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I Am...Sasha Fierce: A "Gimmcky Concept [That] Falls Flat"

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easternsky
11/18/08

In reply to I Am...Sasha Fierce: A "Gimmcky Concept [That] Falls Flat"
What's with pop stars trying to "reinvent" themselves by taking on a new name and persona? It feels so contrived and has notes of self absorption. Anyone remember Chris Gaines?
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sequined
11/19/08

@easternsky: Yeah, back on page one a couple of people were mentioning that failure. Possibly a relevant parallel, and it hasn't gone unnoticed around these here parts.
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LoveMyPoms
11/18/08

In reply to I Am...Sasha Fierce: A "Gimmcky Concept [That] Falls Flat"
@STICKSnSCONES

I'm a Black woman and I don't find Beyonce to be a positive role model nor do I find her to be talented.

Her music is garbage and the sound of her voice sounds like nails scratching on a chalkboard to me.

I don't know why people take up for this chick like she's some gift to humanity. NEXT!
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STICKSnSCONES
11/19/08

@LoveMyPoms: There's not much I can say about your opinion of her music, you're not alone in thinking her voice/music sucks. But I will say she is one of the few celebs who quietly are very active in children's charities. Her private life isn't big in the media, but I lived in both Houston and New Orleans going back to the 90's and she has been a consistent presence in giving time and money to the kids. I give her props for that.

Just wanted to explain myself, not trying to change your mind or beef with you.
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jadelyce
11/19/08

@STICKSnSCONES:

I'm glad to hear about the private contribution. However, I think it's undeniable that this dual CD trick is a marketing gimmick.

Also, it's troubling how much of this album, its marketing and image are stolen or copied. I think in the rush to put out new material, she's tapped out and is becoming derivative.

Like a Boy was written and recorded by someone else already. The concept for the video Single Ladies came from Fosse. Her recent look has been exposed repeatedly as borrowing from Rihanna, Vanessa Williams (the CD cover look is from an old Vanessa Williams CD), and others. In many ways, I wonder if Beyonce is like her character in Dreamgirls and just doesn't know the real source of her efforts at being "revolutionary". However, initially pretending like she wrote Irreplaceable makes her seem like a participant in the fraud.

One thing that frustrates me with Beyonce is that she's made enough money to take a break, regroup and be truly artistic, and shoot, go to school. Listening to her speak is troubling.

Sometimes I'm not sure whether to pity Beyonce or not. Sometimes it seems like it's not her fault, but she is an adult and has to see what's going on around her.
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STICKSnSCONES
11/19/08

@jadelyce: Thanks for your response. I agree with alot of what you wrote. Especially, "One thing that frustrates me with Beyonce is that she's made enough money to take a break, regroup and be truly artistic, and shoot, go to school. Listening to her speak is troubling."

I can totally get on board with that.
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STICKSnSCONES
11/18/08

In reply to I Am...Sasha Fierce: A "Gimmcky Concept [That] Falls Flat"
Wow. Nice hateful thread here. Some of the things written here are just plain cruel to say about anyone- especially someone you don't even know.

Beyonce has accomplished quite a lot. She is a woman who, like it or not, has changed the face of R&B music. Her endorsements are nothing to sneeze at either and she is VERY active in charitable works.

Maybe because I'm a Black woman I'm especially respectful of the fact that the aren't that many POSITIVE women out there making money and establishing careers on par with our White counterparts.

I get the feeling you guys would like her better if she got caught snorting coke, went in and out of rehab, and then got photographed for doing absolutely nothing.

You don't have to like her music to restrain yourself from attacking her personally.
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nyc-caribbean-ragazza
11/19/08

@STICKSnSCONES:

you got to be kidding me.

B. has a blonde weave down to her ass. got a nose job (her old nose was fine), and made sure the other women in DC were less attractive, which of course meant they were darker.

Sorry my mom is the black female role model in my life.

