tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43433496849974686792011-11-27T20:04:34.632-05:00That's right. Ned Ehrbar.Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.comBlogger691100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-33669802395265613002009-08-06T11:24:00.001-04:002009-08-06T11:25:41.208-04:00

From Drink at Work:This week, check out Ned's re-imagining of the classic rant, "Hollywood is Out of Ideas." With the recent rash of remake and adaptation deals going on in the movie business, there's only one thing an aspiring screenwriter can do: pitch his own.Included: a sneak peek at Ned's next cinematic masterpiece.

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-59369266291698237262009-07-30T09:30:00.002-04:002009-07-30T09:33:27.307-04:00

Here's my latest video for the good folks at Drink at Work. In this week's installment, it's time to review what I learned during my five days in San Diego for Comic Con — aside from where all the open bars near the convention center were. Seriously, I think I was drunk for five days straight. God knows what I really said to Lucy Lawless, but at least she didn't find it offensive. Anyway, enjoy!

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-75903017421091487092009-07-02T09:49:00.003-04:002009-07-02T09:52:33.056-04:00

Big news! So my fancy "Drinking in L.A." column over at Drink at Work is now a video series! Because reading is hard! Check it out:

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-81529940343231579702009-03-16T21:47:00.002-04:002009-03-16T21:50:21.454-04:00

I've started a new weekly column over at Drink at Work.com called Drinking in L.A., chronicling my misadventures in sunny Southern California. Dig in! Also, each column links back here at the bottom, so you can even get yourself in a fun, neverending Ned loop!Also, I'm on Twitter now. Just like Ashton! You can follow me, if you like.

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-55374027424690470742009-02-10T09:38:00.008-05:002009-02-10T09:46:15.184-05:00

Drew Barrymore has one hard and fast rule for ending a relationship: It has to be done in person. No phone calls, no e-mails, no texting — and certainly no changing your relationship status on Facebook. “The older you get, the less OK it gets to do it over any technological device,” she says. “The in-person is a must. Fly, do whatever you can.”But that aversion to technology doesn’t just go for

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-89357448517080462902009-01-20T19:18:00.003-05:002009-01-20T19:22:13.910-05:00

When German author Cornelia Funke sat down to write the main character for the book that would become “Inkheart,” she had someone in mind: Brendan Fraser. Looking for inspiration, she noticed her young son watching “the Mummy” over and over and was impressed with Fraser’s range. “He is very funny sometimes and very melancholy,” she says.But casting Fraser in the eventual adaptation, Funke learned

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-47283174242553137502009-01-20T09:17:00.000-05:002009-01-20T09:18:29.640-05:00

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-7001581419634952372009-01-19T13:35:00.003-05:002009-01-19T13:46:28.457-05:00

So while doing my morning gossip-scouring rounds, I noticed some pap snapped pictures of Lisa Kudrow in a bikini on vacation, and it just didn't seem right. I mean, she's never really been pitched as that sort of celebrity. But I guess with everyone either in D.C. or Utah, they're looking for anything. Anyway, I just thought that I mention that. And here's my interview with Lisa Kudrow.There’s

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-66760079714158654032009-01-18T12:17:00.003-05:002009-01-18T12:26:29.715-05:00

NOTE: Sometimes in my quest to make a living off the written word, I am tasked with the truly amazing, like pitting the editors of "Cat Fancy" and "Dog Fancy" against each other. Enjoy.First “Beverly Hills Chihuahua” stunned critics by taking in almost $30 million in its opening weekend. Then “Marley and Me” took the holidays by storm, earning more than $125 million since its Christmas Day

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-59469445093526593722008-12-23T15:17:00.000-05:002008-12-23T15:18:00.532-05:00

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-16098076370205404632008-12-18T11:21:00.002-05:002008-12-18T11:23:31.482-05:00

More Klaus! More sadness! Enjoy.We'll see how long I can keep this up, and how long Xtra Normal let's me make them for free. Until either of those factors change, enjoy Klaus' pain.

