Are We in a Narcissism Epidemic?

Generation Me - A new book says we're in a narcissism epidemic. Why you're not so special.

Perhaps, one day, we will say that the recession saved us from a parenting ethos that churns out ego-addled spoiled brats. And though it is too soon to tell if our economic free fall will cure America of its sense of economic privilege, it has made it much harder to get the money together to give our kids six-figure sweet-16 parties and plastic surgery for graduation presents, all in the name of "self esteem." 

And that's a good thing, because as Jean Twenge and W. Keith Campbell point out in their excellent book "The Narcissism Epidemic," released last week, we've built up the confidence of our kids, but in that process, we've created a generation of hot-house flowers puffed with a disproportionate sense of self-worth (the definition of narcissism) and without the resiliency skills they need when Mommy and Daddy can't fix something.  

You know we've all seen this kind of behavior at the workplace, shopping, or even just amongst our peers.  But is it right to judge a whole group of persons based on the actions of others?  Want to know more?  Catch the article in the April 27, 2009  Newsweek magazine and feel free to blog in and tell me your thoughts to this point.

CAPRICA - THE BATTLE FOR HUMANITY HAS A BEGINNING...

Get ready all you Battle Star Galactica fans as the pilot episode of CAPRICA, the prequel to the BSG franchise is released on DVD  April 21, 2009.  

An astonishing breakthrough is taking shape on the planet Caprica. The rapidly evolving spheres of human and mechanical engineering have collided, along with the fates of two families. Joined by tragedy in an explosive instant of terror, two rival clans led by powerful patriarchs, Joseph Adama (Esai Morales, Jericho) and Daniel Graystone (Eric Stoltz, The Butterfly Effect) duel in an era of questionable ethics, corporate machinations and unbridled personal ambition as the final war for humanity looms.

The latest phenomenon from the executive producers of Battlestar Galactica (Ronald D. Moore and David Eick), set in a time over 50 years earlier, Caprica is entirely its own world - provocative, thrilling and startling relevant to our own.

Because of the early DVD release, fans might get a chance to influence the development of the series. In a release, Mark Stern, Executive VP of Original Programming for Sci Fi, says the DVD release "affords the creative team an unprecedented chance to get viewers feedback before production on the Caprica series begins this summer."  

Are you a fan of the current reimaged BSG?  What are your thoughts on a prequel?  And will you download or purchase the advance unrated and unedited pilot DVD?

Hindsight: `Housewives' Edie Britt, 1 of a kind

                                             

Edie, the ageless party girl of "Desperate Housewives," made an electric exit Sunday from ABC's drama — she was fatally jolted after her car ran into a power pole and expired beautifully in front of a Wisteria Lane crowd.

"I died just like I had lived, as the complete and utter center of attention," Edie, serving as ghostly narrator to her passing, smugly informed us in a voiceover.

As neighbors Susan, Lynette, Bree, Gabrielle and Mrs. McCluskey set off on a road trip to deliver the bad news and Edie's cremated remains to her son, they passed the time by sharing memories and wisecracks about the dearly departed.

When Lynette (Felicity Huffman) is chastised for peeking inside the urn at Edie's ashes, she tartly replies, "Or what, I'll turn to stone?"

Later, Mrs. McCluskey (Kathryn Joosten) muses about why Edie would want to be cremated instead of being "pumped full of chemicals and preserved."

"Isn't that what she did for the last 15 years?" Lynette says.  In flashbacks, the friends recalled how Edie provided a loving hand — or kick in the pants — at a difficult time in their lives.

And when they end up scattering her remains over Wisteria Lane, each offering a one-word tribute, Susan (Teri Hatcher), insists on four: "One of a kind," she offers.  And I think that is the best way to sum up Edie's character.  I know that I personally feel that Nicollette Sheridan was "one of a kind" in this role and with it being TV land I'm still holding out hope for a shocking return of Edie Brit.

Perhaps Edie is really not dead.  We didn't see her body we only know that David had her cremated.  The same guy who was about to kill her but then stopped.  What's to say that she's not off in a coma somewhere to be dragged out later?  And was it just me or did anyone find it strange that Edie, who Mrs. McCluskey said "loved her son" had not left him anything in a will?   

If I were writing this show I would indeed bring back Edie and/or a sister (perhaps Nicollette as a Raven haired sister?) because this show needs some real sugar and spice and with Edie that spells NICE!  What say you all?

'Young Stevie Wonder' steals spotlight from Susan Boyle

Move over Susan Boyle. A week after the Scottish woman became a global sensation following a barnstorming audition on "Britain's Got Talent," a 12-year-old Welsh boy with a Motown voice has been hailed for his "life-changing" performance on the TV show after earning a standing ovation from Simon Cowell.

YouTube: Watch Shaheen Jafargholi perform on "Britain's Got Talent"

Now if only somebody could bring these people stateside to liven up the current Season of American Idol!

Last week's performance by Boyle, the 47-year-old with a Broadway voice who claimed to have never been kissed, brought the show global attention, with her version of the Les Miserables' tune "I Dreamed a Dream" gaining more than 32 million hits on YouTube as well as earning her a string of U.S. media appearances, including on CNN's Larry King Live.

Jafargholi has some way to go to match Boyle's success. By Monday morning a YouTube link to his performance had been watched just 330,000 times.   Who do you prefer?  Susan Boyle or Shaheen Jafargholi?  Sound Off below.

Meghan McCain warns of looming civil war in the GOP

"I am concerned about the environment. I love to wear black. I think government is best when it stays out of people's lives and business as much as possible. I love punk rock. I believe in a strong national defense. I have a tattoo. I believe government should always be efficient and accountable. I have lots of gay friends. And yes, I am a Republican," she told a cheering crowd.

Meghan McCain warned a group of gay Republicans Saturday that there was "a war brewing in the Republican Party" – a war between the past and the future.

"Most of the old school Republicans are scared s***less of that future," she told a gathering of the Log Cabin Republicans, a group of gay and lesbian party members.  "I feel too many Republicans want to cling to past successes…I think we're seeing a war brewing in the Republican Party," she said. "But it is not between us and Democrats. It is not between us and liberals. It is between the future and the past…

So, is Meghan correct?   Has the Republican party lost touch with the current state of affairs?  Can the Republican party make itself over before the 2012 elections and if so who do you think will run on the Republican ticket?

Miss USA pageant: Gay marriage scandal over Miss California's comments

Now talk about getting oneself into a HOT MESS!  Miss North Carolina USA Kristen Dalton was crowned Miss USA 2009 on Sunday, beating out 50 other beauty queens in the live pageant televised from Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.

But her runner up, Miss California Carrie Prejean, of San Diego, shocked the audience when she answered a question about legalising same-sex marriage. The tall blonde stumbled some before giving an answer that appeared to please the pageant audience.

 "We live in a land where you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage," Prejean said. "And you know what, I think in my country, in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offence to anybody out there, but that's how I was raised."  My God, is it me or did this woman just want to loose the pageant?  I mean come now, whether you believe in something is of course ones own choice BUT there most certainly would have been a more intelligent way for this young lady to state how she feels.

How about just stating that "While this is a current hot topic in America, that individual States have the power to choose for themselves what is in the best interests of it's people...." and give us a history lesson of how the founding fathers crafted the Constitution or something of that nature.  This approach seemed to work for Obama during the elections so Ms. California should have perhaps taken a page out of the politicians manual.  So, hot mess or what?  What say you?