ok.. apparently it’s not just me who had questions about brandon’s ring. this was actually a news item on contactmusic.com:

SUPERMAN’S ENGAGEMENT RING MADE FROM STONEHENGE ROCK

Hollywood actor BRANDON ROUTH’s engagement ring is crafted from a blue stone he picked up at English historical landmark Stonehenge. The Superman Returns star, who is set to marry his actress girlfriend Courtney Ford “in a couple of months”, found the ideal rock for his engagement band during a tourist visit to the U.K.. He says, “The blue stone is part of what some of the stones at Stonehenge are made of. So the ring is from there but I got it encased in silver to strengthen it and it looks cool.” But despite his love for all things English, Routh insists he and Ford have no plans to wed overseas. Routh adds, “We’re getting married in the States. We’re not going to make anybody travel too far.”

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so i did some further investigating on the internet about engagement rings for men, cause before brandon i had never heard of such a silly thing. ironically all the info i found promoting the trend was on websites for jewelers.. go figure. they even suggest that after the blessed event the man switch the engagement ring to his right hand and of course wear the wedding band on his left.

good god! even tho i was calling it a man-gagement ring, i assumed it WAS the wedding band that he was just wearing prematurely. it didn’t occur to me that this was actually an additional piece of jewelry! dude, why not just make it a french mount diamond solitaire, and then after the wedding you can wear the wedding band on the same finger!! i mean who are we tryin’ to kid?

ok, perhaps i should interject here that i am not a fan of jewelry, pretty much of any kind, on a man (not even a huge fan of jewelry on women. a little is nice, but no blood diamonds for me). maybe it’s because of all the pinky rings and cheap gold chains intertwined in chest hair (gag) i observed in new jersey, but i just don’t get it. maybe criss streptococcus can explain it to me. i’m pretty sure his ridiculous Mr. T jewelry is a large part of why i hate the man so - that and the fact that he constantly calls it his “bling” (blehck). btw, Mr. T doesn’t even wear the jewelry anymore, he started feeling guilty after katrina so he denounced it. and while i can’t say i see the connection, i see his point. and for chrissake if he sees a problem with the overkill when it was his fucking trademark.. where the hell are the mindfreak’s image consultants? apparently they’re more concerned about his hair. but i digress..

anywhoo, i am now convinced that the mangagement ring is just a marketing ploy by the jewelry industry, that they’re no doubt advertising in all the brides magazines, bridal shows, etc. [god, can you imagine how many kabillions of dollars the wedding industry takes in per year? probably only slightly less than the country's divorce attorney's.]

i could not find one shred of evidence that this is some long-forgotten, long-standing tradition, or that its even socially acceptable for that matter. come on men, just say no! i have male friends who are married who don’t even wear a wedding band because they’re just not comfortable with it, or whatever.

so boys please, beware. they’ve already got you coloring your hair and spending way too much time and money on your wardrobe. it’s a slippery slope. mark my words, man-mascara is not far behind! remember at some point in the 90’s they tried to market the man-purse? but men reisited, so you must resist the engagement ring too! just tell your fiancee that if she wants you to have a mangagement ring, you’ll have to deduct the cost from the amount you were planning to spend on her ring. i assure you, she’ll shut right up about it.

but i have a theory about brandon’s ring.. that rock used in the band, it’s not from stonehenge - it’s from krypton! they deviously dyed it blue so he wouldn’t see the green glow that always gives it away, and it is continuously draining him of his… (wow, it seems really harsh to say testosterone or masculinity here, but i think you see where i’m going with this.)

regardless, i’m afraid he’s forever lost his super powers.

ps: just saw that Us magazine carried that interview too and elaborated that it took place at a party at Lance Bass’ house (and i’d have a joke for that, but i’m not that fucking funny!), and then brandon & courtney go on to talk about how they make each other breakfast.

dude, this is not going to help the box office #’s for the sequel!! please try and remember that for the time being you are superman, so you should stop being such the clark kent.

or maybe i should stop being so hard on poor brandon???

well, maybe, but it seems unlikely.