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The Most Bizarre Representation Of National Pride We've Ever Seen (NSFW)

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Well, this is a strange one.

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Photographer Jonathan Icher has developed a very literal and very bizarre expression of national pride, one that involves body paint, fine cuisine and modelesque facial expressions. May we present "Fat Flag," an inexplicable series that pairs a photographic subject with his/her respective painted flag and national fare.

Paris-based artist Icher teamed up with makeup artist Anastasia Parquet for the works, which teeter between satirical and straight-up strange. Whether this is a commentary on tourism or a celebration of naked people eatings things while covered in paint, we can't quite decipher it. We reached out to the artist to comment on his artistic endeavor, who responded "I wanted to make a fashion shoot using patriotic symbols on the models. I love to use stereotypes and universal symbols on my work."

Whatever is going on in the photos below, we've developed a soft spot for the odd ode to patriotism. Peruse the art world version of "The Hunger Games" below and let us know your best guess in the comments.

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sushi

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ABMB Artist Wendy White Tells Us To 'Leave It All On The Field'

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In honor of Art Basel Miami Beach week, we've reached out to some of our favorite artists to learn their hopes, worries and food cravings in relation to the art madness to come.

Wendy White's "CURVA" takes its exhibition name from the Italian word for soccer stadium, specifically the section that houses the most fervent fans. White's work harnesses the energy of the sport, combining multiple painted canvases with sculptural elements and site-specific installation pieces. Graffiti, text and bold colors contribute to the works' distinct aesthetic, which feels strangely like cheering on a game from afar. "Her paintings have a presence the reminds one of billboards and websites, something at once physical and disembodied," Jerry Saltz wrote of White's work, capturing her ability to translate everyday images into the stuff of fine art.

We reached out to White to learn more.

wendy

What work are you bringing this year to ABMB?

I'm showing a brand new body of work in a solo booth with Anna Kustera at the UNTITLED art fair. There are 11 paintings as well as a huge site-specific digital photo that centers on pro soccer, fandom, and rivalry. A large painting from that series is on view in a solo show at the M Building in Wynwood, presented by the Savannah College of Art & Design.

Favorite artist, favorite food, favorite way to spend a Sunday morning:

Isa Genzken, lobster roll, asleep.

What are your thoughts on the scene surrounding the fair? What to you love about it and what are you wary of?


I love the energy and the good vibes. I'm not wary of anything. It's a blast.

What are you most excited for this week?

Seeing friends and their works all over Miami, and not wearing a winter coat!

What is your life motto?

Leave it all on the field.

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Wendy White: CURVA will show at the M Building during Art Basel Miami Beach until December 20, 2013.

Artists Drapes Nearly-Naked White Women Over His Shoulders As 'Trophy Scarves' In Latest Work

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It's that time of year when the weather gets a bit cooler and you've got to pull out your winter gear--big coat, gloves, hat and scarf--there's nothing out of the ordinary about that. But one artist is raising eyebrows with his choice of 'scarves' that aren't wool or even silk, they're white women.

Nate Hill, a New York-based performance artist, is grabbing a lot of attention with his latest work entitled "Trophy Scarves" in which the 36-year-old travels to the homes of different white women and drapes them over his shoulders. Some women are scantily clad and others completely naked.

PHOTO:



According to the official website, Hill describes the project in one succinct sentence:

"I wear white women for status and power."

Take a quick glance at the "Trophy Scarves" Instagram page and you'll see Hill dressed in a tuxedo with various women, wearing barely anything, over his shoulders.

During an interview with Vice, Hill said the project is commenting on people's ideas of race and status.

"Well, there are people who see certain races as status symbols, and someone had to comment on that," he said. "I wanted to find another way to come at that. I guess it’s the same kind of satirical, tongue-in-cheek approach that I like to take with things. I like to talk about something serious but do it in a lighter, kind of a goofy way. "

Hill has a history of grabbing attention with his comments on race. In November 2011, he caused a stir on the Harlem streets when he donned whiteface and posed as "The White Ambassador."

Check out photos of Hill's work on the "Trophy Scarves" Instagram page, and read his full Vice interview here.


'Fast & Furious 7' Production Will See The Light Of Day, Says Director James Wan

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Hollywood is still mourning the untimely loss of Paul Walker, but, as always, the show must go on. The sentiment comes straight from the mouth of "Fast & Furious 7" director James Wan, who told TMZ on Friday that the next installment in the franchise will eventually be completed.

