How’s this for a trip down memory lane … or, actually, Sesame Street … the beloved children’s TV series, which has taught countless kids around the world how to count, read and speak different languages, is celebrating its 40th anniversary this month! In celebration, Google will be featuring a different Sesame Street themed logo on its homepage for the next 10 days … the first Sesame logo went online today and features Big Bird:

Well … part of Big Bird, at least. CNN published a really fantastic piece on Sesame Street’s 40th reminding some of us who remember and informing others of us who never knew how the whole thing got started back in 1969:

In the early days of “Sesame Street” — that is, B.E. (Before Elmo) — Sesame Street was a pretty grimy place. The brownstone at 123 Sesame Street looked like it needed a serious power washing, the storefront of Mr. Hooper’s shop was intentionally dingy and the Fix-It Shop’s window was cluttered with toasters. It was gritty, but gritty in a magical way. When the show started in 1969 (”Sesame Street” will celebrate its 40th anniversary on November 10), the concept of educational television programming was nothing short of revolutionary. “Sesame Street” was originally intended as a learning tool for inner-city children — not only as a supplement to their lessons in math and the ABCs but to teach them to be good people and show them that learning can be fun. Those early years are now available on DVD; and the discs contain a disclaimer that essentially states that they are intended for nostalgia purposes only. The warning reads as follows: “These early ‘Sesame Street’ episodes are intended for grown-ups, and may not suit the needs of today’s preschool child.” Say what!? Never did I ever think I’d see “Sesame Street” and “intended for grown-ups” in the same sentence. On the DVDs, Cookie Monster can be seen as his character of Alistair Cookie in his “Monsterpiece Theatre” segment (a spoof of Alistair Cooke’s “Masterpiece Theatre”) smoking a pipe. Yep, Cookie Monster smoked. He later eats the pipe because, as he was often prone to doing, he thinks the pipe is a cookie. Cookie Monster used to become so overwhelmed by his desire for cookies that he’d start seeing (hallucinating about?) cookies that weren’t actually there. He’d eat (rotary) telephones, typewriters (what are those?), pencils, almost anything. It was funny. Today, Cookie Monster’s diet is much more balanced, as he has adopted the philosophy that cookies are a “sometimes food.” Cookie coincidentally changed his tune in 2006 amidst reports that childhood obesity had reached epidemic proportions. Early “Sesame Street” had some other elements that would not pass muster today. Oscar the Grouch is just plain nasty, children are seen riding their bikes without helmets, and there’s even a sketch where the human character of Gordon can be seen approaching a little girl on the street. He takes her by the hand and brings her into his house for milk and cookies (again with the cookies!). Clearly, that could be misinterpreted by today’s standards. Now, some 4,000 episodes later, 123 Sesame Street has gotten that power washing. Peeling paint is nowhere to be found, and the only visible garbage can has a tenant. It’s much more sanitized. I’m tempted to make fun of this, but then I notice the bottle of anti-bacterial hand gel on my desk and bite my proverbial tongue. For better or worse, today’s preschooler is very different from the 1969 version. And children’s television programming simply has to reflect that. But one thing hasn’t changed on “Sesame Street”: the unflinchingly genuine attitudes of its residents. For 40 years, they have taught us that sometimes we are going to get hurt, cry and be lonely. They’ve taught us that there’ll also be times when we’re downright jovial. All the while, those characters have remained sincere. We may never see Cookie Monster eat a pipe again, but luckily the memories are preserved on DVD, and in our hearts.

It’s pretty wonderful for those of us born after 1969 that we’ve never known a world without Sesame Street. I used to love watching that show. Living in Detroit, Sesame Street used to teach viewers how to speak Spanish as a second language … while my parents were fluent in Spanish, I didn’t want to learn the language from them. I learned how to count and say basic words from the gang on Sesame Street. Detroit’s very close proximity to Canada meant that we also got to watch Canadian Sesame Street on very fuzzy channels (in the days before cable TV) and I also got to learn basic French. There are so many little vinettes that I remember fondly from watching Sesame Street, like the pinball machine animation that teaches you how to count to 12. After the jump, check out that fun video and remember with me how cool Sesame was and still is …

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Hello Kitty, the cute little animated white cat who stands three apples tall and wears a big red bow, is celebrating her 35th anniversary this year and is being honored here in SoCal with an art exhibit titled Three Apples which features artwork and special edition products emblazoned with Hello Kitty’s likeness on them. The exhibit hosted a red carpet event on Thursday night and here are a few photos of some of the celebs who came out to celebrate Hello Kitty along with the press release announcement for the event:

