The Ducky Bus

After Jon mentioned in that interview that he’d probably die by being hit by a Ducky Bus (I love how he said the word ‘ducky’ with such disdain – it made me smile) I had a wild thought. Then I put it away. Then, in one of those torrential email downpours that we girls are wont to drown in, I floated the outline for the ending, saying that I should sit down and write it over lunch to see if I could still get the words out. They said hell yeah. So I started it at lunchtime. Finished it by dinner.

Ducky Bus can be read here.

Hope you find it as fun to read as I did to write.

~ Hath

PS: It's not a "smut" biscuit.  Not at all.  NO sex, I promise.  It's just a little off.

QUACK!

Wanna know why the Harmonica is kaput?

Thanks @BlazeOfGlory2 for sending me this link!



Some other clips from that same Q and A on June 25th.






~ Hath

Special Edition Box Set

Back when the special editions were announced, a bunch of us thought it would be a great idea if the band offered them as a set.  They're finally doing it.

But, they're taking a page out of the Mythbusters' handbook.

If it's work doing, it's worth overdoing.

Just the facts:

You can go here to purchase your "Bon Jovi Special Editions Collector’s Box Set - Limited Edition Japanese Import" for one easy payment of $299.00 USD.

Included in the set:

1. Access All Areas: A Rock & Roll Odyssey 90-minute documentary DVD (multi-region NTSC)
2. Bon Jovi: 2010 Special Edition
3. 7800°: 2010 Special Edition
4. Slippery When Wet: 2010 Special Edition
5. New Jersey: 2010 Special Edition
6. Keep The Faith: 2010 Special Edition
7. These Days: 2010 Special Edition
8. Crush: 2010 Special Edition
9. Bounce: 2010 Special Edition
10. Have A Nice Day: 2010 Special Edition
11. Lost Highway: 2010 Special Edition
12. The Circle: 2010 Special Edition

This fantastic Global Exclusive Bon Jovi Special Editions Collector’s Box Set features Japanese Paper Sleeve versions of all eleven 2010 Special Editions plus an exclusive documentary DVD, Access All Areas: A Rock & Roll Odyssey, all packaged in a superb road case style box.

Each Special Edition includes a re-mastered version of the original album plus bonus live tracks. Each Special Edition also comes with a laminate “Backstage Tour Pass” reproduction and every CD unlocks the "virtual tour experience" consisting of exclusive bonus content, extra tracks, and access to exclusive Bon Jovi tour memorabilia.

Now the fun:

The emails we all received said you get a "keychain" with each Special Edition CD. So, do we get one keychain or 11? I'm confused.

Just after this came out, I got inundated (well maybe not inundated...more like 5) emails from people asking "WTF?  Don't they have enough of our money?  This is crazy!"

Well, for those of us who didn't run out and buy the SpecEds when they first came out (ran out of money after purchasing concert tickets, but am assured that they are on my birthday list), this is great.  Gives us a chance to get them all in one fell swoop, and to have a quirky collector set thingy to boot.

You know I can't leave it there, though right?

Using the ever trusty amazon.com and ebay, I did a little researching and a little figuring.

Here's what I came up with.

On Amazon, you can purchase all 11 of the Special Edition CD's, which come with all the new packaging, inserts, fake creds, the whole works.  Note all prices are in USD, and I have no earthly idea why 7800 would be the most expensive CD.  Work with me here, though.



7800 $14.49
Bon Jovi   $11.68
Bounce   $11.51
Crush   $11.68
HAND   $11.68
Keep The Faith $11.68
Lost Highway $11.68
New Jersey $11.68
Slippery   $11.69
The Circle   $17.49
These Days $11.48

Total for the CDs:  $ 136.74

Now, let's look at the extras.

An "Access All Areas" VHS on Amazon (albeit used, and VHS, and from fans looking to make a quick buck) is going for $50.  A fresh-press DVD can't be more than $20, right?  I mean really.