Production on "Fast 7" was delayed earlier this week. Universal Pictures officially postponed shooting on Wednesday with almost no details regarding its future. Some speculated that the studio would scrap the project altogether, but given how lucrative the "Fast & Furious" franchise has been, those rumors were quickly squashed.

Sources close to the production reportedly told CNN that editors are reviewing footage already shot with Walker to determine what sort of script rewrites would be feasible. The obvious options are all on the table, according to reports: Walker's character could be killed off, another actor may be hired in his stead or the team can use CGI to reconfigure new scenes involving the late actor.

With news that filming on "Fast 7" was already behind schedule prior to Walker's death, it seems unlikely that Universal will manage to uphold the slated July 11, 2014, release.

“Right now, all of us at Universal are dedicated to providing support to Paul’s immediate family and our extended ‘Fast & Furious’ family of cast, crew and filmmakers,” the studio's statement said.

Wan echoed that sentiment when approached by TMZ, calling the tone among the cast and crew "sad" and "somber."

10 Ridiculously Over-The-Top Pet Gifts For People Who Are Way Too Into Their Dogs (PHOTOS)

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If humans look to personal flourishes to make a space their own, why should our canine companions settle for anything less? That's clearly what artist Kenya Hara (creative director for Japanese retailer Muji) had in mind when he sought to reinvent the doghouse and integrate it into the world of design last year.

The result (which we belatedly discovered via Fubiz.com): A set of structures designed by 12 architects called "Architecture For Dogs" that Hara says are aimed at changing "the way humans interact with their dogs.” Translation: Changing the way our pets live, i.e. better than us.

And Hara's project isn't the only proof. This year's roundup of holiday gifts for pets offers all the proof we need...



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Farrah Fawcett Warhol Portrait Worth $12 Million

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — An Andy Warhol portrait of Farrah Fawcett currently held by actor Ryan O'Neal is worth an estimated $12 million, an appraiser told a jury Friday.

New York art appraiser Lee Drexler testified in a lawsuit by the University of Texas at Austin against the actor in which the school is seeking to gain possession of the Fawcett portrait for its art museum. O'Neal contends the artwork was given to him as a gift by Warhol and did not belong to Fawcett when she died in 2009. The "Charlie's Angels" star left all her artwork to the university; her gift included another version of the Warhol portrait.

Drexler was the university's final witness in its principal case, which started with opening statements Nov. 25. Her estimate could be used by a jury to award damages if it finds that O'Neal improperly took the artwork after Fawcett, his longtime partner, died.

Drexler said because of Fawcett's fame and beauty, Warhol's portrait of her was extraordinary. She noted the artist's works remain hot sellers and said the average auction price for one of his pieces is $7.5 million.

"This is not average," Drexler said of the silkscreen portrait Warhol crafted from Polaroid pictures he shot of Fawcett. "This painting makes your eyes pop. It's magnificent. It's just a gorgeous painting."

O'Neal's attorney Todd Eagen questioned Drexler's appraisal. He noted the university had insured its version of the Warhol portrait for around $600,000, and the version hanging in O'Neal's home was appraised in 2009 for less than $1 million.

Jurors will now hear from witnesses called by O'Neal's attorney, which likely will return the actor to stand and might include an appearance by Fawcett's "Charlie's Angels" co-star Jaclyn Smith. The actor's first witness was Mela Murphy, a hairstylist and close friend of Fawcett who testified that the actress told her in 1994 that one of the Warhol portraits belonged to O'Neal.

Drexler testified as an expert witness and was paid approximately $36,000. She based her appraisal on reviewing photos of the Fawcett portrait and auction prices for other Warhol artwork.

O'Neal is countersuing the university to keep the Fawcett portrait and also obtain a tablecloth Warhol drew hearts on and addressed to the actors.

The university has said if it wins, it plans to display both Fawcett portraits in its Blanton Museum of Art. O'Neal told jurors Monday that if he wins, he intends to leave the portrait to the son he had with Fawcett, Redmond.

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Anthony McCartney can be reached at http://twitter.com/mccartneyAP

Music Is The Missing Link In Detroit's Recovery

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This story originally appeared in Model D, a weekly online magazine that tells stories about Detroit's development.

