Asylum: The Bachelorette Recap

The latter is RIVETING JOURNALISM about the worst show with the worst characters. I adore it.

This week, I stumbled across the following internet stranger opinion:

So there's that. And that made me crumble.

First, I'm nothing if not self-aware. I fully recognize not everyone fancies THIS. Me. My ramblings. My writing. My voice. And that REALLY is okay.

But I don't want to know.

Well...I do. I do want "iron sharpening iron." I want friends with hands at my back guiding me away from flaws and moving me toward surely goodness and mercy. I want those I trust correcting me and holding me accountable to good words, good actions, and good hair.

But this stung.

And it's not that this internet stranger is wrong. I talk fast with a Southern accent that won't quit. I get wound up discussing roses and men in headbands and dates set in alleys and my tone may become unbearable.

But it still stung.

Until I shared it with my circle - people with the hands and the trust and the irons.

• Do not let her get into your head. Whatever you do.
• Don't ever focus on just one person's response.
• Jamie: Your voice is like a baby's bottom.

I share this experience for only one reason: Make sure there are folks with the hands and the trust and the irons in your life.

We all need cheerleaders. We all need high fivers. We all need friends who will privately call an internet meanie a "j-hole." 

Just because.

How do you handle those who aren't your biggest fans?

The Post About Stepping Out On You

Six weeks after my naked drunk driver encounter and I'm boot-free. I still limp like an old man with style but a few more weeks of physical therapy and I should be running 5Ks again.

No.

I had the following exchange with my Colombian orthopedic doctor.

Me: What shoes can I wear now?
Doc: You could wear Crocs?
Me: Your Mom could wear Crocs.

This banter falls flat when your medical professional speaks English as a second language.

During my blogging hiatus, I've been working on two podcast projects.

Golden Moon Buffet:  
Erin Moon and I are serving up a weekly all-you-can-eat buffet of pop culture goodness on the Xtra Bacon network.

Episode 2:

• Reese Witherspoon: An American Citizen on American Soil
• Movies You Quote Like You Got Paid To Write Them
• Celebrities You Should Follow on Social Media and In The Airport If That Works Out

Episode 3:  

• American Vs. British Pop Culture. Who would aliens take with them?
• Books That Failed To Live Up To The Movie. Our apologies to Stephen King
• Erin and Jamie Have Guilty Pleasures. And they’re humiliating.

Update: Episode 4:

• Marathons: The Kind with Stretchy Pants and Snack Foods
• Maxim Hot 100: Congratulations to Hoda Kotb
• Social Media Pet Peeves: We see your E-Card Picture and Raise You A Kid’s Poop

A new Golden Moon Buffet episode every Wednesday. Subscribe on iTunes here.

The Bachelorette: 
Knox McCoy and I are at it again.

Episode 1: Preview of the first 13 contestants vying for Desiree's heart. I will support whoever can get her to grow her bangs back. I'm thinking Juan Pablo.

A new Bachelorette podcast episode every week. Subscribe on iTunes here.

Winners:  
You're all winners. But only two won the giveaway I hosted. Congrats to Noel D. and Candace D. Email me at jamiesrabbits@gmail.com to collect your bounty!

Winner-To-Be:  
My Bachelorette podcast partner Knox is hosting a giveaway for a $50 Amazon gift card. Easy peasy entries accepted here.

The Post About A New Rabbit Venture

I met Erin Moon online.

Several of my friendships have progressed as follows:
1. Follow on Twitter.
2. Friend on Facebook.
3. Text about people on Twitter and Facebook.
4. Eat cake in real life.

That's exactly what happened with Erin. We met over coffee and a cupcake in Birmingham and became fast friends. We realized we both fancied celebrities, pop culture and Downton Abbey.  

Fast forward and today we're launching a podcast about those very things called The Golden Moon Buffet. 

The first episode of the Buffet serves up:

• Gwyneth Paltrow - Everyone Hates Her Now
• Summer Movies That Will Be Incredible And Those That Will Be Furious
• Mobile Gaming is like Two Teaspoons of Meth

I would love for you to join us on this adventure. You can do so willingly by listening in one of two ways:

1. Directly download this episode.
2. Subscribe via iTunes.

You can also visit our website at www.goldenmoonbuffet.com. No Chinese restaurant owners had snatched up that domain. What the what?

If you need more encouragement to become codependent on us, I'm hosting a little giveaway.