Access All Areas: $20.00


The "road case style box" will never last in my house.  So I did a little digging.  On eBay, I can get a small steamer trunk (a doll trunk, but still).  The opening bid on this lovely was $10, but counting for people really wanting the trunk, I figure you can get it for about $25.  Maybe less, but we'll call it $25.  Then you need to hit Fathead.com to get your Jovi decal for $35 and boom.  Done.

CD Box ~ Durable: $60.00

What's left?  Let's see.  Oh yes.  The key chain.  Or key chains.

Being generous, and not using show-swag-stand prices, I'm putting the key chain at $10

Key Chain: $10.00

Grand total?  A whopping $226.74.

Note I didn't figure in any shipping costs; I assume those would be comparable and therefore negligible.

You could save nearly $73 dollars by doing it yourself!

Or, depending on your point of view,

It's really not that bad if you haven't bought them already!

Oh wait.

Unless you really do get a key chain for every single CD like the email said.

Then Key Chain:  $110.00

Which makes the Grand Total now $326.74

Which means the band is SAVING you more than $25 by offering this package deal.

Thanks guys!

~ Hath

Video Series: Richie & WTB

Backstage at the fashion show for WTB at the UK launch.

Thanks to MrJameseyBoo for posting these.


White Trash Beautiful ~ Backstage

Part 1: Hysterical watching Richie moves and points and talk with his hands as he describes pieces in the line. Laughed out loud when he was talking about capris.

Do you like the jacket Richie wears on stage? WTB has a woman's version ...



Part 2: I kind of like the idea of Richie designing my next wedding dress.  I mean, after all, he's going to be the one to take it off me, right?  Should be something he likes...



Part 3: Talking about Ava, too cute.  I remember the pictures from that photo shoot.  Absolutely gorgeous shots -- I can just imagine what the private family photos looked like.  She wanted to model even then.



Part 4: About how the line is doing in the US.  A stack of reviews THIS high...



Part 5: So, what's this all about?



Part 6: Talk about Nikki & putting music "in" the clothing

They cut four songs, and Richie wanted to make it into a record. Still deciding on whether to distribute the music with the clothes. I think that's a GREAT idea! Working on a reality TV Show too. I think that's a BIG mistake. Will cheapen the whole WTB thing, and ultimately (IMO) will make them look dumb.



Part 7: So, what about Bon Jovi? What's up there?



Looking at another 100 shows in 30 countries -- hope they swing back through this one at some point...They plan to be in Europe summer 2011 (40 stadiums booked so far).

New Greatest Hits package with five new songs; should be out for Christmas

The project with Nikki? Sounds, SOUNDS like they'd release it as a record on its own? Not just in the clothes? GAH!

~ Hath

Opening Ceremonies at AT&T National

This week’s opening ceremonies for the AT&T National, a PGA-tour event taking place for the first time at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, included a military color guard, a colonial fife and drum corps, the National Anthem performed by Philadelphia-area group Boys to Men and speeches by Aronimink and PGA officials.

Also speaking was musician Jon Bon Jovi, whose foundation, the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, is among the beneficiaries of the four-day tournament.

Tiger Woods, whose own foundation is a tournament beneficiary, was among the guests in attendance.

The day also included a pro-am, where pros, including Rickie Fowler, Davis Love III and Boo Weekly, and amateurs teamed up on the Donald-Ross-designed course.

~ Hath

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Contest for Albertans

... Is that the right name to call people from Alberta?

Anyway, the full rules/procedures are here, but there is a contest open to legal residents of Alberta

One grand prize winner will receive 2 tickets inside the Circle at the Bon Jovi concert at Commonwealth Stadium on July 15th, 2010, and 2 commemorative chairs.

15 secondary winners will receive 2 tickets to Bon Jovi concert at Commonwealth Stadium on July 15th, 2010.

The Contest begins at 5:30 am Monday July 5th, 2010 and ends at 5 pm on Friday July 9th, 2010.

To enter online, complete and submit the entry form located at www.GlobalTVEdmonton.com.

Good Luck!

~ Hath

AT&T National

The AT&T National, a professional golf tournament held during the Fourth of July weekend and hosted by Tiger Woods, kicked off this week.

