Saturday, July 11, 2009
What Were They Up To?
Video: Russia Today, July 10
Article: Award Winning Journalist Suspects Cheney Connection To Special Ops
Consentually Banned In Boston
Street Artist Shepard Fairey, who for decades plastered his stickers and posters on buildings and street signs, issued an apology and agreed to stop... At least in Boston for the next two years. Under the arrangement, Fairey pleaded guilty to three vandalism charges and must pay a $2,000 fine. His plea deal will prohibit him from carrying stickers, posters, wheat paste, brushes, and other tools of the graffiti trade.
Article: Boston Globe, July 10th.
Previous Post: Fairey's Boston Museum Show
Failed State? Blame Proposition 13!
Why is California so messed up?Santa Barbara Independent columnist Jerry Roberts looks back 30 years to Howard Jarvis, author of the infamous ballot initiative that led to today's system of legislative paralysis, fiscal disaster and ungovernable chaos.
Column: Santa Barbara Independent
Mad As Hell
The words of Paddy Chayefsky, delivered by best actor Peter Finch, from the movie "Network" (1976).
Friday, July 10, 2009
Another Shoe Drops
Cuckold Charges Cover-Up Conspiracy
Doug Hampton spoke publicly for the first time Wednesday about the affair his wife had with Sen. John Ensign, alleging that the Nevada Republican engaged in a lengthy and calculated series of deceptions despite repeated attempts to get him to stop.
"I lied to myself over and over," Ensign wrote to mistress Cindy Hampton. "I justified my actions because I blamed my wife. Doug (Hampton, Cindy's husband and Ensign Senate Staffer) has been a great friend to me over the years + I threw all of that away over wanting to feel good."
Articles: Republican & Democratic newspaper with Extended Interview Video.
Doug Hampton spoke publicly for the first time Wednesday about the affair his wife had with Sen. John Ensign, alleging that the Nevada Republican engaged in a lengthy and calculated series of deceptions despite repeated attempts to get him to stop.
"I lied to myself over and over," Ensign wrote to mistress Cindy Hampton. "I justified my actions because I blamed my wife. Doug (Hampton, Cindy's husband and Ensign Senate Staffer) has been a great friend to me over the years + I threw all of that away over wanting to feel good."
Articles: Republican & Democratic newspaper with Extended Interview Video.
Let's Get Small
How much room do you need? In the US, the average size of a home is 2,600 sq. feet.
Yale grad student Elizabeth Turnbull loves her living space — all 144 sq. feet of it. She says size matters when you think about a ‘green’ and a ’sustainable’ home.
Think prison cell with an open door policy.
See photos of the Tiny House.
It's Official
She's hot!
Skin deep for men and in the eye of the beholder for women?
A study by psychologists from Wake Forest University found men are much more likely to come to a consensus when defining what they find attractive in youthful members of the opposite sex... i.e. slender & seductive. Appearing confident works, too.
Women showed a more diverse range of responses, with some rating particular men very attractive while other women found the same men not attractive at all.
Researcher Dustin Wood polled 4000 men and women, aged 18 to more than 70, on how attractive they found the subjects of a range of photographs of people of the opposite sex aged 18 to 25.
The researchers said the findings had implications for further understanding eating disorders and why women feel greater pressures to conform to a perception of physical attractiveness. And although men don't have the same pressure to conform to a certain look, they do face greater competition given more men will be attracted to the same women.
The study found our attitudes about potential mates changed with age, as older people were more likely to find people attractive if they were smiling... Older people do place a value on still having teeth.
Remember it was fantasyland, based on reactions to photos, not real human interaction.
Skin deep for men and in the eye of the beholder for women?
A study by psychologists from Wake Forest University found men are much more likely to come to a consensus when defining what they find attractive in youthful members of the opposite sex... i.e. slender & seductive. Appearing confident works, too.
Women showed a more diverse range of responses, with some rating particular men very attractive while other women found the same men not attractive at all.
Researcher Dustin Wood polled 4000 men and women, aged 18 to more than 70, on how attractive they found the subjects of a range of photographs of people of the opposite sex aged 18 to 25.
The researchers said the findings had implications for further understanding eating disorders and why women feel greater pressures to conform to a perception of physical attractiveness. And although men don't have the same pressure to conform to a certain look, they do face greater competition given more men will be attracted to the same women.