Detroit is not an easy town for musicians, but then Detroit is not an easy town for anyone. If you want the Big Easy, head south. Here in the Motor City, we take an almost perverse pride in doing things the hard way, or whatever way that means we can be left alone to do our thing however we want.

In Detroit, we don’t always play well with others. Sometimes we pay a steep price for that. But when it comes to the music, the results would indicate that this sort of middle finger independence has worked to our advantage. From Motown to Techno, from jazz to blues, from rap to rock, from hip hop to R&B, Detroit has proven to be the international gold standard when it comes to musical creativity. If you don’t believe me, try and name any other city anywhere with such a deep bench of musical heavy hitters across so many genres who either were born here or began their careers here. Don’t wanna brag but…well… I kinda do. It’s not overselling when it’s the truth.

And yet, despite the apparent fact that our cast iron cup runneth over with talent, even as the city’s fortunes as a whole continue to decline at an exponentially accelerated rate, Detroit’s musical community hasn’t really been taken seriously at the local level – or at least not as seriously as it should be – since the days of Motown. Or, if you want to reach back even further, to the days of Paradise Valley when Detroit actually had a musical district that provided gigs for some of the world’s best musicians seven days a week virtually round the clock. If live music was what you craved - and Detroit has always been a city in love with notes - then Paradise Valley was where you went to satisfy that craving.

As for Motown, it wasn’t just the quality of the music that made Hitsville U.S.A. stand out so prominently, it was the jobs that the music provided. Granted, there were some grumbles about how much – or little – those salaries actually were that came with some of those jobs, but the fact remains that Motown was a local business that put people to work while providing high quality entertainment on a regular basis for Detroiters who were only too happy to spend a portion of their (very) hard-earned money to see a show.

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Soul singer and songwriter Marvin Gaye. (Photo by Jim Britt/Michael Ochs Archive/Getty Images)


Today, the music is still here, but the venues available to perform that music to an appreciative audience have shrunken dramatically. There is no music district anymore comparable to Paradise Valley where music lovers can stroll in and out of clubs checking out the scene like they still do today in Memphis on Beale Street, or up and down Bourbon Street in New Orleans. If you want to check out the music in Detroit you need to know where to go and who to ask. But no matter who you ask, the fact remains that finding live music performed by local musicians in Detroit is a much harder task than it used to be, which means it is much harder for Detroit musicians to nail down gigs that pay more than enough to buy a hamburger on the way home.

For a city that has given – and continues to give - so much music to the world, you would think there might be a little more appreciation and a little more recognition that since this is something that we Detroiters tend to do better than just about anybody else perhaps we should harness that ability and convert it into fuel to help run the sputtering engine of the city’s recovery. Granted, there are organizations such as the Detroit Sound Conservancy that have taken it upon themselves to be a particularly active and aggressive cheerleader of the city’s music scene. By working to preserve and promote the city’s musical history for research and study as well as for simple enjoyment, the DSC is helping to reignite a pride of ownership for a city that has cast perhaps the longest musical shadow of any other city in the world.

But despite all of our accomplishments it still seems like we’re so accustomed to being surrounded by all this musical talent (because it’s been here for so long) that Detroiters just take it for granted, assuming that it will always be here and therefore not in any need of special attention or consideration.

This could prove to be a serious mistake. Today it’s hard to even count the number of top-flight musicians who have been forced to leave the city over the years and make a name for themselves – and some money – but let’s just agree that it’s a lot. If just a fraction of those who have left for greener pastures were still actively employed here in the city sharing their talents and having those talents utilized as teachers, performers, producers and composers, among other things, just imagine what a difference this could make as we all struggle to define where Detroit goes from here.

Because wherever Detroit goes from here, if Detroit music isn’t helping to steer the wheel then we’re bound to wind up lost.

Check out some of the influential musicians past and present who hail from the Motor City or got their start there:



Keith Owens authored the "Free Your Mind" column in the Metro Times, wrote editorials for the Detroit Free Press and has published a science fiction novel,
The Mayonnaise Murders for Detroit Ink Publishing, a company he co-founded with his wife Pamela Hillard Owens. The publishing company is housed in Midtown's Green Garage.