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-75984090266202115972008-12-17T13:12:00.002-05:002008-12-17T13:15:55.132-05:00

While I work up what big changes are coming to the written content of this site in the new year (yay! changes!), I thought I might entertain you with my latest procrastination: The first episode of "Sad Klaus," my very simple animated series about a very depressed bear. Enjoy!I'll be doing more episodes on a hopefully regular basis. Feel free to let me know what you think!And more writing coming

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-39828661963032313852008-11-21T02:39:00.005-05:002008-11-21T02:52:35.482-05:00

As the dust settles on the devastating breakup of Paris Hilton and chubby Good Charlotte twin Benji Madden, we as a grieving nation need to take a break from the rampant recriminations — he cheated! Allegedly! — and speculation — Prince William stole her heart! OK, not likely! — and try to remember the good times, the glorious highs of this nine-month storybook romance that took an emotionally

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-75536933136650464512008-11-14T12:31:00.002-05:002008-11-14T12:43:22.101-05:00

Oh, that Lindsay Lohan, always boldly stepping out with new trends. This time, the former “Ugly Betty” guest star and Samantha Ronson arm candy is trotting out some expired terminology while showing her support for Barack Obama.While doing a post-election wrap-up over at the “Access Hollywood” election center, Lindsay said, “It’s an amazing feeling. It’s our first colored president.”Hold up, “

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-85085029822519131222008-11-05T09:43:00.003-05:002008-11-05T09:48:36.352-05:00

Good morning, everybody. And isn't it a hopeful morning? No jokes here today. Instead I just wanted to point out how overjoyed I am with the results of the presidential election last night. And it was the first time in my life that I voted for the winner. That feels weird. But good weird. Anyway, awesomeness.But it looks to be a bit bittersweet for me, as the final numbers come in for Proposition

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-91120549153634441572008-11-04T07:54:00.002-05:002008-11-04T07:55:40.554-05:00

It’s been quite a ride to today, the great big election that will decide the future of our country — at least until President Bush declares marshal law, because you totally know he will. Don’t test him. Anyway, I’d like to think we’ve all learned something about ourselves during the past few months. But that’s probably asking for too much.So hopefully by this time tomorrow we’ll have some idea of

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-43975179736289954622008-11-03T20:56:00.002-05:002008-11-03T21:02:37.672-05:00

Hey there, race fans. Checking in from beautiful downtown Joplin, Missouri, to let you know that Trent Reznor himself sent out an e-mail to Nine Inch Nails fans today, the eve of the election, to implore them to exercise their rights to vote. (Don't ask me how I know when Trent Reznor sends e-mails to Nine Inch Nails fans.)The only problem? His missive opens: "Next Tuesday we will elect the next

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-15646099700900013352008-11-03T07:18:00.004-05:002008-11-03T07:24:36.284-05:00

Have you seen John McCain lately? At his rallies and public appearances and such? You can see it in his eyes. He’s tired, he’s disappointed — this isn’t how it was supposed to be. Even his finger quotes are phoning it in. He’s just not feeling it anymore.And he’s not the only one. At a rally in Florida Saturday, Sarah Palin played to a crowd sporting plenty of pro Palin signs — with nary a

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-75562729280307334222008-11-02T17:42:00.003-05:002008-11-02T17:45:09.609-05:00

Landed safely in Columbus, Ohio, home of the Keatons and some college that has some sort of football team or something. Made it out of New York, through New Jersey and Pennsylvania and into Ohio. More to come, including maybe some videos that will be entertaining to exactly no one. Ohio!

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-31564416540183659622008-10-31T09:25:00.005-04:002008-10-31T11:28:17.499-04:00

With the election coming up so very, very soon, I figured it's time to get out and see the country, meet some citizens of the Real America before I make fun of them too much. I want my jokes to be accurate, obviously.So starting Sunday, I'll be writing from the road, keeping all three of you (hi, Mom!) updated on how nutty it's getting out there. There may even be video, if I can ever figure that

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-15421181327725542332008-10-30T08:40:00.003-04:002008-10-30T08:54:14.622-04:00

It wouldn’t be an election season without the religious nuts weighing in. And weigh in they have! Really stepping it up now is Focus on the Family Action, which is a lot sexier than regular old Focus on the Family. They want you to know that if Barack Obama is elected president, America will descend into a fiery hell-spiral, hastening the end of the world as we know it. Fun!The group’s latest

