When comedian Sasha Baron Cohen and his camera crew filmed people doing stupid, embarrassing, and completely weird acts, apparently no one minded. After all, they were being filmed for some sort of documentary. Going under that premise, they accepted a few bucks and signed a release that allowed Cohen and his crew to use their likeness as they saw fit. The end result of Cohen’s filming is the insulting film “Borat,” which has been drawing millions at the box office.

With the film taking in millions, some of those people who readily participated are now up in arms. When they thought they were being filmed for an obscure documentary, they had little problem doing things they wouldn’t want their family or friends to see. They didn’t expect to see themselves looking stupid in a popular movie. Or are they angry they sold out too low and think they should be sharing in the major dollars the movie is grossing?

Some people wouldn’t allow themselves to be portrayed as bigots or idiots nor would they participate in the kind of inane situations shown in Cohen’s film regardless of what a film crew told them or offered them in return. That still leaves a large segment of the population who will do just about anything when a camera is pointing at them. YouTube is one good example. 

Freecycle.org is a really good site if you have excess “stuff” too good to throw away but that is just taking up space. Sign up with a group in your area and then either post an “Offer” or, if you’re in need, post a “Wanted.” As with anything else, there will always be a few people who take advantage of the generosity of others. Check in at Freecycle.org and see if the concept works for you. Membership is free.

Another really nice site is Any Soldier. Visit and you’ll see why.

No, they aren’t diamond encrusted nor are they the only pair ever made. Reportedly, actor Steve McQueen wore this particular pair of Persol sunglasses in the opening scenes of the movie, The Thomas Crown Affair. The sunglasses were part of an auction that produced $2.9 million and included motorcycles, trucks, cars, and various memorabilia that once belonged to McQueen.

If you missed your chance to bid, you can find other pairs of sunglasses, reportedly also owned by McQueen, offered on eBay by Dennis Roberts. Roberts is the optician who designed glasses for a long list of celebrities, including Elvis Presley and Elton John, and now sells some of them on eBay.

Today, November 11th, is Veteran’s Day, when the United States honors veterans of past wars, men and women who protect our country now, and those who will serve in future conflicts. Freedom comes at a high price and many men and women have paid the ultimate price.

To those veterans who are still among us, to their family members, and to the family members of those who gave their lives defending our freedom: Thank You.

Currently, the U.S. has about 152,000 troops in Iraq. According to published reports, that number is expected to remain for at least the next two years.

The soon-to-be-released movie is called Let’s Go To Prison and the previews make it look like prison is one fun and happening place to be.

What audience is director Bob Odenkirk playing to with his R-rated “comedy”? Are we, on the outside, supposed to be amused by these antics? Perhaps victims of vicious crimes will enjoy this playful little look behind bars. Or, since they’re a captive audience, maybe this movie is tailor-made to give prisoners a laugh or two.

It’s a movie, based on revenge, that gives the message to would-be criminals that prison life is what you make of it. If you’re smart enough, tough enough, funny enough, or have enough drugs to bargain for what you want, it can be pretty soft.

Send a message to the movie studios and stay away. Spend your movie money on something really funny like Tenacious D: The Pick of Destiny, starring funny guy Jack Black.

Waffle House customers in Nashville got an unexpected peepshow with their breakfast last week when a naked couple burst into the restaurant to continue a fight that began in their motel room next door.

The unidentified woman told police she ran to the restaurant when her boyfriend tried to choke her after he used cocaine and then trashed their room. She locked herself in the restaurant’s bathroom.

Her boyfriend also ran into the restaurant and then drove away. It wasn’t too difficult for police to identify him as he was still naked when they arrested him after a short car chase.

Well, if an Associated Press story is correct, “irreconcilable differences” have caused the demise of Britney Spears and Kevin Federline. Reportedly, Britney filed for divorce yesterday in Los Angeles.

The couple was married in September 2004 and have two sons. This will be the second divorce for 24-year-old Spears. Her first marriage, a New Year’s Eve prank, lasted less than a day. I suppose this means Britney’s career will be kicking into high gear shortly but most likely minus a certain male dancer.

Speaking of Federline, his latest album, “Playing With Fire,” has been receiving less than rave reviews. Without Spears as the “hook” for Federline’s celebrity, he’ll probably start fading from view quite rapidly.

Did Spears have a prenup in place when she and Federline married or will Federline be set for life when they split their assets? I’m sure we’ll be supplied all the details as this nasty little divorce proceeds through the courts.

Big star Tom Cruise was dumped by Paramount Studios in August after MI3 didn’t do so well at the box office. That won’t happen again now that Cruise and Paula Wagner, his producing partner, have entered a deal to run the United Artists film studio. The studio, which was founded in 1919 by several of that era’s top stars, has gone through several owners over time and is currently owned by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. Is Cruise good enough to pull in the box office bucks that will keep MGM happy? Time will tell.

Cruise’s boyish charm fit him well when he was a twenty-something actor but will middle age be as kind to him as it has been to some other male actors? If I was casting a male lead for a movie, hunky George Clooney would be my first, second, and third choice. He gets better looking every year! And, it’s nice that he works hard to keep his private life private.