Rebecca Black & Dave Days Party All Day In 'Saturday' Music Video

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Rebecca Black was so exhausted by "Friday" that didn't want to get out of bed at the start of "Saturday." But by the new music video's end, she's attending a rollicking party where one guy is dressed as a hot dog and someone else is impersonating Miley Cyrus. In between those two sentiments, Black careens through the town with friends who are kind enough to do the Wave with her and assist in preparing for that night's big party. Black doesn't want Saturday to end, and, really, who would when you can light sparklers on the beach and smash one another's faces in pie during a house party?

Black has joined forces with fellow YouTube sensation Dave Days, who also appears in the video. The first time we see him, he's telling Black he needs to find his pants before joining in on the revelry. It doesn't take much to assess the teen antics going on in this clip, laden with everything from red Solo Cups to Silly String. Because that's what the life of a teenager is like, right?


Sara Bareilles' Grammy Nominations Come As A Complete Surprise

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Sara Bareilles became the surprise victor during Friday's announcement of the 2014 Grammy nominations. The singer's "The Blessed Unrest" bested Kanye West's "Yeezus," Lorde's "Pure Heroine," Justin Timberlake's "20/20 Experience," Bruno Mars' "Unorthodox Jukebox" and Vampire Weekend's "Modern Vampires of the City," among others, to land a spot amid the finalists for Album of the Year.

"The Blessed Unrest" debuted in July to favorable reviews but has failed to chart on many critics' year-end rankings, including those from Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly and SPIN. While the Grammys don't foster the frenzied prognostications that the Oscars and Emmys do, most who chimed in to forecast the potential nominees did not have Bareilles on their radar.

A glance at last year's Album of the Year contenders amplifies the confusion surrounding Bareilles' inclusion. The five honorees -- The Black Keys, fun., Frank Ocean, Jack White and winner Mumford & Sons -- all appeared on a slew of best-of lists, and each act garnered a bundle of additional Grammy nominations. Bareilles, on the other hand, only nabbed one other accolade this year: a nod for Best Pop Solo Performance, for "Brave." (The song will compete against Katy Perry's "Roar," which was accused of having lifted its melody from "Brave.")

"Brave," to a lesser degree, also feels out of place among its counterparts in Best Pop Solo Performance. The song peaked at No. 26 on the Billboard Hot 100, instead finding a more comfortable spot on the U.S. Adult Contemporary chart, where it reached No. 2. Three of the category's other nominees -- Bruno Mars' "When I Was Your Man," Lorde's "Royals" and Perry's "Roar" -- each ascended to No. 1 on the Hot 100, while the fifth entry -- Justin Timberlake's "Mirrors" -- touched No. 2.

Regardless, fans of Bareilles are surely rejoicing in the chanteuse's windfall. The 34-year-old singer's "Love Song" was previously nominated for Song of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, the latter of which also hosted "King of Anything" as a nominee in 2011. This year's honors bring Bareilles' Grammy total to four nominations.

The singer took to Twitter on Friday to express her ebullience.


Bareilles will compete against Daft Punk's "Random Access Memories," Kendrick Lamar's "Good Kid m.A.A.d. City," Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' "The Heist" and Taylor Swift's "Red" for Album of the Year.

What do you think? Is Bareilles' recognition deserved, or did she stampede over worthier honorees? Chime in below, and read about more of this year's Grammy snubs here.

The Most Popular Music Videos Of 2013 Are Miley Cyrus' 'Wrecking Ball' And 'We Can't Stop'

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Miley Cyrus may not have earned any Grammy nominations, but her music videos were certainly the year's most popular. The most commonly viewed videos of 2013, according to new rankings released by Vevo, really offer few surprises. "Wrecking Ball" and "We Can't Stop" top the list, while the lascivious "Blurred Lines" and spirited "Roar" round out some of the remaining slots. Here's the top 10 for your continued viewing pleasure.

1. Miley Cyrus -- "Wrecking Ball"


2. Miley Cyrus -- "We Can't Stop"


3. will.i.am ft. Britney Spears -- "Scream & Shout"


4. Rihanna -- "Diamonds"


5. Katy Perry -- "Roar"


6. P!nk ft. Nate Ruess -- "Just Give Me a Reason"


7. Robin Thicke ft. T.I and Pharrell -- "Blurred LInes"


8. Rihanna ft. Mikky Ekko -- "Stay"


9. Naughty Boy ft. Sam Smith -- "La La La"


10. One Direction -- "Kiss You"


Edouard Molinaro Dead: Famed Director Dies At 85

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PARIS (AP) — Edouard Molinaro, nominated for an Oscar for directing "La Cage aux Folles," a French farce about a gay couple that struck a chord with a broad range of audiences, has died at 85.