Beyonce doesn't not sing r&b, but overly produced pop music. fun but disposable.

she did not change the face of r&b. Not at all.
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STICKSnSCONES
11/19/08

@nyc-caribbean-ragazza: Project much? Maybe you have a problem with your own skin color because saying that 'she' made sure everyone else was darker doesn't make much sense. DC started when she was a child. I'm sure she made sure Solange popped out the womb darker too?

You don't have to agree with my assessment by any means. It's funny though, I prefer to listen to Meshell Ndgeocello and Jill Scott any day of the week. But I also like seeing young sisters doing their thing even if it's not particularly my thing. I definitely don't see the point in hating on another person bc you don't agree with their weave or are jealous (that's the only reason I can think of for a stupid suggestion that 'she made sure' evryone else was darker)of her light skin.

But whatevs, if you want to judge on a superficial level, rock on sista.
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tscheese
11/18/08

In reply to I Am...Sasha Fierce: A "Gimmcky Concept [That] Falls Flat"
Also, the only thing good about "If I Were a Boy" is that Beyonce demonstrates a vague understanding of the subjunctive mood.

THERE. I SAID IT.
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A Small Turnip
11/18/08

In reply to I Am...Sasha Fierce: A "Gimmcky Concept [That] Falls Flat"
DID SOMEONE SAY TURNIP????

Say it three times and I turn into a demon.

Or maybe it means we're divorced.

I can't remember.
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hellosunshine
11/18/08

@ASmallTurnip: Okay, so remember when I said "I love you, tiny root vegetable!" and you left a sweet comment on my wall?

Well here it goes again. Seriously, love you. Though I may be having one of your cousins* for supper, sorry!

*Are squash and turnips related?
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A Small Turnip
11/18/08

@hellodarling loves president obama!!!: Squashes and turnips are vaguely related. But it's okay. Eat 'em. Those squashes are kinda bitchy, and they always talk shit about us rooties at family reunions.

But Darling, there's a whole lotta love in this here joint. Can ya feel it?
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hellosunshine
11/18/08

@ASmallTurnip: OH I CAN FEEL IT!

I ended up having french fries for supper. Super healthy. Squash will wait until tomorrow!
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battleaxonista...is a humorless bitch
11/18/08

In reply to I Am...Sasha Fierce: A "Gimmcky Concept [That] Falls Flat"
Ciara did the 'if i were a boy being a dog' better in her version of 'If I were a Boy' and it was supremely danceable and fun. Beyaki's version just makes me tired.
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Stabby McStabberson
11/18/08

In reply to I Am...Sasha Fierce: A "Gimmcky Concept [That] Falls Flat"
beyonce is hot like a biscuit. a dance biscuit.

(we're the dancers.)
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fattiefatty2by4
11/18/08

In reply to I Am...Sasha Fierce: A "Gimmcky Concept [That] Falls Flat"
pls to be getting an original idea, beyonce?

[i38.tinypic.com]
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SisterMaryMartha
11/18/08

@fattiefatty2by4: WHO ARE THOSE PEOPLE?
You can't blame her- blame her choreographer.
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neka78
11/18/08

In reply to I Am...Sasha Fierce: A "Gimmcky Concept [That] Falls Flat"
I love B, I just have to say it. Since my fave of the Destiny's Child songs which now sounds sadly jaded:

You make me wanna throw my pager out the window/ Tell MCI to cut my phone poles/ Break my lease so I can move/ Cuz you're a bugaboo, a bugaboo.

I wanna put your number on the call block/have AOL make my email stop/cuz you're a bugaboo/ you're buggin' what? you're buggin' who? you're buggin me/ and doncha see it aint' cool?
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hellosunshine
11/18/08

@neka78: What's a pager?

(I'm TOTALLY kidding.)
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browngirlinthering
11/18/08

In reply to I Am...Sasha Fierce: A "Gimmcky Concept [That] Falls Flat"
"Sasha Fierce, on the other hand, knows where her home is"

wtf LA times???

Yes, how could she sing "white songs" on the first disc? obviously she doesn't know where her "home" is. stay in your place singing r&b, woman!

