Read a little. Learn a lot. • Tightly-written news, views and stuff • Follow us on Twitter • Be a Facebook Fan • Tumble us!

14 May 2011 12:23

tags

Culture: Front page of the day features headline “Osama bin Wankin’!”

  • Today in newspaper front pages that remind you of the importance of tabloid journalism sometimes. The New York Daily News had a similar idea but with worse execution. (On a side note, Newseum, where we grabbed this page from, finally took the watermarks off their front pages — hopefully for good. We hope our campaign helped change their minds. We’d still like to see newspapers consider releasing their front pages under a Creative Commons license.) source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

14 May 2011 12:07

tags

World: Osama bin Laden’s “herbal viagra” remedy doesn’t actually work

  • It’s oats. Green young oat greens are thought to be an aphrodisiac. No evidence supports its use (although libido is the most placebo-responsive condition there is). Anything claimed to boost libido, even if it’s a placebo, will work in some people.
  • Georgetown Professor and (herbal remedy expert) Andriane J. Fugh-Berman • Dispelling the notion that the Avena Sativa, the “natural Viagra” syrup that Osama bin Laden had on his property (with the porn), is an aphrodisiac. To put it simply, “avena sativa” is the scientific name for the common oat. Now whether Osama knew this … we’ll never know. Let’s joke some more about how much he likes porn, OK? source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

14 May 2011 11:45

tags

World: Muammar Gaddafi’s claim to NATO: “You can’t get me”

  • Where in the world is Muammar Gaddafi? Well … according to an audio clip played on state television, he’s in a place where you can’t get him — he lives in the hearts of millions. Whatever that means. The leader, who hasn’t shown his face in public for a few weeks (after members of his family were killed in an airstrike), is rumored to have been wounded in a NATO airstrike earlier this week. For its part, NATO says it’s not going after him. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

14 May 2011 11:00

tags

Tech: What Sony should learn from this PlayStation Network mess

  • In the future, a blowback in the realm of cybersecurity might be known as the Sony Effect.
  • Bloomberg’s Michael Riley and Ashlee Vance • In a piece called “The Company that Kicked the Hornet’s Nest.” Oh God, let’s hope it’s called “The Sony Effect,” because maybe it’ll remind other companies why not to actively antagonize their hacking-focused users. In Sony’s case, they were a combination of litigious (going after two well-known hobbyist hackers and threatening many others) and incompetent (they apparently ignore security researchers who find flaws and left their network wide open to an attack). The end result is that a company that needed to learn a lesson about getting hackers on their side learned a very expensive one — one that’s shut down their PlayStation Network for nearly a month now. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

13 May 2011 15:27

tags

Culture: What Charlie Sheen thinks about his replacement, Ashton Kutcher

  • nice When asked to react to news that Ashton Kutcher would replace Sheen on “Two and a Half Men,” he had this to say: “Kutcher is a sweetheart and a brilliant comedic performer.” And he has way more followers than Charlie.
  • not-so-nice However, Chuckie had more to say to the producers of the show. “Enjoy the show, America. Enjoy seeing a 2.0 in the demo every Monday, WB,” he said. Hear that? That’s the sound of a man with a chip on his shoulder. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

13 May 2011 15:08

tags

Politics: Chris Christie plays lone wolf in Mitt Romney health-care support

  • Gov. Romney’s speech yesterday was just the type of tone we need. While folks may not agree with what he said, that type of candor is what Americans expect from a serious presidential candidate today.
  • New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie • Offering a big wet kiss to Mitt Romney for his straight-talking approach to health care. Romney made the argument that the health care approach (which Obama based his national health-care plan upon) was the right one for his state — but not necessarily for the country. What’s weird is that Christie was one of the few to offer support to Mitt after the speech, which many on the right really didn’t like. Guess we know who Chris Christie is voting for in 2012. (Hint: Not himself.) source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

13 May 2011 12:57

tags

World: Was Pakistan suicide bombing in response to Bin Laden’s death?

  • claim The Taliban claimed responsibility for two suicide bombings in northwest Pakistan that killed at least 80, saying the attack avenged Osama bin Laden’s death.
  • skepticism Local police say they don’t even think the Taliban are responsible. Instead, they’re pinning the blame on a splinter group upset over an attack by the Pakistani Army. source
Posted by Justin Jones • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

13 May 2011 11:59

tags

World: Was Gaddafi wounded in an airstrike? Depends on who you ask

Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini says that “Gaddafi was most probably outside Tripoli and probably even wounded.” However, a Libyan official denies this. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

13 May 2011 11:01

tags

Politics: Ron Paul announces presidential run: Now’s his time to shine

  • Time has come around to the point where the people are agreeing with much of what I’ve been saying for 30 years. So, I think the time is right.
  • Rep. Ron Paul • In announcing his third run for president on “Good Morning America.” A campaign event is planned for later today. Let’s face it — even if it doesn’t succeed this time, now’s the time for Ron to do it. His words hold more influence now than they ever have before. He won’t have to fight so hard for press this time. And unlike Newt Gingrich, he doesn’t need gimmicks (I’m announcing on Twitter!) to pull it off. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

13 May 2011 10:18

tags

Culture: Spider-Man musical: More previews than any other musical, ever

  • 30 number of preview performances the average Broadway musical gives before opening night
  • 146 number of previews “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark” has had so far … and more are coming source
  • » Spider-Man’s retooled web: After the show (a financial if not critical hit) took a three-and-a-half week hiatus to make some changes, fewer screw-ups are happening, Bono’s lyrics suck less, and one of the major characters former director Julie Taymor invented for the production got a major demotion. (The character was once the main villain; now it’s a mere guardian angel.) It’s all in an attempt to fight off the unbelievably high level of bad press the production currently has — what with its record number of preview performances and all. (That, by the way, is due to the fact that the play didn’t have an out-of-town tryout and has delayed opening night SIX TIMES.)
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
<< newer 
top tags
older >>