The study found our attitudes about potential mates changed with age, as older people were more likely to find people attractive if they were smiling... Older people do place a value on still having teeth.
Remember it was fantasyland, based on reactions to photos, not real human interaction.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Undernath The Robes
They're real people. Some real quirky.
Audio: BBC, PRI & WBUR's Here & Now. Host: Monica Brady-Myerov.
Audio: BBC, PRI & WBUR's Here & Now. Host: Monica Brady-Myerov.
Vanity Plate
Budget problems in Massachusetts recently forced the Registry of Motor Vehicles to close 11 branch offices.
Now if you want a customized license plate you have to apply online, typing in your request on a web form.
Now if you want a customized license plate you have to apply online, typing in your request on a web form.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Man In The Mirror
Probably my favorite Michael Jackson moment.
Approaching the 3 minute mark of "Man In the Mirror," as he sings "If you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make a change," the key changes on the word "change."
Musicians call it a "modulation." As both a lyrical and melodic moment it reminds us all to step up.
Approaching the 3 minute mark of "Man In the Mirror," as he sings "If you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make a change," the key changes on the word "change."
Musicians call it a "modulation." As both a lyrical and melodic moment it reminds us all to step up.
And Then There Were 60
Although he hasn't said it recently, I'll bet Al Franken still thinks Rush Limbaugh is a big fat idiot.
Hitting the High Notes
Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Earth, Wind & Fire are on tour this summer. The band’s distinctive lead singer, Philip Bailey, demonstrates that his four octave voice is still going strong, after more than 30 years in the music business.
Audio: BBC, PRI & WBUR's Here & Now, July 6th. Host: Robin Young.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Quit Happens
Sarah may have thought dumping news of her resignation on Friday night of a long weekend was a good idea... Not so much.
It just gave critics more time to plan:
Tina Brown / The Daily Beast: "Palin is clearly terrified. Her M.O. is to cloak her terror in grandiosity. Both shine through in the suppressed hysteria of her increasingly strange appearances before the camera."
Eugene Robinson / Washington Post: "Sarah Palin: A Starter, Not A Finisher."
It just gave critics more time to plan:
Tina Brown / The Daily Beast: "Palin is clearly terrified. Her M.O. is to cloak her terror in grandiosity. Both shine through in the suppressed hysteria of her increasingly strange appearances before the camera."
Eugene Robinson / Washington Post: "Sarah Palin: A Starter, Not A Finisher."
Nam: Another Casualty
In the summer of 1967 a neighbor of mine enlisted in the Marines right after his high school graduation. He went to Vietnam right after training, and came back three weeks later... In a body bag.
Brian Ahearn... All in all, he's just another name on the Wall.
Kumar Goes To White House
Harold didn't.WASHINGTON (AFP) — Actor Kal Penn formally started work at the White House on Monday, saying he was happy to take a break from Hollywood to serve in President Barack Obama's administration.
"This is an incredibly historic time, I'm deeply honored to be here and I hope to serve my country to the best of my ability," the actor, whose given name is Kalpen Modi, told reporters on a conference call.
Penn said his first day in the White House Office of Public Engagement was like a lot of other people's first days on the job, citing "a lot of paperwork," introductory meetings, and getting his electronic mail set up.
Asked what he did to prepare, the actor laughed and replied: "You're going to be bored by this. I brushed my teeth, I did floss, used mouthwash, you know, took the bus to work, same thing as everybody does."
Penn, who is of Gujarati Indian heritage, is the office's point person for Americans in the arts and the Asian-American and Pacific Islander communities.
He said those groups were "incredibly involved" in US politics, "especially this last election cycle" and underlined that they were "not just relegated to just ethnic politics."
Penn said he had had "a lot of fun" making the "Harold and Kumar" movies, in which he plays a marijuana-addled slacker, but that he was taking "a sabbatical from acting."
Penn revealed in early April that his character on the smash hit "House, MD" committed suicide so that the actor could leave the show and take a job with the White House.
Article: Agence France Presse
Magician's Secrets
A member of magician Steve Wyrick’s crew was injured during the magician's "Death Drop" stunt at Planet Hollywood on the Vegas Strip July 4th.
Plans called for the box to be hoisted into the air, supported by a few thin ropes and dangled over a bed of 500 flaming spikes 80 feet below. The ropes would then be set on fire, forcing Wyrick to make his escape before the last rope broke.
