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Scientists: Why penis size does matter
Women prefer big penises, thunders a new study published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, or PNAS. (Say it out loud.) Researchers had 105 women rate computer-generated nude images of male bodies on a scale of 1 to 7.
“As you increase penis size, the amount of attractiveness scores gets bigger,” said post-doctoral researcher Brian Mautz.
Since early humans didn’t wear clothes, male penises were obvious to women. So if women chose their mates based on the size of their genitalia, it’s possible that these decisions influenced the evolution of bigger penises, according to National Geographic.
Oh. Thank goodness for clothes, then. And having a face.
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“Pardon my French, but you’re an AARDVARK!”
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Last week, Mr. and Mrs. Shawn Carter celebrated their fifth anniversary by visiting Cuba, along with their mothers and a small entourage of bodyguards. The power couple better known as Beyoncé and Jay-Z did what you’d expect of tourists to the historic capital of a tropical island: Walked around Old Havana in summer clothes, taking pictures (her) and smoking cigars (him); dined out in restaurants (even though, less typically, police had to be called to keep crowds of fans at bay) and on rooftop terraces; and danced to some of Cuba’s famous music.
But tourism, of course, is prohibited under America’s 50-year-old trade embargo against communist Cuba. And living it up on “Cuba or, as the informed refer to it, ‘the island prison,’” makes Beyoncé and Jay-Z “useful idiots extraordinaire,” says A.J. Delgado at Mediaite. “While dining, partying, and enjoying the best Havana has to offer, Beyoncé and Jay-Z not only legitimize and support the repressive regime, with both their presence and their cash, but turn a blind eye, cruelly, to the perils and languishing of the Cuban people.” This is especially galling because they are “proud African-Americans,” and Cuba is “notorious for relegating its black population to second-class status, or worse.”
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“If only we could have him review everything, forever. The scope and depth of Roger Ebert’s influence in the field of film criticism cannot be overstated …
Over his lifetime, Ebert wrote more than 10,000 reviews, delivering raves and pans alike in his warm, inimitable writing style. Whether you agreed or disagreed with his take on a particular movie, his reviews were always fair, and were often such a joy to read that he would half-convince you you’d been wrong all along.
He was eager to speak with the many young critics he inspired, and was quick to use his talents and fame to help others. When I was just beginning my career as a film and television critic, Ebert found and tweeted out several of my articles — a professional compliment that has never since been equaled, and that I suspect never will.”
—Our entertainment editor, Scott Meslow, wrote an incredibly touching piece remembering Roger Ebert, who died today at the age of 70. We highly recommend you read the whole damn thing.
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South by Southwest: 8 up-and-coming bands you should listen to
Music industry veterans, budding tech entrepreneurs, and sharp-witted movie critics have descended upon Austin, Texas, for South by Southwest, the ever-growing music and media conference. While SXSW has increased its scale to include everything from film screenings to conferences on tech and multimedia, music is still its core. The festival has a history of helping to catapult relatively unknown artists to mega-stardom, with acts like John Mayer and The Lumineers getting their first big breaks at SXSW. Who’s getting the coveted SXSW buzz this year? Here, eight musical acts to watch.
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Check out the new promotional poster for the sixth season of Mad Men. The sketched-in “bubble and streak” poster was drawn by 75-year-old Brian Sanders — a man who actually worked in magazine illustration during the era Mad Men depicts. The poster shows a dark-suited Don walking away from Madison Avenue, holding hands with a woman, as he passes a light-suited double of himself walking in the opposite direction. Three police officers stand in the background.
Of course, we don’t actually know what’s going to happen — and series creator Matt Weiner is notoriously silent about plot details. But we can infer a few things from this intriguing, surreal poster. The two Dons probably symbolize our protagonist’s internal battle; the one walking away from Madison Avenue holds the hand of a woman, and the one walking toward Madison Avenue holds a briefcase, which suggests a conflict between Don’s personal life and his work. And as for the police: Is it possible that Don’s shady past has finally caught up with him?
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Paul Shaffer as George Costanza? According to Shaffer’s memoir, We’ll Be Here for the Rest of Our Lives, Jerry Seinfeld personally left a message stating that the role of George Costanza on his upcoming pilot was Shaffer’s if he wanted it. But Shaffer was preoccupied with his other work and said he never got around to returning Seinfeld’s call.