The tournament held its annual opening ceremonies behind the 10th tee yesterday, complete with a fife-and-drum band and recognition of wounded troops who were among the dignitaries.

The program was emceed by Lance Barrow, coordinating producer of golf for CBS Sports. Speakers included singer Jon Bon Jovi and Jim Callaway, senior executive vice president, executive operations, for AT&T.

Boyz II Men sang the national anthem, and officials recognized the event's beneficiaries: the Tiger Woods Foundation; the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, and the Boys and Girls Club of Philadelphia.

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There are lots of pictures from the opening ceremonies, which are up on my Photobucket.



Last evening also featured an acoustic performance by Jon Bon Jovi. The set list (as tweeted by @LorenzaPonce, who performed with JonBon):

Who Says You Can't Go Home
Livin' on a Prayer
Someday I'll be Saturday Night
Wanted Dead or Alive
Here Comes The Sun
That's Alright Mama

Still looking for YouTube videos of last night's event.

~ Hath

Some days, you're the windshield...

Bon Jovi rocked New Meadowlands Stadium in front of nearly 55,000 fans, becoming the first band to perform at the new venue. Now, PopEater has the exclusive video of what happened behind-the-scenes as the rockers prepared for their 'The Circle World Tour.'

Reflecting on his years as a rocker and the band's latest single, 'Work For The Working Man,' frontman Jon Bon Jovi dishes some honest job advice. "If you like your job -- no matter what it is -- embrace it. You might hate it some days, and there are days that I hate it. But the truth is [that] at the end of the day, you got to love it. And I love it," he says.

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I'm glad Jon's honest enough to admit some days he hates his job -- just like the rest of us!

~ Hath

Aussie Tour Promoter Named

Promoter Paul Dainty has appointed Showbiz International as a tour sponsor for the upcoming Bon Jovi `The Circle` tour of Australia and New Zealand.

Showbiz will offer Bon Jovi fans the “once in a lifetime” experience with VIP packages featuring front-row seats, merchandise and accommodation.

Showbiz CEO Craig McMaster said: “DCE is one of the foremost tour promoters in this country, and we’ve worked with Paul Dainty and his team on many fabulous shows of all size and scale in the past. With this latest deal, we’re thrilled to be providing a comprehensive range of event products and services in a significant partnership with both DCE and the amazing Bon Jovi – a partnership which builds on Showbiz’s previous successes of offering both the fans and artists an event experience that is second to none.”


The exclusive Bon Jovi The Circle VIP Packages presale on now.

Dates are:
December 4, Wellington, Westpac Stadium
December 5, Auckland, Mt Smart Stadium
December 8, Perth, Subiaco Oval
December 11, Melbourne, Etihad Stadium
December 14, Brisbane, Suncorp Stadium
December 17, Sydney, Football Stadium

~ Hath

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Win Bon Jovi Tickets on Fresh

All weekend long on NY's Fresh 102.7 FM, you can win tickets to see Bon Jovi LIVE at the New Meadowlands Stadium on Friday, July 9th!

Starting this Friday, July 2nd at 3pm, when you hear any Bon Jovi song played in its entirety, be be the 7th caller at 1-800-949-1027 and you’ll win a pair of tickets to see Bon Jovi LIVE!

~ Hath

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Panic (part 3): The Waiting Is The Hardest Part

While you waited for the second MRI, the second trip into the third circle of Hell, your symptoms got worse. You now have a tingling, not-quite-pins-and-needles-but-the-moment-before-they-hit sensation that almost exactly bisects your entire body, affecting your right side. Except for your toes. How messed up is that? From your scalp, down to your ear, your neck, and around to your face. Your arm, leg, and trunk, all on the right side, is slightly desensitized. Like that feeling you get when you've been out in the snow for some time and are very cold, then come into a warm house. You take off your coat and rub your hands on your arms to try to warm them, and they feel sort of numb, though you still can feel pain. Your right side feels like THAT, except not cold.

But, you have no loss of motor function and no diminished cognitive processing; no impairment of your sight of hearing, so you figure it's the stress of the first test, coupled with the "something" that they found. You're pretty sure this is a psycho-somatic response to the results of the first MRI.