...i do not get at ALL what that review is trying to get at.
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hellosunshine
11/18/08

@browngirlinthering: Yeah, I think that LAT thing is WTF all around!
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sequined
11/18/08

@browngirlinthering: I think I know where the writer was headed, but it is a dramatic mess of a review, I think. In an effort to make an potentially-interesting point, the author stumbles and ends up sounding like a tool. But like I said, I don't think that was her intention.
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alexsim
11/18/08

In reply to I Am...Sasha Fierce: A "Gimmcky Concept [That] Falls Flat"
Guilty pleasure of the moment is "Single Ladies" - catchy and fun. So sue me.
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hellosunshine
11/18/08

@alexsim: I like it too. Though I will say that Justin totally needed to be in the real video :)
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Ulookinatmyjunk, JOC
11/18/08

In reply to I Am...Sasha Fierce: A "Gimmcky Concept [That] Falls Flat"
Anyone else put out by the Beyonce does not sound "black enough" bit from the LA Times blog?

I get frustrated when someone like Amy Winehouse gets credit and accolades for sounding sooooo soulful, but Beyonce gets reamed for not sounding like she's the lead singer in a southern, black, gospel choir.

Why come the double standard?
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Gael
11/18/08

@U.L.A.M.J. is the Hate Mitigator Who Hates the Haters: Obviously, because she's white. I hate cultural appropriation. Ugh. Sing your own songs in your own style. Don't take another culture's songs and steal some more from them. Please.
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FourInchHeels
11/18/08

@Gael: Are you saying that because she's black, she has to sound like a gospel singer? Isn't THAT a racist view? Shouldn't Amy be able to sing whatever she damn well pleases without people telling her to sing like a white woman?

That being said, I agree with U.L.A.M.J. is the Hate Mitigator Who Hates the Haters that it's annoying to have such a double standard. How does one sing 'white', exactly?
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Gael
11/18/08

@FourInchHeels: Hello. I was talking about Amy Winehouse because the other poster was talking about Amy Winehouse being able to sing gospel songs without being told that she sounds "black". Hello!
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cwisto moweina has got yer goat
11/18/08

@Gael: still sounds like a racist view to meeee!
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the_decider
11/18/08

In reply to I Am...Sasha Fierce: A "Gimmcky Concept [That] Falls Flat"
What the hell is up with that Los Angeles Times Blog review?

The weirdest thing about this split is its racial undertone. The Beyonce ballads [are] vehemently not R&B, and Beyonce enunciates them in a firmly post-racial style...The cowriters on these songs are mostly white,...and that universal tone is vehemently not grounded in a "black" sound.

Sasha Fierce, on the other hand, knows where her home is.

Uh, Fuck You very much.
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Flowers For Algernon
11/18/08

@the_decider: Didnt blacks originate... Most sounds? Ugh much like the comments on this jezebel post. The reviewer obviously embued the review with racist undertones.
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everfade
11/18/08

@HalfBloodPrince: "Didnt blacks originate... Most sounds? Ugh much like the comments on this jezebel post." What is that supposed to mean? Seriously get a grip, you are irrational.
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FourInchHeels
11/18/08

@HalfBloodPrince: Didnt blacks originate... Most sounds? Really? Most sounds? That's an awfully blanketing statement, don't you think? And an incorrect one, at that. White folks made lots of 'sounds' (I'm going to take the leap to assume you mean musical sounds [and by sounds, I'm assuming you mean styles]) and so did Asians, and Latinos, and Australians, and I'm sure if we look hard enough there were a few originated by muppets and other cartoon characters. Everyone - regardless of color - makes 'sounds' and it's quite unfair to all races/ethnic groups to suggest that one is responsible for making most 'sounds.'
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Jessi Ramsey
11/18/08

@FourInchHeels: The idea of that makes me laugh because I imagine it like " You hear that? That sound the radiator makes? Black people made that."
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countessian
11/18/08

@Jessi Ramsey: I was reading all these comments scrunching up my face in confusion and bewilderment, and then yours popped up unexpectedly to make me spit tea with laughter.

