comment #1

Ray says ...

Not trying to be nasty here, but I find it hard to be inspired by a life lesson in hard times doled out by someone who will never have to worry about another bill for the rest of her life. I'm pretty sure Jamie Lee Curtis does not live in a trailerpark somewhere in Dustbowl, USA.

I mean, this article is written by a famous and wealthy actress, and then publicized on a blog written by a man who regularly features pictures of the ritzy places he visits and tells stories about his fancy, high-tech equipment (please give us another update on the status of your Aircard, Jeff!!!).

Seriously, let's not pretend that anyone in Hollywood - neither the actors nor the reporters - have any clue what average Americans are going through or what lessons they might learn from it. What's next?? A blistering diatribe against blow jobs and clubbing written by Paris Hilton??

Gimme a break.

comment #2

Jeffrey Wells says ...

Wells to Ray: You're a fattie, right? Maybe you're as thin as a reed, but what you wrote sounds like a true blue American prole (whether you are one or not) who wants to keep tooling around in his gas-guzzling vehicle, keep eating those French fries and extra salad dressing on the Ceasar, keep up with the blubber belly diet and so on. In what realm is using an ATT Air Card a lavish luxury item? And who goes to ritzy places? Not me. Okay, Paris after Cannes...fine, I've done that. But where I'm parking it now is not ritzy, trust me. You'll have to scale it down in '09 and '10 whether you like it or not. Curtis is merely saying make the most of it and open yourself up to the things that you've shut yourself off from as you've channel-surfed and net-surfed and eaten your way into Louis Quatorze oblivion with your fucking working-class onion rings and ice cream platters or whatever. Lean up, open up, walk more, cocoon less, pig out less, abandon your tele-tubby lifestyle. Is that such a bad idea?

comment #3

Ray says ...

Actually, I am not a "fattie." Of course, that matters little to a self-righteous snob like yourself who rejects people publicly based on their feet or their resemblance to simians.

Frankly, I think it's YOU who lives in an insulated, Hollywood-centric bubble, Jeff.

comment #4

buckzollo says ...

Wells is pretty blue collar (with all due respect JW) especially in the white glove world of hollywood and is mos def a scrapper worthy of whatever ritzy scraps he enjoys and shares about. don't murder the messenger (s)

comment #5

AH says ...

I don't completely agree with Ms. Curtis. I think its a minority of Americans that have become "fat." Unfortunately, it is this minority that controls a majority of our nation's wealth.

The irony is that the people who will suffer the most are the ones who had very little to do with causing this disaster. One of the lessons from this current crisis is that wealth inequality will bite you in the ass every time.

comment #6

Chicago48 says ...

Jamie is right and who cares if she lives a life of luxury...which I'm sure she's not at the top of the food chain in Hollywood....me for example, I have 40 pairs of shoes and boots -- why???!!! I have to stop me from buying more shoes and boots....I have to constantly convince myself to do with what I have. We're a gluttonous and fat society. We eat everything in our sight, we cannot say no, and I'm glad for this economic downturn even though it's hurt members of my family in that they're unemployment....but it will cause us all to cut back and think twice about what we buy....I've returned more merchandise in the past month than I did in the past five years. We can't have everything.

comment #7

Chicago48 says ...

AH: You haven't been to the ghetto have you? Let me tell you, even poor people will find a way to buy an IPOD or IPHONE. They will find a way to put Sean Johns coats on their backs..it's a name brand atmosphere.

In Chicago, the only people with common sense about buying are the immigrants...they shop at the consignment & second hand stores like Goodwill. They know how to spend $1 for a blouse vs. $200....they go to the Latino grocery stores and buy their food instead of A&P....and they get the same food for less....

comment #8

AH says ...

Chicago48, I have seen the obsession with brand names etc. but the spending by the "poor people" pales in comparison to the deficits and debt ratcheted up a majority of the governments, not just the United States, and the financial community.

Think about it, if Wall Street had not created all these new instruments then we would not be in the mess that we are in. I am not saying that the "poor people" are not to blame, just that the largest percentage of blame does not lie with them.

comment #9

Ray says ...