Pretty sure.

Pragmatically, you're hopeful that the second test will show some cause for this sensation, but you are a realist, and know that any anomalies in the right side of your body would be caused by an issue on the left side of your brain. Your 'something' that the doctor talked to you about last week was on the right side.

So all you can do is wait.

The second test went much smoother than the first. The gorgeous Lord Diazepam did his level best to make you feel like anything was possible. That you could survive another trip through the hell of being buried alive. He also made damned sure that your motor skills were shot completely to shit.

So, you asked your mother to take you to the test so you didn't literally end up buried. She (of course) agreed, and watched as you sat on the table and tensed up. She watched as the tech measured out a dose of something scary and injected it into your body. She watched as you settled down on your back, and got covered with a light blanket. She watched as the cage came over your head, and your breathing became more labored. She watched as you started to slide into the hole again.

Then she watched as Lord Diazepam completely distracted you. Your whole body relaxed, arms loose at your side. You didn't even register that the tech neglected to give you a panic button. Panic? What's that? This is glorious.

Before you knew it, the clicking and whirring and banging was done. You have no idea how long Lord D held you in his sweet embrace, but you could completely understand how some people find him too beautiful to resist. How they succumb to his influence and let him move into their lives permanently.

You're not sure how you got home -- you may have floated, but more than likely, your mother took you. She got you settled, then left you to your slumber. Hours later, you're awakened by your family coming in from their day. You have your dinner, and life goes on.

For a day or so.

Then the doctor calls you at home. Himself. After dinner.

He tells you that the new test showed nothing new, which (he explains) is good news. It means that most likely, the worst-case scenario that's been running through your thoughts -- a cancerous brain tumor -- is highly unlikely. Also unlikely, but not ruled out is Multiple Sclerosis, which was the close second on the nightmare top-five possibilities.

What is perfectly clear, however, is that you have a small mass on the right side of your brain that doesn't belong there. It could be scar tissue, though you have no memory of any head injuries. It could be "something else", they simply don't know.

The doctor tells you that he's going to have to 'keep an eye on it' for a while to see if there is any growth activity, though at this time you don't know quite what this means, except that you will have another date with Lord Diazepam in your future. He said not to worry, that he'd review all the results from all the tests when you see him in 10 days.

On the heels of that, he tells you that if you have any heaviness in your limbs, or any loss in hearing/sight, to go the hospital immediately -- preferably the one where the MRI was done, as they'd have immediate access to the scan data.

But don't worry.

So all you can do is wait.

In the interim, you have more blood drawn, which is nothing compared to the MRI. A few days later, you suffer a death in your family, and are distracted from your medical drama by your son, for whom this is his first loss. Once things settle down on that front, you have another test -- this one is an EEG.

When you arrive at the hospital, you're completely relaxed. This is a test you could do in your sleep -- in fact, they actually prefer you do. So you got up extra early so you'll be a bit fatigued, you refrained from eating or drinking anything that had caffeine or "too much" sugar in it, and 30 minutes prior to your appointment, you make your way to the hospital. The tech, a lovely man named Raphael helps you onto the hospital bed.

He gives you a scalp massage, as he marks all the places where the electrodes need to go. You're drowsy even now, as he takes his time, nearly 10 minutes' time, in getting you all wired up.

Then he dims the lights, pulls the shades, closes the heavy oaken door, and retreats to his computer cubby. His soft voice comes through the wall -- "Just relax."

No problem.

The 30-minute test seems to take a heartbeat, as you breathe deeply and settle into slumber. When Raphael gently wakes you, you see he's set up a strobe in front of your eyes for the final portion of the test. Even its insistent blinking can't make you un-relax. As far as tests go, this one you'd recommend to anyone.

You get another scalp massage as Raphael removes the electrodes and rubs away the china-marker marks he had made earlier. He tells you that the results will be waiting in the doctor's office, in time for your appointment next Tuesday.

Today's only Thursday.

So you wait.

