The Constant Wanderer

Black Friday was a rude awakening for me. I am starting to realize that I am out of the touch with the world. I can't stop but wonder ... just how detached am I from this American culture? Have I been away for that long?

YES America, the latest and biggest news this Thanksgiving weekend is that Jessica Simpon and Nick Lachey are officially parting ways after three years of marriage! After months of dodging breakup rumors, the quintessential American couple finally admitted that their romantic passionate days are but a shadow of the past. What many would feel as a tragedy of monumental proportions seemed almost pathetically obvious to me. I don't even understand why this is such a big deal. Frankly, it's just another Hollywood couple breaking up because they can't work out their differences, what else is new? However, I must admit that it's quite interesting to know that Jessica Simpson claims that she is a devout Christian, and that her father, an ex-pastor turned manager, allegedly pushes Jessica to look "sexier" on her music videos and photo shoots. It all seems a bit ironic to me. For those die-hard Jessica Simpson fans out there, I should remind you that she has a book out titled "Jessica Simpson I Do: Achieving Your Dream Wedding." Feel free to grab yourself a copy for the holiday season. Please note that the book helps you achieve your dream wedding, not your dream marriage. Consider yourself warned. For some real ground breaking news, click here.

On a related note, I was thoroughly shocked and disgusted when I went the mall yesterday. Not because of the insane traffic jams or the frustrating time trying to find parking, but because of Abercrombie & Fitch (reluctantly linked to prove a point). I wonder if I am the only person appalled to see topless male models posing in front of the store to attract hormonal teenage to the store. Yes, there were actually topless guys posing in front of the store and taking pictures with girls hanging on to them. If you are one of those people who think I only have an issue with this because there weren't scantily dressed female models along side their male counterparts, you are dead wrong. And no, I am in no way jealous or feel insecure about my own body or wish that I would be posing in front of the store, I simply found it extremely disconcerting that companies have to resort to this type of brand promotion. How much more obvious can it be that A&F is trying to sell their brand with SEX ... and only SEX. Perhaps I am over-reacting, but this is just a bit too much for me.