@ Chicago48 - You're right about the name brand atmosphere in poorer communities. These people are able to do it because they either (a) have "alternative" sources of income, or (b) have government money delivered to their doorstep via several programs like welfare, foodstamps, etc. I know because I deal with these people on a daily basis.

I saw someone recently at a grocery store. She has four kids and she barely works. She is on foodstamps. When I saw her, she was pushing a cart of groceries that was filled to overflowing. I couldn't see everything she had, but on top were huge and expensive steaks and ribs.

She asked me how much I thought she paid for all of her groceries; I figured it was probably around $300 to $400 for the entire booty. She then smiled, gold teeth glinting in the flourescent lights, and said, "Seventy dollars!"

As she left, she didn't even say "thank you" to me for dutifully paying my taxes in order to pay for it.

comment #10

Sabina E says ...

That article does make a lot of good points, and I think that she is right-- the economic turmoil could lead to a lot of new changes in this country (let's hope so) and perhaps many more Americans will learn to be more innovative and less lazy...

but quite frankly, if you look at many other parts of the world, Americans still have it good and easy.

Just saying.

comment #11

Sabina E says ...

@ Ray: I'm going to assume that you know the woman who is on food stamps, but maybe you don't know her at all. How do you know she barely works or doesn't hold a job?

Be careful who you judge. Just because some people are on food stamps (or welfare), it doesn't mean they don't work. There's a lot of people who are struggling to pay their bills, to have enough money to buy food for their families, to pay off rent and medical bills, but they don't get paid enough, so some of them apply for welfare to alleviate the situation.

comment #12

Johanna says ...

Curtis is absolutely right. But it's all too obvious that she's talking about the social milieu she's familiar with. The problem of course is that a lot of those (and I guess this is a problem in all "rich and industrialized" countries) who are at the periphery of society mostly don't know how to deal with money and rather get themselves big symbols for status, like expensive cell phones, cars etc. then some healthy food.
Despite that problem, it's painfully arrogant and wrong to talk about "slimming down" while a lot of people end up not having enough money to actually feed themselves or their family.

comment #13

Sabina E says ...

the truth is, Johanna, healthy food tends to be more expensive than junk food, which could be a factor for obesity... maybe?

comment #14

jbf81 says ...

I am from Brazil and here obvious we have a different take on life since we dont have too much money (at least my family was a middle class family) but I remember visiting a friend in US during Christmas time and she bought 12 presents to give to her daughter in the Christmas, in fact Christmas was all about getting gifts and I was just blew way because I remember very well when I was a kid my mom explaining to me that me and my brothers would get one present each and that was it.

I don’t think I ever won 12 presents by my parents in a entire year. And she was not a unusual case, in fact all her friends have bought several of presents for their kids. And its important to point out that she isn’t rich, she also used food stamps, she had no health insurance and her husband had a crap job. Until this day that scene shocks me. How can you teach a kid that just won 12 presents from their not so rich parents, the value of money and wise spending?

comment #15

Ray says ...

@ deafbrowntrashpunk - Yes, I knew this person. She spent $250 every two weeks on new weaves and hairstyles ... but never spent a dime for food.

comment #16

D.Z. says ...

I'd probably take her more seriously if she wasn't speaking from an environment of its own excess-the movie industry. Plus, it's embarrassing for someone who's so well off to be telling others about making sacrifices. How are *you* tightening your belt, Jamie?

"What I do know is that we are fat. Obese. See WALL*E. That is the future. "

Ah, yes, Wall*E-brought to you by a corporation which encourages children to eat their way to diabetes. Yes, they really know better than anyone about healthy living.

"Eat Less, Move More."

If we could afford the gym, and/or exercise equipment, sure. Why don't you help out, since you can actually pay the exorbitant fees tied to organic foods, after all?

"Families may have to live together again! What a concept. Grandparents will live with their grown children and help raise their grandchildren -- even at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave."