When Tuesday comes around, the doctor is (amazingly) on time. He brings you back into his office, and asks thoughtful questions about your symptoms. You answer thoroughly. He tells you that the blood work all comes back normal. So did your EEG.

Those niceties out of the way, he delves into the MRI results. He brings up the scan series on his computer and you stare, transfixed, at the gray-and-black blob that is your brain. You watch as he cycles through the scan's images, slightly horrified, but completely intrigued as the images crawl over the top of your head, and you can see your eyes. Your actual eyes. It's gross and fascinating all at the same time.

"The optic nerves look great," he says. Yeah, you already kinda figured that as your symptoms did not include any loss or degradation in vision.

There's a thick white mass in the middle of your brain, and just for a moment, you're scared. Then you remember your high school biology, and realize that this is probably the ventricle that helps with the blood flow to your brain. The doctor confirms your recollection, and you start to relax.

Then you hear that word.

"However".

However, see this slightly less-dark-gray blob next to the ventricle? That's the mass. To your eyes it looks huge, but he assures you that they measured it in millimeters. You're a math geek, so you know how small those are. But you also know it doesn't take too many of them to make up an inch. This mass is something close to an inch in diameter.

"But it's not white," the doctor says.

If it was white, it'd be a brain tumor, though they wouldn’t be able to tell it was cancerous without a biopsy, and you're glad, because a buzz cut would not be a good look for you. Plus, the idea of someone cutting into your head scares the ever-loving shit out of you.

"It could be anything," the doctor says. "Overall, the test was inconclusive."

But it's not white.

The doctor also shows you a lateral slice of your ventricle, and shows the lack of spots. That's apparently a very good sign as well. It means if, and he stressed if, IF you have MS, it's in the very very early stages and there's no harm in not medicating at this point while more tests get run. You whole-heartedly agree. You don't like taking pills as it is; you certainly don't want to take something you don't need.

The doctor asks more questions about the tingling, including one about Lyme disease. As in, have you ever been tested for it? You haven't, so he writes up another blood work slip.

He also tells you about a test they used to do "before MRIs were so widely used,” It’s called an Evoke/Potentials test. Basically, it's an EEG on your whole body -- but with electric shocks. The techs measure the amount of time it takes for the shock (mild, I'm assured) to reach your brain. You don't know much about the test yet, but WebMD is your next stop.

Soon, the doctor's administrative assistant will call and tell you what hospital to go to for your tests and when.

Soon, you will know if you have Lyme disease, which (if you do) is so far advanced as to be impacting your neurological functions, and scares you. But there's really nothing you can do.

Except...

of course...

to wait.

~ Hath

The O2 Residency

You HAD to know I'd have SOMETHING to say about the run of shows in London...

If you recall, Jon said they were striving for 70 different songs throughout the residency. Though they didn’t specify “Bon Jovi” songs, when the original article was posted, and the count of “54 songs thus far” given, that matched the number of “non-cover” songs played.

Given that criteria, the 70 was not quite met. The band played 62 distinct non-cover tunes.

Technically speaking, they only did 59 Bon Jovi songs, with the other three being from Jon’s solo catalogue. (As an aside, it totally frosts my cupcakes that Jon does some of his solo work, but Richie doesn’t. Not that I don’t adore his renditions of Lay Your Hands On Me and Homebound Train, but the man has some seriously good work of his own).

If you count ALL the distinct juke bits, they did absolutely break the 70 barrier. So, I must leave it to you to decide if they made it or not.

While we’re talking about song mix (or lack thereof, depending on your individual point-of-view), let’s take a look at some interesting (to the geek in me) slices and dices of the London set lists.

