Previously: Part One

Elisa Albert: "Dude, one of the things I've been, ah, addressing in therapy is my tendency to open right up and overshare immediately, without demanding my trust be earned, etc. so that i not infrequently wind up having my emotional ass handed to me by pretty much whoever. So screw that, I'm not sharing deep/dark secrets.
(Maybe tomorrow.)

Emily's right about the in-love-with-shrink cliche, but it's such a rich cliche, as cliches go. I don't think it's necessarily even a carnal love thing; the prospect of another human being who is de facto always on your side, who validates your feelings and does not judge, and with whom you are free to be absolutely honest = LOVE. Especially in contrast to the difficulties of a two-sided relationship in which one must compromise, take responsibility, and maintain a sometimes-uncomfy level of vulnerability.

You know how some Christians describe Christ's love? Perfect, whole, accepting, forgiving. The closest thing I can imagine is my favorite shrink (I've had a few over the years, as geographical-shifts necessitate). And let's not forget: you only see this person once a week. The less you see someone, the easier they are to love. (Who's fucked up now, hombres?)

Anyway, I've heard the kashrut for such things is that the therapy relationship stops, two years must pass, then the therapist/patient can run off together and live happily ever after. Until each begins therapy with someone new..."

Emily Gould: "I agree with Elisa, Tahl: expecting us to air our dirty laundry just because we're watching a show about therapy? Come on. (Maybe I'll show you one dirty sock, but I'm not about to spill my guts. They're not nearly as interesting as Blair Underwood's character's guts! He killed some children!)

Anyway, maybe I'm immune to the charms Laura's shrink-love storyline cause I've never felt that way about a therapist. Even though mine validates my feelings etc, I've never thought of her as nonjudgmental. I worry a lot about her approval, actually! And the approval of ... pretty much everyone else, including anonymous strangers! Actually, that's one of the things we talk about. Hmm.

What did you think of last night's episode? I guess we're meant to be anticipating the moment when the fighter pilot character's bluster breaks down and he shows a human sliver of guilt for what he's done. Last night, though, seemed to just be about laying the groundwork for this moment, and I have to admit, it didn't hold my interest. I did enjoy the moment towards the end when he flat-out asked his therapist for advice and was frustrated when he was denied. Doesn't he understand that therapy is all about getting the input you need to figure out what you need to be doing on your own? Or was the therapist ethically remiss -- should he have given him the potentially life-saving input he needed? Of course, the stakes weren't really that high for the audience. After all, we know he won't fly back to the scene of his crime and be harmed -- after all, he has to show up for next week's session."

Oh man, when I was in college, it was never, ever, not once, as cool as this: Last week, Mike Reiss, a writer and producer for The Simpsons gave a lecture at Penn State entitled, "The
Simpsons and Other Gentiles I Have Known" as sponsored by the school's Jewish Studies Program, Penn State Hillel and the departments of Telecom and Media studies. (Oh, to be a mouse in the corner!)

Today I Am A Clown: Krusty the Clown becomes a Bar Mitzvah.The Hillel director, Aaron Kaufman, has already heard Reiss speak twice before and brought him to Penn to speak in order to "increase the understanding of what it means to be Jewish, and to discuss the large pop culture element of being Jewish in the United States," the Collegiate Online reports. Despite the lecture title, Reiss began by talking about his experience growing up as one of the only Jewish kids in a small town. "I'm Jew ... ish," he said. "By that I mean I would never eat a ham sandwich... in a synagogue... on Yom Kippur... if anyone was watching."

He went on to mention the writing staff of The Simpsons "is fifty percent Jewish", and pointed out that three of the six cast members are also Jewish, including the voices of Reverend Lovejoy (Christian), Apu (Hindu) and Ned Flanders (Uber-Christian)-- the three voices done by Hank Azaria and Harry Schearer. Becoming a Bar Mitzvah on the show, Krusty's voice? Not Jewish. (Oh, and speaking of Harry Schearer! He and his wife, Judith Owen, are doing well sayeth the Boston Herald in their new show that just opened at the Jewish Theater of New England in Newton, Mass.)

Not much news in the way of what aspects of Jewish pop culture he specifically addressed. I assume he's glad nobody is toning down a Jewcy last name so much anymore before taking a crack at the entertainment industry, but I'd love to hear what he said. I'm immensely fascinated by the recent waves of hip-to-be-Yid I keep seeing and hearing about in the last couple of years. Really. Like want-to-get-a-grant-and-write-a-book-about-it fascinating. And, so I'm always curious what everyone else is thinking about it, though, it's not a quick conversation to just have. Sociological, cultural, blah blah blah. There's a lot to it.

Anyway. Another post for another day. It's almost Shabbes, so Shabbat Shalom to all.

PS, on the subject of popular culture, this guy is convinced his TiVo is Goy McGoyerson. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Not long ago I posted on Jewlicious about New York's hottest Jewish web video scenester Ilana Donna. This week, the Amaldo.com vlogger steps it up a notch this week with her pop culture round-up, once again giving us All the news that's fit to capture on video including talk of Spice Girls reunion, Nicole Ritchie's fertility, and Lindsay Lohan&

No, I'm NOT the original Rocket Man, but who cares anyways?

We all sorta know who this dude is (if not, look at the tags for guidance). As always, originality is appreciated! And thanks NRG.

Madonna's newest addition to her family - her much talked about, controversial adoption from Africa, David Banna will be obiding by the laws of Judaism and waiting till his Chalake, or his third birthday, to cut his hair.

According to tradition, after Chalake, young Jewish boys are required to wear kippahs and start their religious studies. Madonna and Guy Ritchie have imposed the same regimen with their older, biological son Rocco. Indeed, says a source, Rocco is already bonding with baby brother thru "religion":

The two boys have formed a real bond and Rocco is always adjusting David's red Kabbalah wristband and telling him all about its rituals and beliefs.

I can't help but think that not everything Rocco is whispering into the little tyke's ears (er, variation of satanic verses on a theme called "I wish you were never born, you bloody brat"...) is innocent, but then again with Kabbalah comes maddening wisdom. .