It’s Hello Kitty’s 35th Anniversary and SANRIO is celebrating in a big way. In addition to launching a variety of special, limited edition products, SANRIO will introduce Three Apples, a multi-dimensional exhibition and celebration of all things Hello Kitty running from October 23 to November 15 at Royal/T in Culver City, CA. Royal/T is the visually stunning and playful, 10,000 square foot Japanese-inspired art exhibition space, retail store and “cosplay” maid cafe, located within the city’s vibrant arts community. This is the first time that SANRIO has produced an event for the Hello Kitty fans in North America. The exhibition as well as all events will be open to the public free of charge and will offer something for all Hello Kitty fans, no matter their age. Three Apples — so named as a nod to Hello Kitty’s weight as listed in her official bio – features an unprecedented lineup of over 80 celebrated artists, who’ve been invited to interpret their creative vision of Hello Kitty in unique, original works that will be on display and for sale. The art exhibition at Three Apples will be curated by Jamie Rivadeneira, owner of JapanLA, a Los Angeles boutique that specializes in “cute” Japanese and American products. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the artwork will benefit L.A. Works, a volunteer action center that creates and implements hands-on community service projects throughout the greater Los Angeles area … Limited edition prints of selected artwork will be released at special events during Three Apples. For continually updated information regarding Three Apples exhibit and the events, please visit www.sanrio.com/threeapples.

It’s clear that Hello Kitty appeals, on some level, to a lot of different people … including rockers like Dave Navarro of Jane’s Addiction and Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy. I gotta admit, even I have a soft spot in my heart for the cute little kitty. It’s crazy to think that Hello Kitty is 35 years old … cuz she still looks as young as ever. It’s gotta be botox. In any event, I hope y’all will join me in wishing Hello Kitty a happy 35th and if you’re in the neighborhood, make sure you check out this Three Apples exhibit … it looks like the perfect place to get your cute overload fix.

[Photo credit: Wireimage]

So I managed to get home to LA from NY last night in record time. My Virgin America flight got in an hour early, without a single delay at all. It was the quickest trip from NY to LA I’ve ever had the pleasure to fly. As much as I’m gonna miss David, who decided to stay in NYC for another week to enjoy the city, I am really happy to be home.

Today is the 10th anniversary of the release of the Nine Inch Nails album The Fragile and fans have taken to Twitter to get #thefragile into the trending topics in celebration:

It’s really insane to realize that such an epic album is already 10 years old … and that Nine Inch Nails has come to an end. As should be clearly evident by now, I’ve been a huge NIN fan for years … The Fragile was such a landmark album in the band’s history … listening to it today is just as powerful as listening to it for the first time back in 1999. If you have never listened to The Fragile or just want to hear it again, you can do so online HERE. It’s a stunning album … one that will live much longer than it’s first 10 years of existence.

UPDATE: Trent Reznor posted a couple of tweets on the official Nine Inch Nails Twitter profile about the 10th anniversary of The Fragile … he even confirmed that a reissue of the album will be coming our way in 2010:

10 years ago for #thefragile – wow. Thinking a lot about that time today. (TR) And… we’ve begun work on the ULTIMATE reissue coming 2010. #thefragile

Woot!! Very exciting news! Can’t wait to see what that release will be like. I’ve heard some ideas for the deluxe packaging … we’ll have to wait and see how it turns out.

I have no plans for the coming week … I’m gonna just try and veg out as much as I can. It’s gonna be hot here in SoCal this week … just the way I like it :)

Jennifer Lopez is featured on the cover and in the pages of the new issue of In Style magazine, which is celebrating its 15th Anniversary in September. J. Lo is lookin’ her fabulous best for the mag, as usual. Click HERE to check out a few photos from her In Style photospread and read below for some info about her appearance in the mag:

Jennifer Lopez is showing everyone what 40 and fabulous looks like in the September issue of InStyle. The dancer/singer/actress/designer/mom graces the magazine’s 15th Anniversary Issue’s cover in a cutting-edge, sculpted Jil Sander dress and Hermes spiked cuffs, all in a sophisticated black and white palette (minus her bright cherry red lips). Inside, the black-and-white theme continues as the mother of two smolders in classic JLo style — thigh-high Christian Louboutin leather boots paired with a puffy-sleeve Louis Vuitton dress and Marc Jacobs bracelets, and later in a body-hugging hooded sweater by ALC, the label of Lopez’ ace stylist Andrea Lieberman. As seen in the shoot’s exclusive behind-the-scenes video, despite a short hiatus after having twins, Lopez still knows how to pose like a pro, working it in floor length gowns by Versace Atelier, Givenchy, and Nina Ricci, as well as a Herve Leger cut-out dress that proves Lopez isn’t packing an ounce of baby weight. “She knows how to play for the camera,” says photographer Michelangelo Di Battista of Lopez. “It makes my job easy.

