by Secretary

This last weekend Europe united for the Eurovision Song Contest, an annual event which a whole continent loves to hate, yet, like a car crash, is compelled to watch. For anyone who hasn’t had their lives touched by the force of nature that is Eurovision, allow me to explain. Founded in 1956, it was supposed to bring post-war Europe together in the spirit of friendly competition, but has since become a leviathan of campery, one-upmanship, tactical/political/block voting, ludicrous gimmicks, and people taking themselves far, far too seriously. It’s a yearly televisual event which serves as an excuse for the whole of Europe to sit down in front of the TV for one colossal drinking game (see rules), and is probably the best indicator of contemporary European politics we have.

Forty-three countries entered this year, and were whittled down to 25 finalists during two semi-final rounds ahead of Saturday night’s main competition. The winners were selected using a combination of televotes and jury votes. Ostentatiously, people were voting for the best song in Europe, but the entrants tend to be remembered for the spectacle rather than for their musical chops. From Britain’s Buck’s Fizz, who memorably ripped the skirts off their female members in 1981, to 2006 when Finnish rock band Lordi managed to temporarily unite the whole of Europe behind latex monster costumes, it’s the visuals that make Eurovision. I had planned to write this as the show was broadcast, but the mandatory Eurovision drinking game was particularly brutal this year, and all I’d managed to type by the next morning was “bbbbbbbbRRRRRRRRRRRRRR,” which I’m sure made a lot of sense at the time.

Anyway, now my hangover has finally subsided, I give you the Dedicated Follower of Fashion’s guide to the critical style moments of Eurovision 2011.

[..]

by A.J. Focht

On May 13, the longest running superhero based television series, Smallville, came to a close. The final episode brought back many of the past characters, including Michael Rosenbaum as Lex Luthor. Avoiding other major spoilers, we’ll just say there is both flight and tights action involved.

That wasn’t the only action stirring in the world of superheroes this past week though. Rob Williams, author of the new Ghost Rider series, announced that the next Ghost Rider will be a female. Johnny Blaze, the current Ghost Rider, will be offered a chance to pass his curse on to someone else, and while Blaze will no longer be the Rider, he’ll remain a part of the series.

[..]

by Erin Broadley

Back in 1984 Slayer and other metal mainstays Venom and Exodus hit the road on what was dubbed the Combat Tour. According to band legend, one drunken night on the tour bus, Slayer frontman Tom Araya – just a tempestuous twentysomething – stumbled down the hallway looking for a place to take a leak. Venom vocalist Cronos joked that the bathroom was right there, in his mouth. Araya proceeded to whip it out and piss all over Cronos’ hair. Sure, Cronos left Araya with a shiner but it’s all part of what makes Slayer, well, fucking Slayer.

[..]

Lolana Suicide in Groucho Marx

• INTO: Writing poetry, airports, hospital food, psychology, getting lost in big cities, books, Greek mythology, going to music festivals on my own, curious girls, divas with great smiles, Canadian lovers, pulling pranks, trying new things, the adrenalin rush I get from being scared half to death, smooth talkers, and success.
• NOT INTO: Burnouts, nobodies, hippies, and dirty hands.
• MAKES ME HAPPY: Your smile, finishing my own poetry, the first sip of my morning coffee, Buffalo wings, being single.
• MAKES ME SAD: Rude remarks that I didn’t think of first.
• HOBBIES: Hiking, singing, one night love stands.
• 5 THINGS I CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT: A book, blush, money, human interaction, work.
• I SPEND MOST OF MY FREE TIME: Thinking too hard and working.

Get to know Lolana better over at SuicideGirls.com!

by Bob Suicide

Hi, my name is Bob Suicide and I’m a shy gamer.

Generally, there isn’t a lot of stigma being a shy, quiet geek. After all, as a group, us nerds aren’t known for being boisterous. We play our games, download/stream our shows, and read our comics all from the safety of our solitary couches. However, with the recent surge in mainstream desire for geek culture, we’ve been thrust off of our couches and into the social scene.

You know you’re a hardcore gamer when you can watch someone else play a game with the same satisfaction you would received if you played it yourself. I’ve “played” many a game sitting next to the controller as the go-to strat guide girl or the rapt spectator rooting my friends on. Generally, my shy nature doesn’t preclude me from enjoying the ridiculous level of gaming that I expect from my daily life. But sometimes you just have to be the one pressing the buttons to get the full joy from the experience; sometimes, you can feel a little left out sitting on the sidelines…and it’s then that I lament my epic shyness.

[..]

by Blogbot

A column which highlights Suicide Girls and their fave groups.

This week, Cheri Suicide gives us the lowdown on the freewheeling Skateboarders Group.

Members: 723 / Comments: 5,161

• WHY DO YOU LOVE IT?: So many rad people. It makes me especially excited to meet other girls that get just as stoked about skateboarding as me. We discuss brands, styles, and skaters we’re all into. Skateboarding helps keep me entertained in my small town, and I’ve made lots of friends through it. Skate4Cancer really inspires me, along with the local MHSA. A group of skaters can go a long way and make big changes in this world.
• DISCUSSION TIP: Everyone likes different brands and styles, so don’t be a hater, be cool.
• BEST RANDOM QUOTE: “Chea Boii” and “Primo.”
• MOST HEATED DISCUSSION THREAD: I wouldn’t say heated, but it seems like everyone is stoked on the topic “Longboarding” which is cool cause its almost summer time, and I know what I’ll be doing a lot of! Go green, longboard your butt to the store instead of driving! :]
• WHO’S WELCOME TO JOIN?: Anyone who skateboards or is interested in maybe taking this wicked hobbie up!

[..]

by Riley St. Clair

There are about a million reasons I should not like Mickey Avalon. He is perpetually shirtless, he wears more eyeliner than I do, and he has a single called ““My Dick.”” Oh yeah, and he used to have sex with dudes for money. In spite of the undeniable sleaze-factor, I can’t get his songs out of my head and, well, I rather like him. The embodiment of a rags-to-riches hip-hop fairytale, Avalon has managed to garner the attention of the music press, a bunch of young fans looking to get down and of course, a crapload of teenage girls. In between sound checks and after-parties, I got him on the phone shortly before his Lollapalooza gig.

Read our exclusive interview with Mickey Avalon on SuicideGirls.com.