French President Francois Hollande's office confirmed the death in a statement of condolence Saturday, praising Molinaro as "great, appealing and original" and a director who "conquered the public and the admiration of his peers at the same time." The statement didn't provide further details. Molinaro's career spanned six decades, including crime films and historical adaptations. He was best known for 1978's "La Cage aux Folles," which was nominated for several Oscars. The movie, about two men with a transvestite club in St. Tropez who try to temporarily pretend they're straight, was remade as "The Birdcage" in 1996.

Beyonce's 'Grown Woman' Video Reportedly Teased In Leaked Clip

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Beyonce may be finally releasing a new music video. A clip surfaced this weekend of Beyonce performing her song "Grown Woman," in what is likely a snippet from an upcoming video. The video shows Bey employing her much-celebrated dance moves and getting down with the empowerment anthem. Beyonce, who released her last album, "4," in 2011, has yet to comment on the leak. Watch the clip below and keep an eye out for cameos by Kelly Rowland and Beyonce's mother, Tina Knowles.


Meet Horrorchata, Drag Queen Host Of 'Be Cute' At Brooklyn's One Last Shag

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This is the sixth installment in an ongoing series that explores drag culture and the nightlife scene in Brooklyn, N.Y. Over the past several years, following the large-scale exodus of artists across the East River and into northern Brooklyn, those engaged in drag culture in this outer borough have rethought what "drag queen" means. Accompanied by a larger movement to understand drag culture outside of the pageant circuit, many individuals engaged in the drag community throughout Brooklyn approach drag culture through a nontraditional lens of "alternative" drag or performance art. Visit HuffPost Gay Voices regularly to learn not only about the individuals involved in Brooklyn's drag community, but more about the culture of the community itself.

The Huffington Post: How did you get your start in the drag world?
When I was 18 years old I saw my first drag show in San Antonio, Texas -- the fiercest Latinas in the South! Since then I knew I wanted to be a drag queen and I later moved to Austin where I threw my first drag/fashion show, performing "Umbrella" by Rihanna. After that, I moved to NYC to start a new life, not even thinking of doing drag yet. Then Colin Self ask me to perform for his party Clump... so I did! My first number was Selena -- giving Brooklyn a little Texas flavor. Now I'm a full-time drag queen!

How would you characterize the kind of drag that you do?
Punk rock mexican pretty girl.

Describe the drag scene and community in Brooklyn -- how is it different from drag culture elsewhere?
The drag scene in Brooklyn is evil and it's full of crazy witches! Brooklyn drag is a freak show. Beware! Enter with caution!

You are one of the co-founders of Bushwig alongside fellow queen Babes Trust -- why did you decide to start this drag festival?
One day I was wig shopping in Bushwick. This was at the peak of the drag explosion where everyone was becoming a drag queen and the streets of Bushwick were full of glitter. I thought to myself, Oh my God -- I need to start a festival called Bushwig! I was originally going to call it Bushwitch Fest, because, you know, we're all witches deep down inside. But Bushwig seemed to just fit -- it was definitely inspired by RuPaul and Lady Bunny's Wigstock.

What was your goal with Bushwig?
My goal was to give back to the community. I am so blessed with the outcome. Never in a thousand years would I have thought I'd be part of a huge drag movement. We are the future.

(The interview with Horrorchata continues after the slideshow.)


How does Brooklyn as a community shape and construct drag culture?
We have Bath Salts, Clump, Razor 5,000, DRAGnet, Bottoms Up, Dizzyland, Spectrum -- and these are just a few of our parties. Brooklyn is like a family. We all help each other out in any way we can, from performing to promoting, and sometimes just showing up and supporting! Celebrate life.

What does it mean to you to be a drag queen or a drag performer?
It gives me an outlet to express myself in many different ways. Dancing and performing for people is a huge passion of mine and drag allows me to do all of those things in one. I love to make people laugh and scream at the same time.

Why do you go by Horrorchata?
My name was given to me by my Drag Mother Holden Bucy because I'm a little scary and all Latina -- and I love the Mexican drink horchata.