Thank you.
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hellosunshine
11/18/08

@countessian:@Jessi Ramsey: (I totally had the same reaction. Except with beer.)
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countessian
11/18/08

@hellodarling loves president obama!!!: You're having more fun than me, obviously.
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hellosunshine
11/18/08

@countessian: Boyfriend's got a Heineken minikeg in the fridge, so I'm helping myself!
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tscheese
11/18/08

@hellodarling loves president obama!!!: Oh damn! Not to threadjack, but I think this thread is mostly over, and I am having folks over for Thanksgiving and I need a Heineken minikeg. Is it awesome? Is it easy to use? I WANT ONE NOW.
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sequined
11/19/08

@Jessi Ramsey: OMG DYING at this comment. I'm going to choke to death on laughter.
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Flowers For Algernon
11/18/08

In reply to I Am...Sasha Fierce: A "Gimmcky Concept [That] Falls Flat"
Also odd... The jezebel women are all KUMAYAH we love woman kind we support women UNTIL.......

Black celebrity releases album and jezebel women bring out their claws... And you wonder why women like Hellen Mirren think the way they do..

Snark, Negativity, girl bashing is not cool. When its done by good people or by the people Jezebels "consider bad people".

If you have nothing nice to say about beyonce.. DONT SAY IT.

Its still hating. Supposed liberal jezebels.
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tscheese
11/18/08

@HalfBloodPrince: @HalfBloodPrince: No one is snarking on her body, her skin color, or even more peripheral things like lifestyle and dress. It's just that a lot of people are saying they don't like her music. You can critique someone's work, especially if it's kind of gimmicky, without it being a blanket attack on all women.

Beyonce may honestly believe that she becomes "Sasha Fierce" on stage. Fine; whatever works for her. But if it looks like a marketing ploy to sell a split record, and someone postulates that it may be a marketing ploy to sell a split record, that's now "girl on girl hate"?
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PrettyB is like Whoa
11/18/08

@HalfBloodPrince: Hey now. I was going to make some comment about how I thought there was a little too much negativity in the comments - i.e. "this woman is insufferable" type of thing - but now your post has just made me want to defend those commenters.

I love Beyonce, but I don't think any of the negative comments have crap to do with Beyonce's race. Point out your evidence, miss, because I don't see it.
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hellosunshine
11/18/08

@HalfBloodPrince: How is this a racial thing? I'll snark on Madonna too, if you'd like.
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Flowers For Algernon
11/18/08

@PrettyBitch: LA TIMES article much.
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hortense
11/18/08

@HalfBloodPrince: I think there is hating going on on many, many celebrities on this site, regardless of race. It's just the way the commenter culture is. The LA Times review: now THAT is a mess and needs to be criticized. But I'm not sure the commenters here have the same intentions.

That being said, your opinion is always welcome, as are the opinions of the other commenters. So it's one thing to try to open up a discussion about race and pop stars and critical reaction, but quite another to make sweeping generalizations about the staff and the commenters on the whole.
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hellosunshine
11/18/08

@HalfBloodPrince: Then take that up with the LA Times staffer who wrote it.
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everfade
11/18/08

@HalfBloodPrince: Yea we get it, you love Beyonce so much you could marry her. It was abundantly clear from the way you responded to almost everyones reply about the post. And who said anything about her being black?! I mean WTF? Because she is black is she off limits for Criticism? Don't put words in peoples mouths or assume things lest you come off as unnattractive as Beyonces voice.
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SisterMaryMartha
11/18/08

@hortense: Hortense, he always comes around with this crazy racial stuff. Better served just to ban him.
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hellosunshine
11/18/08

@SisterMaryMartha: Yeah, I've noticed that pattern as well, just sick of it.
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STICKSnSCONES
11/18/08

@SisterMaryMartha: @kirability: Sarah and Bristol Palin, when did you two join Jez? Ban him because he thinks that Black women get treated way more harshly on this sight than do others?

