OK, I don't watch American Idol. Let's get that out of the way. Nor do I own any Britney Spears' albums. But in our pop culture-infused society, it is difficult to escape notice of the cultural shrapnel left behind by these phenomena. (Yes, I know Britney is in her 3rd rehab stint this week). So, unwittingly I have become aware of a scandal (or should I say, the annual scandal) involving an American Idol contestant, this one having posed for some racy pictures and posting them online.
What I find interesting about this incident is this piece from a MSNBC online article about the scandal:

The fallout has many young people here thinking twice about posing for photos they thought were just to be shared among friends.

“It’s
the way this town is: Everybody knows everything about their friends,”
said Mark Dillon, 17. “At least half the people in this town have
pictures of their friends on the toilet. I’ve personally seen at least
20. It’s only because she’s on TV that they’re online.”

Really?! Is this what the digital revolution has brought, the ability to photograph your friends on the toilet and post the pictures on the web for the world to see?!

Maybe it's time for parents (who knows, maybe we should also have required media and PR training for kids) to explain to their kids that employers today will Google you and check your MySpace page rather than check your references. One picture of you on the toilet could very well cost you a job.

Speaking of the toilet, that's where I'd like to send the Carling Cup Final. From what I hear (since the game wasn't broadcast in the States - Rupert Murdoch, how could you abandon us this way?!) the Young Gunners put on a great display and had Roman's RMA on the run, but for the excellence in form of one Didier Drogba. The end result is that Arsenal lost and that sucks! And the outbreak of handbagging at the end was really disgraceful. Not that I'm condoning violence but aren't footballers supposed to be tough.

The only really violent blow was the horrible, unintended kick to JT's head. That was awful. Thank God he's OK.

Alright, on the the Blackburn replay. Gunners better win or I'm going to be put on suicide watch again.