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-27310780136332009002008-10-29T08:04:00.003-04:002008-10-29T08:11:18.073-04:00

It’s been a long, long election season. And now that we’re into the final week before the bitter recount starts, we find out that the big October surprise we’ve all been waiting for? Is that there is no surprise. Surprise!The problem is that after such a protracted primary season in which the Clinton campaign already trotted out every possible thing you could hold against Barack Obama, there's

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-22445738163999970932008-10-28T08:04:00.003-04:002008-10-28T08:14:39.257-04:00

With just a week left until the election and magazines across the country already celebrating Barack Obama’s victory, I though you could use a break. So how about something that has nothing to do with the presidential election. Would you like that? Sure, we all would.Ralph Nader claims that over the weekend he set the record for the most campaign speeches given in a single day by delivering

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-55044439469568682002008-10-27T08:10:00.004-04:002008-10-27T08:22:08.564-04:00

Not to beat a story into the ground and carve a "B" into its cheek, but you know what I love the most about the Ashley Todd story? It wasn't the description of her mystery attacker as a 6-foot-4 African-American man (OMG! Just like Barack Obama! Connect the dots, people!), and it wasn't the Halloween makeup job or the over-sharing Twitter posts.No, it was the fact that some people just went for

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-72546479312153070752008-10-26T02:05:00.002-04:002008-10-26T02:12:54.424-04:00

You may or may not’ve heard, but late last week, a young McCain volunteer in Pittsburgh named Ashley Todd claimed she was mugged outside an ATM by a black man who then scratched a “B” into her cheek because she is a McCain supporter. Only the “B” was backward and the black eye she sported looked a little… community theater-ish.And also? The attack never happened. Within 24 hours, it went from the

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-31662616943884693972008-10-24T08:44:00.002-04:002008-10-24T08:51:55.496-04:00

Time for my weekly escape from the world of base political speculation and negative-campaigning to a much kinder, simpler world: Hollywood. My latest edition of The Word is up, ready to be enjoyed and then discarded. Because I'm worth it.Here's a taste of what's in store in the second item if you manage to make it past the big photo of a half-naked Zac Efron:Leaving so soon?In what can only be

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-78752561903766602442008-10-23T06:12:00.005-04:002008-10-23T16:39:43.049-04:00

Hey, have you heard? Barack Obama is suspending his campaign today to fly to Hawaii and visit his ailing grandmother, Madelyn Dunham. He’s scheduled to return to the mainland Friday night, giving Joe Biden roughly 36 hours to stick as many feet in his mouth as he can find.Obama’s granny, who is 85 and reported to be gravely ill, played a huge part in raising him and is pretty much the only family

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-87747062900535512702008-10-22T06:10:00.004-04:002008-10-22T06:41:21.056-04:00

It’s time to play my favorite game, Who’s Supporting Barack Obama Now. This week, we have a whole slew of influential folks that'll make you say, "Colin Powell who?" Buckle up!First up: kids. Totally not ripping off the Scholastic News poll from last week, Nickelodeon conducted its own survey of over 2 million kids, asking who should win the election. Barack took it with 51% of the vote. McCain’s

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-84036396708487490762008-10-21T15:34:00.003-04:002008-10-21T15:38:56.499-04:00

No jokes here. Just spreading the word about what some bloggers are doing to stand up to Propostion 8 in California. Even if I wasn't invited...Huh? Lesbi-what-now? Oh, silly me. Still, help 'em out folks![Equality California]

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-39013392607608274262008-10-21T06:10:00.002-04:002008-10-21T06:18:34.613-04:00

With all our attention pressed so firmly against the glass at the presidential candidates enclosure in this big old political zoo, it’s easy to forget sometimes that there’s a lot more going on. And some people are really hurting. But one underserved, marginalized minority has finally decided that enough is enough, that it’s time to speak out. That persecuted group? Hollywood conservatives.Lord

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-18262078505809140682008-10-20T06:40:00.004-04:002008-10-20T08:30:27.709-04:00