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In an endearing, embarrassing moment that cemented her status as Hollywood’s most adorkable young actress, Jennifer Lawrence tripped on the steps on her way to accepting her Best Actress Oscar for Silver Linings Playbook, prompting a sympathetic standing ovation. “You guys are just standing up because I fell and that’s really embarrassing, but thank you. This is nuts,” said the breathless actress as she accepted the award. (And bonus points to Hugh Jackman, who proved once again that he’s one of the nicest guys in Hollywood by darting up to the stage to help Lawrence up.)
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According to White House records, Jimmy Carter watched 480 films during his four years in the White House — around 2.5 movies a week.
The first one he watched: All the President’s Men, about the Watergate scandal that sank Nixon. He also became the first president to watch an X-rated movie in the mansion: Midnight Cowboy, which today doesn’t seem like much, but in 1969 shocked audiences with its sex scenes and drug use. (By the time Carter saw it, the rating had been changed to R.)
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![Ray is quickly becoming one of our favorite characters on Girls. Scott Meslow sat down with Alex Karpovsky, the man who plays Ray:
How much do you want people to read the “real you” into the character?I want people to be engaged by the character. If that means they have to apply a lot of similarities between him and me, so be it — I don’t care, I’m not offended. He’s not a necessarily a likable person, and it’s okay if you don’t think I’m a likable person, as long as you are engaged by the character.
This isn’t the first time you’ve played a character named after yourself — you also wrote and starred in a film about “Alex Karpovsky” called The Hole Story in 2005, and your character on HBO’s Girls was originally named “Karpovsky.”Right. Lena [Dunham] wrote the pilot and asked me to be in it. When she sent it to me, and it said “Karpovsky,” the only note I had was, “Can we change the name?”
Why do you think you end up playing “yourself” so often?Different directors would have different reasons, each of which you could probably analyze, [but] I think oftentimes stories need a character to agitate, or stir things up — unsubtle things, just to keep the story going forward. And for whatever reason, people think sometimes, in certain contexts, I can do that with a comedic wit. Maybe that’s why they cast me. But I don’tknow why. Maybe they have their own reasons. It’s not to be the romantic lead. Not to have a pretty face. [laughs]
Read the full interview](http://24.media.tumblr.com/fe87da9a442649b622934a540c0613c8/tumblr_mih85yIlWC1qdjbb7o1_1280.jpg)
Ray is quickly becoming one of our favorite characters on Girls. Scott Meslow sat down with Alex Karpovsky, the man who plays Ray:
- How much do you want people to read the “real you” into the character?
I want people to be engaged by the character. If that means they have to apply a lot of similarities between him and me, so be it — I don’t care, I’m not offended. He’s not a necessarily a likable person, and it’s okay if you don’t think I’m a likable person, as long as you are engaged by the character. - This isn’t the first time you’ve played a character named after yourself — you also wrote and starred in a film about “Alex Karpovsky” called The Hole Story in 2005, and your character on HBO’s Girls was originally named “Karpovsky.”
Right. Lena [Dunham] wrote the pilot and asked me to be in it. When she sent it to me, and it said “Karpovsky,” the only note I had was, “Can we change the name?” - Why do you think you end up playing “yourself” so often?
Different directors would have different reasons, each of which you could probably analyze, [but] I think oftentimes stories need a character to agitate, or stir things up — unsubtle things, just to keep the story going forward. And for whatever reason, people think sometimes, in certain contexts, I can do that with a comedic wit. Maybe that’s why they cast me. But I don’tknow why. Maybe they have their own reasons. It’s not to be the romantic lead. Not to have a pretty face. [laughs]
- How much do you want people to read the “real you” into the character?
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Justin Timberlake, having already found sexy and returned it to its rightful place, wants to bring the ’60s back. At least that’s the silky-smooth retro premise of “Suit & Tie,” the former ‘N Syncer’s first official music video since 2007. Shot in black-and-white by The Social Network andGirl with the Dragon Tattoo director David Fincher, the video features JT engaging in a range of old-timey activities, like singing into vintage microphones, dressing like Don Draper, and sipping scotch with Jay-Z.
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