After "Wyrick" (really a stunt double) was locked inside, the crew members went to light the ropes, igniting a black netting that was shielding the box from view. Emergency personnel responded, acting as if Wyrick had been injured during the stunt, and the box was taken away.
A helicopter then arrived, presumably responding to Wyrick’s medical emergency. As it landed on Las Vegas Boulevard between Planet Hollywood and CityCenter, Wyrick appeared from the helicopter.
Article: Las Vegas Sun, July 6th.
Problem Solver
The Japanese diet, with an absence of fatty meats, deep frying and simple starches, contributes to long and healthy lives.
McDonald's seemed to think that needed fixing.
From: Eat Liver blog.
McDonald's seemed to think that needed fixing.
From: Eat Liver blog.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Rhinoplastic
Artist Carsten Höller created this sleepy baby rhino in 2005. It's made from polyvinyl, polyurethane foam and polyester resin with glass eyes.
Empty V
Bob Johnson, the man who invented Black Entertainment Television, had a great quote about Michael Jackson:
"He changed the way we look at music."
The musical elements were all in place with his first solo album, 1979's "Off The Wall," but it took an earlier version of MTV to reach the peak... An MTV in which the "M" was actually music.
The musical elements were all in place with his first solo album, 1979's "Off The Wall," but it took an earlier version of MTV to reach the peak... An MTV in which the "M" was actually music.
Science Lesson
This video from the University of Nottingham explains the "Schwarzschild Radius" (defined as the size at which a spherical astronomical object has been so compressed on itself, it becomes a black hole)... And what you'd have to do to the Earth to turn it into one.
Get to work evil geeks!
Get to work evil geeks!
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Palin's Bailin'
Palin resignation shocks Alaska and nation
In a hasitly called and not entirely rational news conference on the eve of the Independence Day holiday weekend, Caribou Barbie called it quits. Fox News portrays it as a brilliant move. The Anchorage Daily News has a second opinion.
What About The Slush Fund?
Fund raising continues unabated, but for what purpose?
While the site claims "SarahPAC.com is the ONLY political action committee authorized by Sarah Palin," it also publishes the formerly contradictory disclaimer: "Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee," resolved by Palin's abandoning elected office.
There is a seperate link for Sarah's legal defense fund (for frequent ethical complaints, and possibly Todd's sister's drug charges.)
In a hasitly called and not entirely rational news conference on the eve of the Independence Day holiday weekend, Caribou Barbie called it quits. Fox News portrays it as a brilliant move. The Anchorage Daily News has a second opinion.What About The Slush Fund?
Fund raising continues unabated, but for what purpose?While the site claims "SarahPAC.com is the ONLY political action committee authorized by Sarah Palin," it also publishes the formerly contradictory disclaimer: "Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee," resolved by Palin's abandoning elected office.
There is a seperate link for Sarah's legal defense fund (for frequent ethical complaints, and possibly Todd's sister's drug charges.)
Big Screen, Big O (NSFW)
The premise: Hot blonde woman randomly receives a pair of remote control vibrating panties in a package at her front door, puts them on for a date, which somehow turns into a business meeting, and then comes apart in front of her colleagues when a little boy stumbles upon the remote control.
Will Katherine Heigl join the Hall of Fame?
Video: The Frisky.com
Will Katherine Heigl join the Hall of Fame?
Video: The Frisky.com
Songbook
When they met, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller were a couple of 17 year old white Jewish kids who wanted to write songs for black artists. Well, they did that… And more. They tell their story in the new book, “Hound Dog: The Leiber and Stoller Autobiography,” about their memorable musical partnership.
Audio: BBC, PRI & WBUR's Here & Now, July 3rd. Host: Robin Young.
Get Bent
Curved cucumbers and other odd-shaped fruit can once again go on sale across Europe after 20-year-old EU rules were lifted. 'Regulation No. 1277/88' stated that cucumbers should not bend more than 10 millimeters per 10 centimeter, similar rules have applied for 35 other items.
"July 1 marks the return to our shelves of the curved cucumber and the knobbly carrot," said Agriculture Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel.
Rules will, however, stay in place on generally globular items, such as apples, citrus fruit, kiwi fruit, lettuces, peaches and nectarines, pears, strawberries, sweet peppers, table grapes and tomatoes.
NewsLite, July 1st.
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