How Did Sherlock Holmes Pave the Way for 50 Shades of Grey? Is Miku Hatsune more REAL than Lana Del Rey? PBS Ponders.

Idea Channel is a new online PBS show that examines the connections between pop culture, technology and art. Although the show might pepper itself with a few too many meme image macros, it asks a lot of great questions about pop culture and how we think about it. Also, If you are a fan of discussion about what is/isn’t art, there are quite a few videos focused on this topic specifically (instagram, nail art, Microsoft Kinect, Super Mario, Hello Kitty). If you were a fan of the late-show Infomania, this might fill the pop-culture-void left in your heart.

How Did Sherlock Holmes Pave the Way for 50 Shades of Grey?

Is Miku Hatsune A More Authentic Pop Star Than Lana Del Rey?

The show is hosted and written by Mike Rugnetta (“with a small group of people that help him widdle it down” he says) and new videos are posted every Wednesday. If you want to check out more, visit their youtube channel or follow them on twitter.

Baby Metal

“What is going on in Japan!?”

Baby Metal is a new idol group that fuzes traditional J-pop music and aesthetics with Metal. Considering that this musical group originated as a sub-unit of another Japanese pop idol group (Sakura Gakuin) and that the members are 3 young girls whose ages range from 12 to 14, the “metal” influence in their music is was clearly a marketing gimmick. These three girls, “SU-METAL” (14), “MOA-METAL” (12), and “YUI-METAL” (12), are to metal music as Avril Lavigne was to punk music. Their overall look is a mixture between sanitized mall goth and the slightly disturbing school girl lolita fantasy that dominates most young idol groups. Much like Menudo, these girls will probably be tossed to the side as soon as they hit a certain level of “maturity”.

Despite my usual distaste for both j-pop, idols, and metal music… somehow this song works for me. It has the perfect balance of “ridiculous” and catchy chorus to get me to listen to the whole song. Interestingly enough the band is being marketed to an english audience as well. Their first single “Doki Doki☆Morning” (seen above) is available to purchase in the US itunes store and the record label also produced an english language promotional video that can be seen after the jump. I guess Japan has finally realized that the western perception that Japan is “bizarre” can be profitable.

The Business of French Bulldogs

In the last few months I’ve done more research on dogs than I would care to admit. Although I don’t plan on getting a dog for a few years, I’ve started to look up information on different breeds to curb any future impulse decisions. One dog that was initially on my list was the French bulldog. After looking past their adorableness, I’ve reconsidered.

Surprisingly, the French bulldog is actually English. During the British industrial revolution breeders mixed together a doggy cocktail of a dwarf English bulldog, a pug, and a terrier. The resulting dog was both adorable and bizarrely proportioned. Don’t plan on taking your french bulldog surfing; they are so top heavy that they are unable to swim. Because their heavy fronts are coupled with narrow hips, male french bull dogs are unable to actually mount females. Instead, all French bulldogs are artificial inseminated. And when it comes time for birthing, puppies have to be delivered via c-section because they have such large heads.

The expense and complications involved make me question if the French Bulldog is a breed that should exist. I don’t want to use the term “unnatural” but it’s hard to get past that this breed exists only because of human creation and propagation. It’s almost more of a luxury item than a pet. One positive aspect of the complex breeding process? You won’t see many French bulldogs at puppy mills. If you do decide that you absolutely need a French bulldog, consider adopting from a rescue.

Louis CK producing a pilot for CBS

The FX series star and former SNL writer is teaming with Spike Feresten (Seinfeld) on the show, which just received a pilot order from the network. The untitled project is an ensemble comedy about “young people trying to achieve their creative dreams in these tough financial times.”

Brownwashing: Why Green Consumers Buy Brown Things

Manufacturers have found a new way to appeal to eco-friendly consumers: Brown it. The Wall Street Journal lays out the trend: Dunkin’ Donuts, Cinnabon, and Target are swapping their white napkins for brown ones. Seventh Generation dyes its translucent diapers brown. Cascade has introduced a new, fiber-heavy beige toilet paper it’s dubbed “Moka.”

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