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26 Dec 2010 23:53

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Culture: Legendary R&B songstress Teena Marie dies in her sleep at age 54

  • Teena was a black voice trapped in a white body. I would always tell her that she was one of the greatest vocalists of our time.
  • Radio One founder Cathy Hughes • Explaining the loss of Teena Marie, a white R&B vocalist who crossed the racial divide and managed a lengthy career that was still going strong as of 2010. (For you kids too young to remember her, here’s a sample.) Marie, born Mary Christine Brockert, was known for working with Rick James and even had a top-ten record on the Cash Money Records roster, meaning she had something in common with Lil’ Wayne. Marie, who died in her sleep a month after having a very strong seizure, was planning on returning to work next month. Instead, she’s gone. She was 54. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

26 Dec 2010 23:36

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Politics: Max Headroom: Tom Coburn explains his beef with spending

  • In recent weeks, Tommy Boy Coburn has been making his hack-slash budget views very known. In the last couple weeks, his meddling has even led to the omnibus spending bill (which would’ve, among other things, paid for health care) getting pushed back. He’s been putting attention on earmarks and other major factors, so when Coburn showed up on Fox News Sunday today, it’s obvious what he was there for. He wanted to get his two cents in on wasteful spending. Here’s the key part (which we skipped ahead for), where he talks about redundancy. Is he right? Is the redundancy what’s killing us? And why did Tom Coburn grow a beard, anyway, guys?
  • A little out of breath Poor Martin Savidge. Beyond the fact that he was working at CNN on Christmas Day (the worst of the worst shifts, by the way), he appears to have leapt into his chair almost too quickly, completely unable to keep up with his lines We can’t judge. We’d blow this, too.
  • Hockey confuses Rachel Maddow It’s the holidays; even Rachel Maddow is allowed to let the seriousness fade away for a few days and take it easy. So, she has a question … what the heck is this waffle-throwing phenomenon with the Toronto Maple Leafs? And why does she need to care?
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

26 Dec 2010 12:35

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Culture: Kevin Costner, Stephen Baldwin fight over BP oil spill

Remember how Kevin Costner somehow came up with a way to separate oil from water? Seems one of the Baldwin brothers was also involved. Now Stephen’s suing. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

26 Dec 2010 12:15

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Politics: Robert Gibbs: Obama’s cabinet likely to stay mostly the same

  • I think we’ve had a very capable and good cabinet that has helped move the president’s agenda forward.
  • Obama’s Press Secretary, Robert Gibbs • Emphasizing that there shouldn’t be major changes to the cabinet on the horizon, despite the departure of at least one major figure, top economic adviser Larry Summers (he’s stepping down). However, not all reports agree with that assessment. Among other things Gibbs said on “State of the Union”: Obama is likely to run in 2012, though he hasn’t made it official yet, and he offered hope that the GOP would work more with Democrats in the upcoming session, referring to the “cranky bipartisanship” that the successful lame-duck session wrought. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

26 Dec 2010 11:55

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Politics: Democrats could kill (or fix) the filibuster with simple majority

  • obvious Democrats, having had a solid two years of hell as a result of the filibuster giving the minority party insane leverage over every major decision, have had enough, and want rules to change so that things can actually get done.
  • ironic On the first day of a Senate session, a simple majority is needed to change rules – such as the filibuster. Which means they could kill (or significantly change) the filibuster without fear of it getting filibustered. source
  • » Two proposals: Sens. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) are the guys fighting for the changes hardest. Udall and Merkley, both first-termers, have different ideas about how to handle the change. Udall wants rotating changes based on weaknesses that show up in the system after each session. Merkley wants to bring the rules in line with what the country expects of a filibuster – only allowing them on complete bills and out in the open. (Thanks Samuel Rubenfeld)
Posted by Ernie Smith • 1 Comment • Permalink

26 Dec 2010 11:01

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U.S.: San Francisco airport: That pilot’s video? That was a lunchroom

  • The video shows a door with a card swipe and suggests that access is gained to the airfield area through this door. In fact, the door shown in the video provides access only to an employee lunchroom.
  • A statement from SFO’s airport • Suggesting that the anonymous pilot who taped some videos showing the airport’s lack of security was being dishonest. The airport defends its security, saying it’s “an innovator and a trendsetter in aviation security.” So, wait … question. Why would a lunch room need security? And why, rather than simply releasing a statement, doesn’t the airport shoot video proving this? Because they could be lying, too. Some people are “truthers,” others are “birthers,” but we’re “lunchers.” source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

26 Dec 2010 10:38

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U.S.: New York prison inmates use audiobooks to reach their kids

José Rosado, a convict currently serving on Rikers Island, took part in a program called “Daddy and Me,” where he records himself reading books to his kids. Neat. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

26 Dec 2010 10:06

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Offbeat: Stupid kid learns you shouldn’t bring iPhone to a knife fight

  • dumb Let’s say you’re a would-be robber the week of Christmas. Where’s the best place to rob? An Indian restaurant? Probably not.
  • dumber Now, let’s say you go in there and try to rob said Indian restaurant … oh wait, did you forget that the cooks have knives? Yeah, you’re dumb.
  • dumbest Finally, let’s say that, rather than using a gun to rob said Indian restaurant … you use an iPhone. Yeah, you’re a freaking moron, kid. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
 
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