Yes, over-crowded housing combined with the inability to afford baby-sitters not likely to die on you is wonderful.

"Less indoor gym workouts and more walking, more park time, more family outdoor time."

What's wrong with indoor gym workouts? You want people to lose weight, don't tell them how to do it.

AH: "I don't completely agree with Ms. Curtis. I think its a minority of Americans that have become "fat." Unfortunately, it is this minority that controls a majority of our nation's wealth."

You've got it wrong. The fatties are the ones eating away, because they can't pay up their health care bills, because the rich are ripping them off to subsidize their failures.

Ray: "She asked me how much I thought she paid for all of her groceries; I figured it was probably around $300 to $400 for the entire booty. She then smiled, gold teeth glinting in the flourescent lights, and said, "Seventy dollars!"

As she left, she didn't even say "thank you" to me for dutifully paying my taxes in order to pay for it. "

I'll take a chance on $300 over $700 billion...

comment #17

D.Z. says ...

"Yes, over-crowded housing combined with the inability to afford baby-sitters not likely to die on you is wonderful."

Oh, and grocery night will really be fun.

comment #18

moviesquad says ...

"The big-feast way that comfortable middle-classers have been living in this country has been appalling me for years -- too much food, too many toys and drugs, too many video screens, homes that are way too large and lavish, cars that guzzle way too much gas, etc."

When the average joe who is not part of Hollywood lives well, it's appalling. Got it.

comment #19

Phatang! says ...

I get it. It's like we're making a deal, right? The rich people will stop spending so much on things they don't need. And the poor people will stop eating so much food. That way the poor people won't have to see all the luxury items that rich people play around with, and rich people won't have to look at fat people eat french fries. And in the end we'll all be leaner and happier. Because the rich people will learn how to be more spiritual and less materialistic, and the poor people will learn how to be thinner. And all this because of the economic downturn! Wow, now I can't wait for 2009.

comment #20

NotImpressed1Yet says ...

Good message but it's a little ridiculous being lectured on getting back to basics by mega-rich Hollywood royalty.

comment #21

NotImpressed1Yet says ...

Who thinks she has both a private chef and a personal trainer?

comment #22

Sabina E says ...

NotImpressed1Yet, yep, I'm sure she does indeed have a personal trainer, although I'm not sure about having a private chef.

comment #23

arturobandini2 says ...

Hell, she's just preaching to her own economic class. The Madoff dig clues you in that she's feeling the pain of the hedge fund crowd. No doubt she's well-intentioned, but I'm tired of Boomers telling me to tighten my belt. As a Cusper, I've noticed a HUGE lifestyle disparity between my age group and colleagues just 5-7 years older. They bought their starter homes way before the bubble and rode them like bucking ATMs during the Bush years. Meanwhile, my demo's first homes started at half a million dollars. My days of luxury ended the day I bought California real estate, long before the global economy took a shit -- so don't imply that giving up a latte now and then will help make ends meet. A lot of you Boomers reveled in caviar standards off the sweat of my nutsack.

What truly sucks about this recession are the fucked-up lessons it's teaching us. Like: If you spent every nickel on cell phones and big-screen TVs and didn't save a dime for retirement, at least you now have something to show for your money. If you put zero down on a $2 million house and it forecloses, you haven't really lost anything -- and the government is going to assist you first. But if you invested your savings and got a prudent mortgage on a modest SoCal bungalow, you're just screwed, dude.

Sadly, what I'll have to sacrifice next is patronage to non-profit arts organizations like museums, film retrospectives and jazz-blues venues. Who will support our dying culture? It won't be Uncle Sam.

comment #24

Jonah says ...

Some of you are just moronic. At the end of the day it doesn't matter who is writing the article. If it was anonymous you'd all applaud the ideas Curtis talks about.

But because she's rich, there is no way her message could be correct.

The fact is, I don't know her financial circumstances. She may be wealthy beyond belief. She may have had her maid write the article for her. It doesn't matter. She was dead on. Americans have become fat, lazy, insulated, drugged up, etc...