I don't actually think that is the case, however, I have noticed that Oprah, Mariah, Tyra and Beyonce seem to take alot more malicious barbs than do most other celebrities. The only one who really escapes that type of nasty/mean-spirited is Michelle Obama. So do I think it's racial? No. BUT I don't think he's a nutcase nor banworthy for leaping to that conclusion. To each his own.
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STICKSnSCONES
11/18/08

@STICKSnSCONES: To be clear, I don't think the nastiness comes from any of the editors (I've mainly noticed it in the comments) and Tracie, who's clearly not black, is always showing love to Oprah, Tyra, and Mariah, but there is inevitably a commenter backlash.
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Flowers For Algernon
11/18/08

In reply to I Am...Sasha Fierce: A "Gimmcky Concept [That] Falls Flat"
Who is this Maria chick and why is she hating so hard on Beyonce? Is she even a music critic? Did she bother listening to the CD at all? Can she sing her way out of a paper bag? This is such a mean spirited post. But anyways Beyonce is a multi million dollar earning talented beautiful black woman with a supporting family, a loving husband, and a fan base that loves her. She may not be the tragic white "IT" slut. But she sure does mean a lot to her fans.

The album is getting great reviews. Although MEGAN could only edit out the soso reviews. How professional of her.

Love her or Hate her shes the biggest pop star on the planet now!
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tscheese
11/18/08

@HalfBloodPrince: Look, I think Beyonce is beautiful, and obviously she gets a lot of attention from fans and media--I'll give you that.

But:

1) You don't have to be a pro multi-platinum singer to listen to someone else, however talented that someone may be, and think that they are doing something gimmicky and lame.

2) I wouldn't dream of ragging on Beyonce for the color of her skin. She seems to be doing fine in her personal life and she's never done anything to me personally, y'know?

I will, however, rag on her music because I don't think she's The World's Greatest Talent. I think she's marginally talented, but her music is overproduced and overhyped, and it's not to my taste.

I have heard her music. I am a musician. I didn't like it. Also, it's okay for Maria to say she doesn't like something. She's been around awhile. It's also fine for you to disagree with Maria's editorial, but please don't assume it's because Beyonce is not a "tragic white "IT" slut".
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hellosunshine
11/18/08

@tscheese: @HalfBloodPrince: Having a difference of opinion isn't a crime. It's not like the editorial's saying OMG SHE SUCKS SO HARD AND ANYONE WHO LIKES HER IS A TOTAL MORON OMGOMGOMGOGMG. I mean, I don't care for Madonna (except her early pop stuff) but I'm not bashing anyone who does. And neither is Maria. With Beyonce, I mean.
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Jessi Ramsey
11/18/08

@hellodarling loves president obama!!!: Word, I'm listening to Single Ladies right now and I love it, but I'm not incredibly offended if someone doesn't like Beyonce. People like what they like.

If anyone wants to find fault with anything, point your anger towards the LA Times blog.
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hellosunshine
11/18/08

@Jessi Ramsey: Right? Just like, I could listen to "Gimme More" for hours 'cause I love me some Britney, but if someone else doesn't, so what? We don't all have the same tastes and we're all allowed our opinions.
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SisterMaryMartha
11/18/08

@tscheese: @Jessi Ramsey: @hellodarling loves president obama!!!: Ladies, pay no attention to this crazy stan. He can't decide if Megan or Maria wrote/edited the post, nor can he understand that most of the post is snippets of reviews.
He is limited.
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Jessi Ramsey
11/18/08

@hellodarling loves president obama!!!: (well Gimme More is the shizz though, for realz)
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hellosunshine
11/18/08

@Jessi Ramsey: (OMG, "It's Britney, bitch" gets me so excited and happy. Not even kidding.)
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hellosunshine
11/18/08

@SisterMaryMartha: Duuuuude, that stan link just popped up 23 windows on my IE! Obvs a glitch and not you, my dear!
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hellosunshine
11/18/08

@hellodarling loves president obama!!!: (Just FYI)
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morninggloria
11/18/08

@HalfBloodPrince: BEYONCE?! You're on Jezebel?! How do you find the time?!
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