Where can you be found throughout the week?
Once a month at One Last Shag at my party "Be Cute." It's the first Saturday of every month. You can also catch me on Tuesdays at TNT for "I F*$#ed Bingo" with my sister Merrie Cherry. You can also find Horrorchata hosting the next season of "RuPaul's Drag Race" on Monday nights starting in January at Macri Park with Babes Trust.

For more information about Horrochata, visit the artist's Facebook, Instagram or contact him through e-mail. Missed the previous installments in this series? Check out the slideshow below.

Photographer Stephanie Keith is an ongoing contributor to this series.

7 Reading Nooks To Inspire Your #SanctuarySunday (PHOTOS)

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If you have a passion for books, a reading nook is likely a dream feature for your home. We count ourselves among those dreamers, which is why we're featuring these small-but-stylish spaces for this week's #SanctuarySunday round-up. We've chosen our favorite nooks from Houzz -- which one do you like best?

And tell us -- what's your sanctuary? Or, better yet, show us: Take a pic on Instagram with the hashtag #SanctuarySunday. Be sure to tag @HuffPostHome too, while you're at it.




















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'SNL:' Kristen Wiig Crashes NBC's 'Sound Of Music' Live Performance

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"Saturday Night Live" opened this weekend's show with a condensed version of NBC's "Sound of Music" live broadcast last week. But despite the mixed reviews that the special inspired, the "SNL" version proved that it could have been far, far odder.

Kristen Wiig, who left "SNL" in 2012, made a surprise appearance as her big-foreheaded character Denise (or Dooneese, or Judice... the jury seems to be out on her name) sitting in as one of the Von Trapp children with a special penchant for acting out inappropriate behavior. Watch as she makes Maria (Kate McKinnon) and Captain Von Trapp (Taran Killam) get increasingly weirded out as she injects stories about a fish that went up her skirt in the middle of Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical numbers, before the sketch is closed out by another recently departed "SNL" cast member, Fred Armisen.

These Photos Of Faces Hiding In Everyday Life Are Your New Favorite Twitter Addiction

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Sometimes, just sometimes, Twitter is great. This past month, the social media platform became the home of @FacesPics, a hilarious account that documents anthropomorphic photographs of faces hiding in plain site. From coffee foam to open backpacks to sliced onions, the anonymous geniuses behind "Faces in Things" manage to turn the most mundane items into quirky characters in well under 140 characters.

Here are just 15 reasons why we (and 244,000 other followers) can't stop looking at it:

1. This frightened bottle opener.





2. This shocked coffee.





3. This satisfied plane.





4. This celebratory motorized chair.





5. This aghast bathroom.





6. This unhappy dryer.





7. This confused tree.





8. This agitated car interior.





9. This contented boat.





10. This skeptical roof.





11. These evil taillights.





12. This amused ice cream.





13. This horrified audio set-up.





14. This hungry jacket.





15. This deadpan mailbox.





BONUS: These adorable grass cells.




h/t Colossal

'Frozen' Box Office Freezes Out 'Catching Fire'

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NEW YORK (AP) — In its second weekend at the box office, the Disney animated tale "Frozen" cooled off "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" and the lone new release "Out of the Furnace."

According to studio estimates Sunday, "Frozen" led the multiplexes with a haul of $31.6 million over the weekend, taking over the top spot from "Catching Fire." Lionsgate's "Hunger Games" sequel had topped the box office for the last two weeks, but slid to second with $27 million in its third week of release. Relativity Media's steel-town drama "Out of the Furnace," starring Christian Bale and Casey Affleck, posed no challenge for the bigger blockbuster holdovers. It opened with $5.3 million, good enough for third place on the typically quiet early December weekend.

LeAnn Rimes' 'Gasoline And Matches' Video Shot Entirely On iPhone

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Leann Rimes released the music video to her single "Gasoline and Matches" with Rob Thomas and Jeff Beck this weekend. Directed and filmed by Vine favorite Ian Padgham, the video was shot entirely on an iPhone, using stop motion animation. The video includes shots of Rimes and Thomas, but focuses mostly on the animation of toys, matchbooks, and a mini gasoline tank. "Gasoline and Matches" is the latest single off of Rimes' 2013 album, "Spitfire." Check out the impressive visuals below.

Kennedy Center Honors Celebrate Billy Joel, Carlos Santana, Herbie Hancock, Martina Arroyo, Shirley MacLaine

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WASHINGTON (AP) — The "Piano Man" who became one of the world's best-selling artists of all time with such hits as "Just the Way You Are," ''Uptown Girl" and "Allentown" is being awarded the nation's highest honor Sunday for influencing American culture through the arts.