There were some songs (apparently this tour’s standards) that were played every show:

• Bad Medicine
• Born to Be My Baby
• It's My Life
• Keep the Faith
• Living on a Prayer
• Wanted Dead or Alive
• We Got It Going On
• We Weren't Born to Follow (always in the 2nd position)
• Who Says You Can't Go Home
• You Give Love a Bad Name (always in the 3rd position)

And there were several songs that made those of us who were not in the UK in June just sigh with envy:

• (It's Hard) Letting You Go (!!)
• Damned (!!)
• Garageland
• Hey God
• I Got the Girl
• I'd Die For You
• Let It Rock
• Living in Sin
• Something To Believe In (!!)
• The Last Night
• Wild In the Streets (!!)
• Wild Is the Wind

(Note, there were other songs played "only in London", but they're not necessarily sigh-worthy: Santa Fe, Miss Fourth of July, Blaze, Story of My Life)

Song / Album Distribution

Looking a little closer at the microcosm of the London shows, I find it interesting that the “Circle Tour” appears to be a misnomer. It was more like the “Bon Jovi Greatest Hits-But-Since-We-Have-A-New-Record-Here-Are-A-FEW-Of-Those-Songs Tour”.  For the "regular, non-diehard" fan, however, which is the majority of the ticket purchasers, that’s absolutely perfect, and once again, Jon shows his business acumen by giving the biggest demographic what they want.

Plus much of the O2 crowd settled in for the entire residency, and you have to give Jon credit -- though nearly  half of the setlist was the same songs each night (albeit in different positions -- mostly) he did mix it up for the other half quite a bit.  Here's hoping he continues that trend in July.

Over the course of the residency, 9 songs from New Jersey were played; that’s 75% of the album! Off The Circle, the band played a mere 67% of the tracks (8 of 12 songs).

(Note the distinction between “cover songs” and “jukebox covers”: the “cover songs” stood alone while the “jukebox covers” were parts of other songs. So, for example, “Hallelujah” is considered a “cover song”, while “Sympathy With The Devil” is a “Jukebox Cover”).

Covers aside, because those are fun, shouldn’t the studio record with the most songs played be the one on which you are currently touring?

Overall, New Jersey got the highest overall play-rate.  Nearly 20% of the songs played during the residency came from NJ.  Not that it isn’t a fantastic record, but remind me again, what tour is this?

Now, I’m not in the biz (nor do I “play one who is” on TV) so of course I don’t know the 'official rules of touring'. But it would stand to reason that if you’re touring record X, you want to get that music, the new music you are apparently very proud of, out there to the masses. Shouldn't most of the songs played per show come from the new record?  Some of the O2 shows had only 2 or 3 songs from The Circle.

(click on this one so you don't strain your eyes)

Playing 'em All

If you’re going to shove Who Says down our throats every single night, why not hit all the songs from the record at some point?

The band is well on their way to doing just that.

There are only three tracks missing from The Circle’s listing, looking at the tour overall thus far: Fast Cars, Learn to Love, and Live Before You Die. (One additional, Brokenpromiseland, was not played in London, but was played in other venues). I would like to see if the “missing” tracks play better as live performances than they do on the record.

During the Lost Highway tour, when all was said and done, they did play every song from that record (from the US release).

During the HAND tour, Jon commented (just before the band played Wildflower) that his goal was to play every track from the record at least once on tour. They did (again, from the US release).

Maybe this tour, they will play all the songs from the new record. I think they should. It’s a great precedent to set.

~ Hath

Hey South Shore (MA) Jovi Girls!

Thursday night, July 15th, Mix 104.1 will host a special Bon Jovi Party at CBS Scene to giveaway the Ultimate Grand Prize to one lucky Bon Jovi fan: 2 passes to meet Bon Jovi BACKSTAGE!

Plus, for the 2-hours Mix is there – you could win tickets to see Bon Jovi every 15 minutes!

I'm trying to get my husband to agree to change our usual Thursday-night-dinner-out place to CBS Scene for that week. So far, no dice. Looks like I'm having a girls' night out!!

~ Hath

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Fan Fiction Directory Gets Notice!

Yes, ladies, those of you who have decided to list with me -- you're out there in the mainstream now.

This article, from PopWatch Confessional (on Entertainment Weekly) has mentioned, and LINKED, the Bon Jovi Fan Fiction Directory.  Damn, now I have to overhaul the site, yes?

If you haven't checked it out (and are of a mind to) there's a link above.  If you notice on the directory, I proudly show our mention on EW.COM.

