Pop Buzz UK

We all know Robbie Williams has had his problems in the past, with drink, drugs, and food. He seems to be addicted to everything, including sex. But it seems he may be about to get another problem in to the problem - Gillian McKeith wants to help him deal with his issues. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone, even my worst enemy.

McKeith is the nutritionist and dietician, who has made her fortune telling people You Are What You Eat and rifling through their shit. Although she certainly knows her stuff, and offers sensible, healthy advice about eating, the way she does it is to act like a stern headmistress, talking down to grown adults as if they are twelve years old. I can’t see the free-spirited Williams taking kindly to that.

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Heat magazine sparked controversy last week by giving away 50 stickers with each issue, one of which showed Katie Price’s (aka Jordan’s) son Harvey with goggle eyes, and the words “Harvey wants to eat me!” on it.

For those who don’t know, Katie Price, now married to that pansy Peter Andre after they met on ‘I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here‘, had Harvey, before finding out that he suffered from a rare genetic disorder called septo-optic dysplasia, which causes him to gain weight. This sticker is taking the piss out of Harvey’s weight, and so by default is also taking the piss out of his disability.

The Press Complaints Commission (PCC) received 56 complaints over the sticker set, which also included other comedy stickers such as a picture of Britney Spears next to the headline “Mum of the year,” and a picture of Victoria Beckham asking “Will you fucking smile?”

The magazine has apologised by issuing the following statement:

“We now accept the decision to include this sticker was a mistake and we recognise that it has caused offence, not only to Katie and Peter Andre, but to a number of readers. Immediately following publication, we apologised unreservedly to Katie and Peter. We wish to apologise publicly to Harvey, Katie and Peter for any embarrassment and distress caused.”

This isn’t enough for Katie though, as she has promised to complain to the PCC about the magazine.

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Not Bad For A McJob by Cloudy

Coined in the 80s but made popular in the 90s by Coupland’s Generation X, the word “McJob” is ruffling a few feathers with the employees at McDonalds and other service sector employers. The term “McJob“, which has imposed itself upon todays popular culture and is offically defined in The Oxford English Dictionary as “an unstimulating, low-paid job with few prospects, especially one created by the expansion of the service sector” had been the focus of the past few years of McDonalds staff recruitment drives. After the addition of McJob to the dictionary, McDonalds hit back with the advertising campaign slogan “Not bad for a McJob“, which was shown on posters depicting highly flexible working hours, competitive pay, share options, health plans and promotion opportunities.
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This is my weekly round-up of the best pop culture blog posts from all over the blogosphere. I realised a long time ago that I can’t cover every story that breaks, so instead I bring you the ones that have interested me in this nice little feature I like to call ‘A Slice Of Pop Pie‘…

Berkeley Place wrote an article called The 25 best indie rock albums ever… according to the blogosphere, which does exactly what it says on the tin. I agree with most of the choices, and love the fact the UK’s own ‘Bloc Party’ made it on to the list.

WorldNetDaily featured a story about an Ohio woman who was shocked after reading an anti-God message published on the side of a Starbucks coffee cup. I don’t really see why she was so disgusted that her blood boiled. It’s a great campaign, and it’s just voicing one person’s opinion, so what’s the problem? I read pro-Christian messages all the time, and never get upset, we’re all entitled to believe what we want surely?
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A new series of the BBC programme ‘Cooking In The Danger Zone‘ began on BBC2 on Sunday, and this first episode featured Inuits from Igloolik, and the South Korean Dog meat trade.

Throughout the series, gastronaut Stefan Gates travels around the world focussing on controversial issues, and exploring them through food. This first episode started 500 miles inside the Arctic circle, where Stefan was to spend days with Inuit hunters, and eat traditional courses such as seal, and whale. The first surprise was the great big Co-Op supermarket in the village, which stocks everything from fries, to hot dogs. The prices are astronomical, as everything has to get airlifted in to this hostile environment. Since the Canadian government set up these basic townships, with healthcare and benefits, the Inuit way of life has changed dramatically, with them having to leave age old tradtions behind. They still hunt, but even that has become more difficult due to global warming. Stefan tagged along on one of these hunts out on the ice, where they shot a seal, and skinned it in front of him.
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Debating: Prince William breaking up with Kate Middleton

Reading: The Quest by Wilbur Smith

Playing: TMNT: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on multiple formats

Viewing: Ruddy Hell! It’s Harry And Paul on BBC1

Watching: Blades Of Glory starring Will Ferrell and Jon Heder

Listening: Give It To Me by Timbaland, Nelly Furtado & Timberlake

Buying: Half price Easter eggs for sale everywhere

Searching: Author Kurt Vonnegut who died after a long illness

Anticipating: The release of the new Ben & Jerrys flavour ice cream

Learning: Only 3% of adults get the recommended 8 hours sleep a night

Prince William, Kate Middleton, The Quest, Wilbur Smith, TMNT, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Ruddy Hell! It’s Harry And Paul, Harry Enfield, Paul Whitehouse, Blades Of Glory, Will Ferrell, Jon Heder, Give It To Me, Timbaland, Nelly Furtado, Justin Timberlake, Easter Eggs, Kurt Vonnegut, Ben And Jerrys

Is this the real life, Is this just fantasy? No, it’s Ben and Jerrys, mmmm, how nice is that Ice Cream? So nice that I have to limit my intake in case I start resembling a cross between Rik Waller and Pavarotti, not a future I really crave to be honest. So the news that they are releasing a new flavour fills me with a combination of anguish and longing, and sets my tastebuds a-tingling. Oh baby, cant do this to me baby.
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Gordon Ramsay, the man seemingly untouchable, and with the world his oyster, has been receiving some harsh criticism… at last. The man who takes immense pleasure in degrading, belittling and rounding on people who he deems not to be up to the job, has been getting some of his own medicine.

He opened his first New York restaurant ‘Gordon Ramsay at the London’ last month and the world renowned and usually very scathing New York restaurant critics have been dining out there in force ready to give their opinions. And it’s not good. The £3 Million venture has been laid into by a few critics, leaving Gordon allegedly fuming. Some of the comments included Ramsay being accused of serving up “overcooked” sea scallops, “leathery” lobster ravioli, and a mushroom risotto branded a “distinct disappointment”. (more…)