It’s crazy, J. Lo never seems to age! She still looks as fabulous as ever. While I realize that a lot of her perfection in this photospread (as well as pretty much all photospreads in all magazines) is due to the adept use of Photoshop, you cannot deny that Jenny from the Block is still lookin’ amazing these days. In Style chose well when they selected her for the cover of their 15th Anniversary issue. After the jump, check out a short behind the scenes 60 Seconds of Style video from her photoshoot and a few excerpts from her coverstory interview…

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Earlier today we learned that David Beckham recently got a new tattoo inked onto his arm in celebration of his 10 year wedding anniversary with Victoria Beckham. During his interview with Matt Lauer on the Today Show this morning, Becks revealed that he had 10 roses tattooed around his arm … one rose for each year he’s been married to Vicki B. Here is what Becks’s new rose tattoo looks like:

David Beckham was obviously keen to show off his new tattoo. Dressed in a sleeveless vest which revealed his toned biceps, he posed for the cameras as he returned to the pitch for the first time for team LA Galaxy following his loan to AC Milan. But with his body already covered in numerous inkings only the most eagle-eyed of fans would have spotted the newly added ‘ring o’ roses’ on his left arm. As with many of his etchings, there is a romantic reason behind them – each rose symbolises a year of his marriage to wife Victoria. Beckham is said to be planning a pair of ‘tattoo sleeves’, covering his right and left arms. And the new roses will certainly help the 34-year-old on the way to his goal. The rose tattoo was acquired recently as they were not visible when Beckham starred in his recently unveiled advertising campaign for Emporio Armani. The new ink comes after the couple celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary on July 4 with a luxury getaway to a private island in the Seychelles. While Victoria may be pleased with his latest romantic etching, David was said to have caused angry scenes when he ignored his wife’s advice and added a biblical proverb to his arm. The design – created by Beckham’s regular artist Louis Malloy – was a Hebrew translation of ‘My son, do not forget my teaching but keep my commands in your heart.’ It accompanied another Hebrew phrase on the same arm which reads: ‘I am my beloved and my beloved is mine’. But a source said: ‘Victoria doesn’t think David should have any more tattoos and tried to stop him having another. She likes them but wants a bit of his skin to be left, but David went ahead with it anyway.’

Aww … what a cute gesture. While I personally think that Becks should prolly cool it with the tats, I find it hard to believe that his wife VB has any problem with his decision to get as many tattoos as he likes. The couple made it thru 10 years together … which is a very good indication that the couple will be together for many more years to come. I don’t really love the roses … do you?

[Photo credit: Getty; Source]

Last weekend we got to see a few hawt pics of David Beckham and his wife Victoria on holiday in Seychelles Island where they celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary. As you may recall, Becks was all decked out in a tiny white speedo ;) Today, we get to see a few more photos from their Seychellian holiday where Posh and Becks were snapped lounging on a yacht named Gabrielle. I’m happy to report that Becks wore a different speedo on this excursion … behold:

Speedos are normally a serious fashion faux-pas – unless you’re David Beckham, of course. The footballer looked every inch the Hollywood hunk in a snug pair of navy blue Armani trunks last week, during a romantic anniversary trip to the Seychelles with Victoria. The stylish pair, who married ten years ago, were spotted relaxing on board a luxury yacht as it meandered through the Indian Ocean. While David, 34, revealed his tanned, tattooed torso and lean legs, the uber-slim Victoria donned a metallic grey two-piece and wrapped her hair in a towel. Not normally one for flashing her bikini body, the 35-year-old former Spice Girl then covered up in a matching sarong to rub suncream on David’s back … Setting off to explore one of the idyllic nearby islands, the couple even managed to take a few snaps for the family album before returning to their £2,000-a-night villa at an eco spa resort on a private island. “This was quality time without the kids. Even after ten years, they still look great together,” an onlooker told the News of the World. But the jet-setting couple didn’t have too long to relax – they flew back to Heathrow on Thursday, before returning to LA with their three sons the very next day.

Yes, yes … we already saw Les Beckhams arrive in London and we saw them arrive in LA … we even saw Becks getting right back to work as soccer ambassador by hanging out with some soccer kids in SoCal this past Saturday. What we really want is more pics of Becks in his tiny speedo!!! After the jump, check them out …

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David and Victoria Beckham celebrated their 10 year wedding anniversary in Seychelles Island this weekend, apparently lookin’ to get away from it all. Unfortch for them, the couple were spotted and photographed as they tried to relax by the beach. As you can see from these photos, Becks stripped down to teeny-weeny Speedo shorts for the happy occasion:

Hee hee … I love the red and green racing stripe down the front of Becks’s Speedo and the word Italia emblazoned on his bum. In one fell swoop he is showing his devotion to both Italy (the country he will be playing professional soccer for full time very soon) and Dolce & Gabbana (the makers of his swimsuit) … I’m sure he also showed some of his devotion to his robot wife of 10 years but I don’t think it’s anything that we need to really focus on. You know it’s been a good week when yo promo photos of Becks in his tiny undies AND candid shots of the man in his tiny Speedo. Woot! Oh yeah … and Happy Anniversary, Les Beckhams!

[Photo credit: X17]