R.I.P. Paul Newman

About 10 years years ago, I went through a phase of watching iconic actors in their prime: Dustin Hoffman in "The Graduate" and "Midnight Cowboy;" Marlon Brando in "A Streetcar Named Desire;" Robert DeNiro in "Taxi Driver." One of those movies was "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," starring Elizabeth Taylor and Paul Newman. The movie isn't great, but the sheer physical beauty of Taylor and Newman in it is stunning. Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey? Please. It's a cliche to say they don't make film stars like that anymore, but it's also true.

I Wish I'd Thought Of This

What would happen if Mitt Romney, Joe Lieberman, Charlie Crist and Tom Pawlenty had an instant-message conversation? 23/6 took a guess, and the resulting "If They IMd" item had me ROFL. Giving Romney the online handle "MittyMittyBangBang" was a stroke of pure genius.

Another Cartoon Network Gem

I am genuinely excited about "Batman: The Brave and the Bold," which makes its debut in November on the Cartoon Network. This is why my 8-year-old son thinks I’m the best mom in the world. (That is, when he’s not telling me I’m the worst mom ever.)

Because Batman is such a jackass, it’s always fun to see him interact with other characters. I don’t know how far the show will go with the jerk persona, but I'm looking forward to seeing him work alongside fellow rich-kid-turned-costumed-hero Green Arrow. Yeah, that'll go well.

Since I'm dropping the increasingly lame "Brave & the Bold" comic, this should make up for it.

Bookish

I have a few friends who have written books or are in the process of writing one. Like many people, I've entertained fantasies of seeing my own book (as yet unwritten) in a prominent position at Borders, and answering probing questions from Terry Gross about said book. It seems like such a cliched idea on my part, though. For all I know, my son is working his memoirs during recess.

Anyway, Boston Globe columnist Penelope Trunk made a mighty good case for not turning one's ideas into a book. Just as interesting are some of the comments that follow.

Depending on what mood I'm in, writing can be its own reward. I have a job. God knows I don't want to contribute to the pile of mediocre-to-bad novels taking up bookstore space — especially since so many of my friends are writers. (Though I told a friend I was going to write a parody of one of those glossy, contemporary "urban" novels and see if anyone gets the joke.) Still, it's hard not to envy people who make a splash with novels that are thinly veiled memoirs, or those who make no pretense of aspiring to be Alice Walker or, for that matter, E. Lynn Harris.

On the other hand, Trunk offers this cold blast of reality: "Many people think they have a ton of ideas and they are brimming with book possibilities when in fact, most of us have very few new ideas. If you have so many ideas, prove it to the world and start blogging."

Dag! Even if you don't agree, you have to respect the woman's honesty.

K. Jo: Where Is The Love?

My 4-year-old daughter apparently has a crush - to the exent that a preschooler can - on Joe Jonas, the sleek-haired lead singer of the Jonas Brothers. Or, as her 5-year-old friend R. hilariously deadpanned, "the hot one." She has repeatedly stated her intention to marry Joe, and frankly, I'm a little disappointed by this decision.

Crushing on Joe Jonas is the equivalent of saying Davey Jones was your favorite Monkee, or Farrah was your favorite Angel: Predictable, Cliched. Plus, Joe flat irons his hair, and I have yet to see him perform while playing an instrument, unlike the other two. This is her intended?

During a particularly obsessive phase of early adolescence, I got hooked on the Monkees via reruns of their classic television show. When my dear friend C. and I came out of the Monkees closet in college, we agreed that bassist Peter Tork was by far the most desirable member, with Mike Nesmith a close second. To this day, we judge anyone who says, "Oh, I was in love with Davey Jones!" Sheep.

I'm a big believer in the nonobvious crush as a sign of discriminating taste. George Harrison as favorite Beatle. Diminutive Eric Murphy of "Entourage" instead of eye candy Vince Chase. As adorable as Matthew Broderick was in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," I always had a soft spot for Ferris' depressive sidekick Cameron, as portrayed by Alan Ruck.

I'd have been more impressed if my daughter had picked Kevin Jonas, who was hilariously tagged "the other one" by Washington Post music critic J. Freedom du Lac. K. Jo just doesn't generate the same level of high-pitched, brain-melting screaming as Joe or Nick, but does he complain? No. He gamely cranks up the guitar every night while facing a sea of "I (heart) u Joe!!" posters. You have to admire that kind of workmanlike indifference to popularity polls. Besides, a good flat iron will only get you so far.

I Want This Girl To Be Famous

Why isn't Fefe Dobson a household name like Rihanna? More to the point, why didn't she exist when I was 15 years old? A Chucks-wearing brown girl who rocks and channels Joan Jett? Who lists Guns 'N Roses, Bob Marley and Depeche Mode among her musical influences? Are you kidding me? That would have changed my life. At the very least, it would have made me aware that, somewhere outside of my hometown, there were other young women of color who spoke my language. I kinda didn't figure that out until college.

When I first noticed the biracial Dobson a few years ago — around the same time fellow Canadian Avril Lavigne's star was rising — I was certain her profile was about to blow up. I'm not the only one, because Kanye West said something similar a while back.

I'm practically old enough to be Dobson's mother, so I'm a wee bit out of her demographic at this point. Nevertheless, I love her style, and she's still out there performing some mighty catchy songs like "Watch Me Move," which is my new jam. She's also still very young, so maybe she'll be a big star by the time my kids are old enough to buy their own music.

Until then, rock on, Fefe.

Let's Pop And Lock For The Lord!

Really, who hasn't had the urge to cha-cha in His name? However, this supremely awesome video strengthens the case for making dancing a sin. Make sure you watch the whole thing, or you'll miss the guy in the middle performing a mashup of fresh, 1986 dance moves that must be seen to be believed.