Billy Joel joins Carlos Santana, Herbie Hancock, opera star Martina Arroyo and actress Shirley MacLaine in receiving the Kennedy Center Honors. All of them have been playing music, dancing or singing since they were children — and have never stopped. Joel said the honor stands apart from his six Grammys.

"This is different. It's our nation's capital," he told The Associated Press. "This is coming more from my country than just people who come to see me. It's a little overwhelming."

The 64-year-old musician born in the Bronx has been playing the piano since he was a boy, growing up on New York's Long Island. There was always music in the house, he said. His mother sang. His father played the piano.

Impressing girls, though, is what hooked Joel into making a career of music, he said.

Joel just announced a 2014 concert series at Madison Square Garden in New York "to avoid schlepping around the world," but he still plans to play concerts nationwide.

President Barack Obama will salute the honorees Sunday night, and top entertainers will offer tribute performances for each honoree. The show will be broadcast Dec. 29.

On Saturday night, Secretary of State John Kerry hosted the honorees for a black-tie dinner at the State Department. Kerry said the artists had blazed trails and redefined the arts and American culture along the way.

"They are loved by so many, imitated by some, but never ever can they be replaced," Kerry said. "We are reminded that the role of arts can also never be replaced."

Garth Brooks toasted Joel at the dinner, saying his legacy would live on for generations. He said Joel has a special talent for writing songs about everyday people, from steel workers in "Allentown" to soldiers fighting in Vietnam in "Goodnight Saigon."

"Music has a wonderful gift," Brooks said. "For those that do it right, they can put you in shoes that you would never understand if it wasn't for that song."

Santana, 66, a Mexican immigrant who began learning English from American television, is one of only a few Latinos who have received the honor so far.

Santana first picked up the guitar after hearing blues and rock 'n' roll on the radio. He has said his career is about bridging cultures and fusing sounds to create something new. He grew up with the Woodstock generation after moving to San Francisco, but is perhaps best known for his album "Supernatural." It won nine Grammys.

Kerry said Santana brought the beauty of Latin culture and its rhythms and influences to the American mainstream.

"We love the music you made, not because it's Latin, but frankly because it is so very American," Kerry said.

Hancock, 73, got his start at the piano at age 7 while growing up in Chicago. Soon he was playing Mozart and discovered jazz in high school. He joined the Miles Davis Quintet in 1963 and later set out to create his own sounds, fusing jazz, funk, pop, gospel, soul and the blues. He has won an Oscar and 14 Grammy Awards so far.

Arroyo found opera while imitating the singers outside an opera workshop when she was growing up in Harlem. Soon she was signing a contract with New York's Metropolitan Opera and had a breakthrough with "Aida" in 1965. She went on to star in the great opera houses of London, Paris and Vienna.

Opera star Jessye Norman said Arroyo, now 76, has a voice "that makes you happy to be alive, just to be in her audience."

MacLaine, 79, has been acting on stage and screen for six decades ever since she began ballet at age 3. Her film debut came in 1955's "The Trouble with Harry," directed by Alfred Hitchcock, and she won the Oscar for best actress for "Terms of Endearment" in 1983. More recently she's been playing a role in "Downton Abbey" on PBS.

MacLaine's younger brother Warren Beatty also has won a Kennedy Center Honor, making them the first brother and sister to both receive the honor.

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Follow Brett Zongker on Twitter at https://twitter.com/DCArtBeat

Art-Start Photo Exhibition Profiles Homeless Families In NYC (PHOTOS)

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The past decade has seen homelessness in New York City skyrocket to epidemic levels, affecting countless families throughout the five boroughs. The most vulnerable victims, as recently highlighted by a powerful New York Times investigative report titled "Invisible Child," are undoubtedly the city's children. Recent figures have more than 22,000 children experiencing homelessness each night, a level last seen during the Great Depression.

Art-Start, a non-profit dedicated to assisting marginalized youth, has organized an exhibition featuring photos of these homeless families. The images offer a candid, personal look at roughly 50 families struggling to make their way in New York.

Proceeds from printed sales will benefit Art-Start's Homeless Youth Outreach Programming. The exhibition opens Thursday, December 19th at The Highline Loft (508 West 26th Street, 5th Floor).
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