I live in Middle America. I see what she's talking about every second of the day.

comment #25

George Prager says ...

Ray I'm going to assume that you are not fat, but are pear-shaped and haven't enjoyed sexual congress with another consenting adult in a decade. I just love people who are envious of poor people. Good energy!

comment #26

NotImpressed1Yet says ...

Jonah, of course any good message is worth considering apart from the identity of the deliverer. But the irony of a (likely) pampered and spoiled Hollywood star whose pets probably eat better than many inner city youth telling America to appreciate the simple life brought on by this recession is pretty fucking rich.

comment #27

Jonah says ...

"Jonah, of course any good message is worth considering apart from the identity of the deliverer. But the irony of a (likely) pampered and spoiled Hollywood star whose pets probably eat better than many inner city youth telling America to appreciate the simple life brought on by this recession is pretty fucking rich. "

So you know the details of her financial situation? I mean, she has been one of the biggest stars in Hollywood for thirty years now. A-list directors are lining up to work with Jamie Lee Curtis. She rivals Julia Roberts and Cameron Diaz for biggest paycheck.

And her husband writes and directs nothing but summer tent pole action films.

Surely they wipe their asses with 1000 dollar bills.

I'm not saying they're poor, because I'm sure they're not. But nobody really knows.

comment #28

George Prager says ...

Anyone who gets on HE and whines about pampered and the spoiled, the bubble inhabiters, the food stamp steak and rib buyers is a loser.

comment #29

D.Z. says ...

George: "Anyone who gets on HE and whines about pampered and the spoiled, the bubble inhabiters, the food stamp steak and rib buyers is a loser."

So does that make Jamie Lee a loser too?

comment #30

Quincyspeak says ...

So I just got back to LA... looking to see if Seven Pounds is considered a bomb.. wanted to find out -- so I log into this dreadful thing. First off, what Jaime Lee Curtis said was beyond insipid and completely moronic. Whatever, if half the world thought i was born with a penis, I'd would write outlandish things on the Huff Post (by the way, only jeff reads that stupid thing).

Now comes the insane part of him posting - about how we need to get rid of things -- JEFF has an iphone. Loves blue ray discs. He's part of the problem. Also, I saw him at the arclight driving a bmw. Remember how he asked for money years ago, if you donated, you might want to ask for it back.

Okay, now Jeff hates fat people. Maybe I would have a complex about stupid things IF I NEVER WENT TO COLLEGE and had to direct my inner hate towards someone else.

Sure there are obnoxious obese people, BUT there are people who have emotional problems who overeat and just don't have Jeff's metabolism. Why you rag on them -- i have no idea.

So because you are such an insufferable prick and this postings really sets the cake for everything i despise in this town - I will do everything in my power not to smack you around when I see you at the arclight.

comment #31

Phatang! says ...

The anti-fat people sentiment is just amazingly callous. Honestly I find it just as reprehensible as anyone who voted for Prop 8. People STRUGGLE with weight. Nobody wants to be fat. For most people, they're heavy from childhood. Jeff is just an insensitive asshole.

comment #32

D.Z. says ...

It is good to be in shape, if you are genetically pre-disposed to do so; but I agree that an industry which promotes skeleton figures as an ideal "look" is hardly in the right to criticize other people's culinary and dietary habits(or lack thereof).

comment #33

D.Z. says ...

Especially since one of the co-stars in a recent Curtis comedy had a drug and alcohol addiction, for eff's sake...

comment #34

NotImpressed1Yet says ...

Jonah said (ironically I presume): "Surely they wipe their asses with 1000 dollar bills."

Or something that would seem almost as ridiculous to a normal person. Of course she does. She's the daughter of Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh, meaning she's as far inside the Hollywood bubble as one can possibly get. It's a Wonderful Life is probably one of her main data points for info on the world outside her comfy bubble.

Basically what I'm trying to say is that Jamie Lee Curtis is only marginally more credible on her essay subject than, say, Michael Jackson.

comment #35

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