ShortFormBlogNovember 28, 2009

U.S.: Tareq and Michaele Salahi pull a Tiger Woods, shy away from media

They canceled on Larry King! They canceled on Larry King! The world, waiting to hear what Tareq and Michaele Salahi were trying to pull by their state dinner appearance, sat impatiently waiting after hearing they held off on the soft-pedal chat with Larry. They’re not ready for redemption – at least not yet. Question: Is the value of their redemption as good as nothing, like turning in a coupon for cash? source

Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

U.S.: Stoners looking to make “pot” a career: There’s a school for you

Medical marijuana enthusiasts in Michigan can take six weeks of classes at the Med Grow Cannabis College, where you can get high on learning or something. source

Posted by Ernie Smith • 1 Comment • Permalink

Culture: Dear Tiger Woods: Come clean. Let us know what’s up.

Holding off is just making it more obvious that something happened. Tiger – we don’t admit to knowing what happened between you and your wife. We pulled open that copy of National Enquirer just to see what it said, but have no proof of anything. All we know is that you and your wife look like you’re hiding something by not talking to the press OR – more notably – the police. You get the benefit of the doubt, man, but stop hiding. OK? source

Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

Music: Saturday Mixtape: Our decade-in-review is in odd-but-awesome 2007

1. Everyone went (Lady) gaga over Panda Bear‘s “Person Pitch,” which also came out in 2007, but we actually greatly prefer Animal Collective’s “Strawberry Jam,” which somehow pulled off the trick of making eight-minute-long songs sound like they were performed in three. “Peacebone” is also awesome on the album, but for our money, “Fireworks” is the classic here.
2. Dan Deacon sounds like he shouldn’t be popular. Barring a few weirder archetypes from the late-’60s (Silver Apples is sorta close, Bruce Haack is closer) and a couple of avant-garde artists only Deacon himself could probably name, there’s really no context for his sound. But Deacon is, and “The Crystal Cat” truly shows why he matters. He synthesizes weirdness into pop but does it without being dull or unlistenable.
3. The great thing about Radiohead’s “In Rainbows“ is that, pulled far away from the context of the pay-your-own-price scheme that brought the record attention, it holds up as the band’s best record this decade – still experimental, but far more focused than “Kid A” – and perhaps their best overall. Our fave from the record? “Bodysnatchers.”
4. Spoon was consistent throughout the decade, but “Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga” found them still being hugely listenable while bringing a more experimental bent to their sound. The extra touches on “Finer Feelings” – from the odd lyrics about finding true love in the Memphis Commercial Appeal to the odd musical interlude near the end – only make the pop-candy center stand out even more.
5. Best song of the decade. If you’ve ever heard LCD Soundsystem’s “All My Friends,” you know why. No contest.

Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

U.S., World: The U.S. still has an operational secret prison in Afghanistan

The black jail was the most dangerous and fearful place. They don’t let the ICRC officials or any other civilians see or communicate with the people they keep there. Because I did not know what time it was, I did not know when to pray.
Detained Kandahar spare-parts dealer Hamidullah • Describing the scary situation he faced when he was held at a secret prison at the Bagram Air Base. Hamidullah, who doesn’t use a last name, faced a windowless concrete cell lit by a single light bulb and twice-daily interrogation sessions – the only contact he had with the outside world. Obama had shut many of these secret prisons down in January, but his order only applied to those run by the CIA. This prison is run by Special Ops forces. source

Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

World: Russia’s high-speed Nevsky Express hit by a terrorist blast before

A similar blast in 2007 injured 60. As Russian authorities center in on the probable cause of the train derailment that’s killed at least 26, it’s worth noting that there has been a history of this on the Nevsky Express. In the latest incident, survivors claim they heard a blast before the train derailed. This line is an important one for Russia – 27,000 people are facing delays aboard 60 trains as a result of the crash. source

Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

Tech: Someone remade a Queen song using a Super Mario World level

Well, that’s one way to pay tribute to Freddie Mercury. A crafty “Super Mario World” level hacker (who also knows their way around automation) managed to craft “Don’t Stop Me Now,” “Guitar Hero”-style, using a platformer. Awesome, but nerdy.

28 Nov 2009 22:38

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U.S.: Tareq and Michaele Salahi pull a Tiger Woods, shy away from media

28 Nov 2009 21:02

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U.S.: Stoners looking to make “pot” a career: There’s a school for you

28 Nov 2009 20:37

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Culture: Dear Tiger Woods: Come clean. Let us know what’s up.

28 Nov 2009 14:53

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Music: Saturday Mixtape: Our decade-in-review is in odd-but-awesome 2007

28 Nov 2009 12:33

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Culture: Daily Poll: Could Tiger Woods bounce back from a scandal?

28 Nov 2009 12:18

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U.S., World: The U.S. still has an operational secret prison in Afghanistan

28 Nov 2009 12:05

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World: Russia’s high-speed Nevsky Express hit by a terrorist blast before

28 Nov 2009 10:27

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Tech: Someone remade a Queen song using a Super Mario World level

28 Nov 2009 10:03

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U.S.: Arnold Schwarzenegger has a little tax lien issue with the IRS

28 Nov 2009 09:50

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World: Another ferry capsizes, this time in Bangladesh