I'm beyond tickled about this.  Scared as hell too, but damn, what a rush!  I left a comment on Mandi's article:

As the hostess of the Bon Jovi Fan Fiction Website you linked to I want to say thanks for the plug!

As a “relatively normal woman” with a husband, kid, job, mortgage, and no chance in hell of actually experiencing any of the things I and my other FanFictionista friends write about, I can honestly say, that these obsessions, as dysfunctional as they may be are actually quite healthy.
You get to lose yourself for a few hours, feel pretty darned good at the end of the session, and look what you HAVEN’T done:

You haven’t smoked a pack of ciggies (well, maybe if you read some of the steamier stories, you did afterwards…)

You haven’t poured yourself a glass or six of wine (well, maybe you did, to get yourself in the mood before reading…)

You haven’t eaten a whole pint of mint-chocolate-chip ice cream (well, if you got the munchies after — um — reading some of the stories, you did…)

Hell, I guess Fan Fiction may not be entirely healthy after all.

It’s fun as hell, though

So, if you were hoping to keep yourself on the D-L, sorry. BUSTED!

~ Hath

Broadway in Bryant Park

What'cha doing on Thursday, July 15, 2010?

If you're in NYC, why not take in Broadway in Bryant Park, presented by 106.7 LiteFM.

From12:30pm – 1:30pm on The Lawn, watch as the most popular musicals on and off Broadway perform their biggest hits.

Featuring the casts of:

• The Phantom of the Opera
• Billy Elliot
• Memphis
• South Pacific
• Radio City Christmas Spectacular
• Remind Me

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Hopefully, as the production tours, they'll do more of these things at a park near you!

~ Hath

London RIB Voyage Tour

Bon Jovi took a break from their latest tour with a London RIB Voyage on the Thames last week.

Charlie Matheson, owner of London RIB said, “They all enjoyed themselves. It really is the best way to see London in 50 minutes!

“We have to pick up some serious speed to get out past Canary Wharf and back in such a short amount of time; powering through London as you “pull G” past Tower Bridge is exciting by anybody’s standards.

“Jon Bon Jovi said it was a seriously James Bond-like experience.”


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WTB For Men

Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora can't wait to design a menswear collection as he thinks there needs to be some fun in male fashion.

Richie Sambora can't wait to design a menswear collection.

The Bon Jovi guitarist recently launched his debut clothing range White Trash Beautiful - which he co-created with designer and musician Nikki Lund - and while it's been a success among women, he is keen to branch out into male clothes because he thinks men should be able to have fun with fashion as well.

He told BANG Showbiz: "I can't wait to do menswear range. A lot of men's clothes are quite boring and I want to bring some excitement back into fashion for them. At the moment, we have created some clothes just for me to wear and I'm getting so many compliments that I know there is a need for our men's clothes and hopefully the range would be just as successful."

Although he isn't overly impressed with men's fashion at the moment, Richie says one designer he did admire was Alexander McQueen, who tragically committed suicide in February.

He said: "I'm a huge fan of Alexander McQueen, his clothes were amazing ad I loved wearing them. He was definitely a big inspiration to me."

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I have one (maybe snarky) comment to make -- if the stage-pants Richie's been sporting are going to be geared up for public consumption, I have to ask, please don't.  There are very few men I know in my every-day life that wouldn't look utterly ridiculous in those pants.

~ Hath

60 Minutes (Australia)

The interview we talked about yesterday, where Jon was all grumpy, has aired on 60 Minutes Australia.  You should be able to watch it here (at least in the US, we can).

The start of the interview (tooling around London), you can see the grumpiness in Jon's body language, won't make eye contact, etc.  But when they were in the hotel, it was all smiles.  Though a couple of times, I could SEE Jon refraining from throwing in a "bullshit" in answer to a question, and settling on "nonsense".

I learned something in watching this interview today.  Jon sees his life as a book with the last few chapters yet to be written.  He figures he's on about chapter 6 of a 10-chapter book.  The final chapter, however, is already outlined.  He's not going to go down in a Blaze of Glory -- no fiery plane crash or anything like that.  He's pretty sure a Ducky Tour Bus is going to do him in :)

~ Hath