Remember back when John Edwards tried to make a big deal about the “two Americas”? Back before we found out that he meant the one where his wife lives and the one where his girlfriend lives? Well, another soon-to-be-former vice presidential candidate is up to the same super-helpful game, dividing our country neatly in two. While praising the good folks of battleground state North Carolina, Sarah

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-46258877664221896072008-10-17T09:10:00.003-04:002008-10-17T09:13:01.074-04:00

So you have two choices: You can head on over to NedEhrbar.com and read the latest Word, featuring Britney Spears, divorce rumors and frozen dinners.Or you can take a horrific glimpse into our possible future: Sarah Palin as president.

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-69326274478181275862008-10-16T08:10:00.003-04:002008-10-16T08:15:45.026-04:00

Last week, a new pair of dueling comic book heroes hit the shelves: John McCain and Barack Obama, each standing proud, drawn against an American flag backgroundWas this just a petty attempt by the candidates to score some of that sweet toy-collecting manchild vote? Because it’s a lot more efficient than going from parents’ basement to parents’ basement canvassing. But it would’ve been even more

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-7899893869395419402008-10-15T12:16:00.005-04:002008-10-15T12:35:55.868-04:00

It's all over, folks. You can all go home. Barack Obama has been selected the next president of the United States. At least, according 250,000 kids.As you know, I believe the children are our future. We should give them the right to vote and let them lead the way. And they have spoken thusly: Barack Obama won the Scholastic Presidential Election Poll with 57 percent of the vote, to 39 percent for

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-36922627181861040862008-10-15T08:50:00.002-04:002008-10-15T08:53:01.885-04:00

Get out the Jägermeister and the kettle corn, because tonight’s the series finale of the hottest new show of 2008: The Presidential Debates. We’ve had some ups and downs over the abbreviated season, like in early October when they switched focus to the supporting cast for an episode—a trick they totally a ripped off from “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” by the way—but tonight the focus is back

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-80798531377465042172008-10-14T11:25:00.003-04:002008-10-14T11:29:29.342-04:00

In times like these, Americans look to individuals of influence for guidance. And there is no one more influential, more respected among American voters than Fidel Castro.The former Cuban president weighed in recently on the big contest, seemingly throwing his support behind Barack Obama—probably because it’s the hip thing to do, and Fidel hates appearing out of touch with the young people. But

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-19940782381062198192008-10-13T15:52:00.002-04:002008-10-13T15:58:38.716-04:00

So I've been out in Southern California for the last week—just like Don Draper!—and I've seen a heartwarmingly high number of signs about voting NO on Propostion 8. But then last night, during my beloved "Amazing Race," I saw my first ad in favor of Prop 8:Yes. Be afraid, vaguely ethnic suburban moms of California. They're going to teach gay marriage in schools.Seriously, this is ridiculous. At

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-16387899902722402242008-10-13T11:15:00.002-04:002008-10-13T11:19:07.361-04:00

While everyone’s been focusing all their attention on the McCain/Obama battle or whether Californians should be forced to gay marry, there’s been a much more important contest brewing in America: Who gets the honor of being the state that decides our next president.It’s a vaunted and highly sought-after position, and any state, from tiny Rhode Island to barely inhabited Idaho, would be thrilled

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-79348248836143344572008-10-09T09:58:00.005-04:002008-10-09T10:25:42.180-04:00

We're going to have a little fun today and do some good old fashioned speculation about life under President Obama or President McCain. Buckle in; this could get long and costly:What would happen if Barack Obama became president...• After long, costly and divisive recounts in North Carolina and New Hampshire, John McCain finally concedes to Barack Obama. The stock market surges with the news•

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-69412827071315596822008-10-08T08:47:00.002-04:002008-10-08T08:50:47.273-04:00

This may be old news to folks in Philadelphia, but it’s worth sharing: Five people were arrested last week in a drug bust at a home in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. But what on earth, you may ask, does this have to do with the most important presidential election of the last four years? Well, during said raid, cops found 240 heroin packets stamped with an image of Barack Obama’s face and the words “Obama 09.