Simply follow the instructions from Rafflecopter below and you'll have up to 10 chances to win. One winner will snag a $25 gift card to Amazon and one will get a $25 iTunes gift card.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Fine Print: Open to those 18+ in US or Canada. Amazon and iTunes SURELY appreciate my business, but they don't know anything about this giveaway. It's all me.

The Post About The Rabbit Recommends v.116

Each week or so I post things of which I'm fond. You can choose what happens after my recommendation. Ignore, embrace, debate. Earlier volumes of The Rabbit Recommends can be found here.

Happy St. Paddy's Day! I'm English through and through but I'll embrace any excuse to eat potatoes and kiss handsome gingers.


My friend and writer Elizabeth Hyndman sent me this glorious video nugget. What happens after "happily ever after?" Now you know. Ariel is still a loser.

Sean chose Catherine. ABC did not choose Sarah to be the next Bachelorette. All is right in the world. Check out this week's Xtra Bacon podcast where Knox and I tackle important issues like Sean's hot brother-in-law and how I'm always sad when 24-year-olds start a sentence with "I've waited my whole life..."

Great Gift Idea for Birthday/Anniversary: My friend Amanda sent an email to real life and Internet friends requesting assistance with a birthday project for her fella - Joseph. She asked each of us to send in a picture including a number from 1 to 25 (Joseph's age) and plaid (Joseph's wardrobe.) Our efforts produced a Happy Plaid Birthday album with yours truly representing #5. Don't miss my favorite...#13. I kinda love this idea.

Who’s in for being sister wives with Jessica Biel?
— Jamie Golden (@JamiesRabbits) March 10, 2013

Did you fall in love with Justin Timberlake this week? I did. Again. Watch his funniest moments while hosting SNL. Watch his funniest moments while sitting in on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

I'm headed to Atlanta this weekend for the Killer Tribes Conference. I'm looking forward to several sessions but particularly "Making a Living as a Writer" with Shawn Smucker. I assume there will be a section on earning cash if you only want to write tweets and FB statuses.

Are you going? If you are, then come find me and let's hug it out. I'll be the one talking inappropriately during the sessions.

@jamiesrabbits one of the sermon points today: Don't be afraid to chase rabbits.
— Gianna (@Noscriptomylife) March 17, 2013

My ADD habits are Biblical. Get on board.

The Bachelor Podcast: Women Tell All. For Love

It was good for me.

Last night was my favorite episode of each season of The Bachelor - the Women Tell All.
 
All the booted contestants gather in a room with great lighting and a boisterous studio audience and are asked to relive being dumped on national television.

It's delicious.

You can watch the entire episode on www.abc.com.

 Best line of the night: 
“I’m not calling you a liar,” Tierra said to AshLee, “I’m saying, ‘You lied to me.’”

Knox McCoy and I recap the episode in our Xtra Bacon Podcast.

Click here to listen to it (and click here to subscribe). 

What are your predictions? Who will win? Who wrote the letter to Sean? What happened to Tierra's dent? Who will be the next Bachelorette? Is Sarah the worst? 

The Post About The Bachelor: For The Love

I think if you get to know me, there are a few things you'd discern. I like to know a lot. I like to laugh a lot. I like to eat out a lot.

You would also know Monday night was a very important time in my life.
1. The University of Alabama secured another national championship.
2. The 17th season of The Bachelor premiered.

That second one may seem silly for a smart and worldly gal like myself, but there is nothing better than being a voyeur for 10-12 weeks of reality crazy found on The Bachelor and its slightly grumpier sister The Bachelorette.

Plus, you get the following:
1. Live Twitter Feed. Following the hashtag #TheBachelor during the episode will make you giggle and gasp and shake your head at the goodness found on The Internet. Including my favorite from this season's bachelor Sean Lowe.

The smell of spray tan was strong that evening. #TheBachelor
— Sean Lowe (@SeanLowe09) January 8, 2013

2. Episode Recaps from Knox McCoy. Other than the Bible, there is nothing better or funnier you could read each week.

3. Podcast from Yours Truly: For Love. I get to chat with Knox about our take on each episode. It's one of my favorite conversations. Click below to take a listen.

But all these things are made possible because of the episodes themselves. Join us this season for the comedy and tragedy that is The Bachelor.

Watch Episode 1: (embedded)


Listen to the Podcast (embedded)


Do you watch The Bachelor? Why or Why Not?