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-9342528662244982082008-10-07T08:22:00.005-04:002008-10-07T08:59:26.676-04:00

You know when you go see a band that you’ve loved for years, and they insist on only playing songs from their new album that nobody’s heard yet? And you’re all, Come on, dudes, just play some classics! Well, Sarah Palin feels you on that one.That’s why, with just four weeks to go until the big lever pulling, she’s hauling out the greatest hits to get the crowds worked up. In a New York Times

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-18123195098629070252008-10-06T08:50:00.003-04:002008-10-06T08:56:32.178-04:00

Have we already run out of things to say about the candidates? I guess so. Because the New York Post is now speculating that Joe Biden has had plastic surgery. And he maybe went into last week’s debate only after getting some shots of Botox.They showed some pictures of Biden from 2005 and last week to the unfortunately named plastic surgeon Dr. Oleh Slupchynskyj, who is absolutely certain Barack

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-64781853730550289112008-10-05T11:53:00.002-04:002008-10-05T11:56:29.912-04:00

You've most likely seen this floating around the Internets, but I love it so much I'm posting it here for your enjoyment:Thanks to Jessica for tipping me off to it first. Now, back to that hangover of mine.

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-81643967505837079902008-10-03T08:32:00.003-04:002008-10-03T08:42:35.218-04:00

While I sleep off the hangover I incurred from my VP debate drinking game (why, oh why did I make it a rule to drink every time Palin said "maverick"?), feel free to head over to NedEhrbar.com and check out the latest edition of The Word, my weekly mockery of the celebrity industrial complex.Here's a handy lead-in to this week's to entice you (I'm crafty, I know):A little help hereIt’s not all

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-77170795379970417062008-10-02T08:06:00.004-04:002008-10-02T08:10:49.158-04:00

It’s been an agonizing five weeks since the VP picks were announced, with voters anxiously awaiting tonight’s big showdown between Sarah Palin and Joe Biden. But the day is finally here, so fill your nacho hat, review your drinking game rules, and let’s get ready to rumble.Let’s be honest. The presidential debates are kind of a wash. John McCain and Barack Obama have both been campaigning for so

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-42094858817977256682008-10-01T08:03:00.002-04:002008-10-01T08:13:44.839-04:00

There have been a lot of theories as to why the $700 billion bailout didn’t pass. Nancy Pelosi poisoned the well with a pre-vote speech, House Republicans had their delicate sensibilities offended, some congressmen were more concerned with getting re-elected. But John McCain knows the real reason is just bad branding.Crankypants went on CNN’s “American Morning” yesterday to discuss his new plan

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-76031120275211817252008-09-30T08:04:00.003-04:002008-09-30T08:18:08.095-04:00

Remember all those rumors that Barack Obama is a secret Muslim? Because they’re still here. But maybe speculation about his closet Quranophilia and love of headdresses isn’t enough. Maybe you need something a little... saucier. How about this: Obama is actually the Antichrist.That chestnut has been working its way through Al Gore’s series of tubes for about six months, but only recently did it

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-20289365247604198502008-09-29T08:02:00.003-04:002008-09-29T08:08:16.182-04:00

Debate season got off to a promising enough start Friday night when John McCain actually showed up. So that means the economy’s all fixed, right? Awesome. Guess I can go ahead and buy that gold-plated speedboat, then.But Lehrer wouldn’t let it go, and totally went out of his way to make it OK for the candidates to discuss the economy even though they were only supposed to be proving who was

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-81339130743588861122008-09-26T11:10:00.002-04:002008-09-26T11:15:32.423-04:00

It's Friday, which means it's time to suspend this blog while I go fix the national economy. Country first!In the mean time, there's always my other column, the Word, where I make fun of celebrities and celebrity culture in an oh-so-charming way. Here's a taste of today's edition:Oh, don't act so surprisedBritish PR flacks are feigning outrage because Amy Winehouse, that pillar or moderation and

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-35921840937641964502008-09-25T11:06:00.001-04:002008-09-25T11:08:23.914-04:00

For those who missed it, David Letterman's reactions to John McCain canceling an appearance because he had to fly back to D.C. to single-handedly save the economy:

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-55884986761985591542008-09-25T08:09:00.003-04:002008-09-25T08:16:28.369-04:00

With so many voters still listing themselves as “undecided,” it may be time for the McCain and Obama campaigns to bring out the big guns: perfume.Russell Brumfield, author of “Whiff! The Revolution of Scent Communication in the Information Age,” has been storming the press to get the word out about the power of “endorphin branding” and how the presidential candidates can use it to their advantage

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-70512019559100341192008-09-24T08:03:00.004-04:002008-09-24T08:22:27.803-04:00

Kids really do wear the darndest things sometimes. Daxx Dalton, an 11-year-old fifth-grader in Aurora, Colo., was suspended for refusing to change out of a homemade T-shirt that read “Obama a terrorist’s best friend.”After the suspension, the boy’s father, Dann Dalton, was quick to hold a press conference to complain that Daxx’s first amendment rights had been trampled. “It’s the public school

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-72008667291271403132008-09-23T11:13:00.002-04:002008-09-23T11:16:36.150-04:00

Just added to the recommended links section:My friend Matt runs a blog, Stimulating the 2008 Presidential Election, that's a whole lot of fun with numbers and odds and things that I don't understand really, because Matt is much smarter than me, though I have better table manners, so it all evens out. Anyway, it involves odds, which makes me think about gambling, and it uses the word 'stimulation'

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-84314063898844711912008-09-23T08:01:00.004-04:002008-09-23T08:17:20.244-04:00

Another symptom of our floundering economy, or just a really unfortunate coincidence? The owner of a San Francisco wine bar was doing a brisk business with an organic wine imported from Chile: Palin Syrah. But after a certain nomination last month, sales have dried up.“It was our best-selling wine before [the V.P. announcement],” Chris Tavelli, owner of Yield Wine Bar, told the Serious Eats blog.

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-62530748034415621642008-09-22T08:06:00.003-04:002008-09-22T08:13:41.863-04:00

Get excited, everybody! The Commission on Presidential Debates (voted sexiest nonpartisan commission in 2007 by People magazine) came out with its list of what they’re doing this year to keep the televised sparring matches fresh and exciting for, let’s face it, easily bored viewers at home. Anything to hold our interest, right?Gone is the traditional question/answer/rebuttal format. Now Obama and

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-62765466395398237072008-09-19T08:15:00.013-04:002008-09-19T10:17:01.205-04:00

[Note: Fridays are also snarky gossip days, so head on over to check out the latest edition of the Word, in which we mock Jerry Seinfeld and take Denise Richards to task for her parenting. Fun!]Since there's no column in the paper on Fridays, I thought today would be a great chance to see what some of my loyal readers think. I get lots of expressive, thoughtful letters, like this one, which ran

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-7240808766474407982008-09-18T07:38:00.004-04:002008-09-18T07:48:10.566-04:00

As you might’ve heard, Barack Obama headed out to Hollywood for a pricey dinner/Barbra Streisand concert to raise money from the only people who have any left in America: celebrities. Among those in attendance: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jodie Foster and Will Farrell. (Bet you didn’t think when you bought that DVD of “Blades of Glory,” some of the money would eventually go toward a $28,000 filet of beef

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-13566165920413110772008-09-17T06:07:00.002-04:002008-09-17T06:15:29.242-04:00

In these uncertain times, voters seek a sane voice in the wilderness to guide them, someone of experience and character whose profound, studied opinions serve as an exemplar for how rational thought should win out. And the people have found that voice of reason: Lindsay Lohan.The actress (still? really?) bravely took to her MySpace blog, her generation’s New York Times Op-Ed page, because, as she

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-71892220677158978642008-09-16T22:30:00.003-04:002008-09-16T22:44:47.895-04:00

Racial insensitivity is now part of a balanced breakfast, apparently.Someone with a mastery of subtle political humor put together boxes of this brand of waffle mix and sold them for $10 a pop at the Value Voters Forum. (That line-up of speakers... Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Bill Bennett, Stephen Baldwin... I just wouldn't know where to begin.)The cover image really says everything you need to

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-27930839101338085852008-09-16T13:51:00.003-04:002008-09-16T13:59:23.952-04:00

Oh dear. It's gotten this bad. So, most people know already that Tina Fey did a bang-up parody of Sarah Palin next to Amy Poehler's bang-up send-up of Hillary Clinton on "Saturday Night Live" over the weekend. And the response was generally positive, even from Palin herself, showing she may at least have a sense of humor, if not foreign policy experience.BUT! We still need some Official Outrage®

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-75751473720012816442008-09-16T06:13:00.002-04:002008-09-16T06:30:42.059-04:00

Hey, did you hear? The economy is tumbling at breakneck speed into a giant bowl of suck. If you want to take a second and check to make sure whichever bank you keep your money at is still in business, go ahead. We’ll wait.OK, good. Now we can move on to more important matters, namely lying John McCain’s untruthful lies. Yesterday, the Obama campaign finally — finally — came out and called foul on

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-19567799094503762762008-09-15T08:03:00.002-04:002008-09-15T08:20:32.422-04:00

On Friday, John McCain stopped by to have a chat with the ladies on “The View.” (Going on “Oprah” would’ve just been awkward.) McCain even brought Cindy along, since it’s a show for the womenfolk and all, and God knows McCain doesn’t know the first thing about knitting.This visit to the Barbara Walters House of Vapid was the perfect opportunity to see what windbags on the left (Whoopi Goldberg,

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-12795950776812074302008-09-12T00:45:00.004-04:002008-09-12T00:52:39.398-04:00

On Fridays, I stop all this political nonsense and get back to the tough task of mocking the celebrity industrial complex in my weekly column, the Word, available on my other site.To entice you, here's this week's entry:She can save money by Djing her own wedding!Supposedly, wedding bells are ringing around Hollywood because Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson are going to tie the knot. It doesn’t

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-23630513238912031912008-09-11T09:03:00.002-04:002008-09-11T09:06:02.660-04:00

A friend passed this along to me, and I'm posting it as a public service:Has the Large Hadron Collider destroyed the world yet?Keep checking it for updates in case you have any doubt.

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-9387928684642120362008-09-11T07:33:00.004-04:002008-09-11T07:47:33.896-04:00

Yesterday, we had a bit of fun with Meghan McCain, but there’s plenty of kid love to go around on the GOP ticket. Take vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin’s son Track. In a matter of complete coincidence, he’s deploying to Iraq today. (You might not’ve heard. The family doesn’t like to discuss it much.)Just in time for Track’s Heroic® departure, the National Enquirer is giving him the full

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-58747915285184447952008-09-10T08:23:00.002-04:002008-09-10T08:34:57.941-04:00

The nice thing about families is that they share, like how the Kennedys each get a chance to trash their storied legacy. John McCain, as everyone knows, is unparalleled when it comes to gaffes, but that doesn’t mean he won’t let his kids have a shot now and then.Take official campaign poster kid Meghan McCain. The 23-year-old blogger is already misspeaking at a Jenna Bush level. Yesterday, she

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-50315861206049805902008-09-09T09:14:00.003-04:002008-09-09T09:20:03.532-04:00

No one’s really sure what the vice president actually does, but we do know this: The real work comes during the election. The VP picks were selected for very specific purposes, so let’s see how they’re doing. It’s early, of course, but rushing to judgment is what we do best.A lot of folks have been complaining that Sarah Palin was a cynical pick, chosen solely because she has ovaries and isn’t 72

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-4569766366480304932008-09-08T08:46:00.007-04:002008-09-08T09:17:33.231-04:00

Americans faced with a difficult task: deciding the next president based almost exclusively on whim, superficial criteria and a complex equation political scientists call the eeny meeny miny moe theorum.I can sense your eyes glazing over, so let’s just talk about television instead. Which show do you like better: Miami Vice or Father Dowling Mysteries?The parallels are striking. On Miami Vice,

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343349684997468679.post-6658419515359514512008-08-25T12:06:00.003-04:002008-08-25T12:09:59.678-04:00

Mudslinger officially kicks off Sept. 8. Until then, enjoy the usual celebrity mockery and NYC-based drinking advice over at my site.

Ned Ehrbarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282343358111598347noreply@blogger.com0