Sunday, October 18, 2009
Elvis' hair sells for $15K
A clump of hair believed to have been trimmed from Elvis Presley's head when he joined the Army in 1958 has sold for $15,000 at a Chicago auction house.
Elvis' hair sells for $15K
Elvis' hair sells for $15K
Copper Bracelets, Magnetic Wrist Straps Worthless for Arthritis
A U.K. study shows what most of us already knew: that copper bracelets, aside from turning your skin green, aren't really any good for anything. Neither, said the study, are magnetic wrist straps.
Optical illusions that boggle the mind
8 optical illusions that boggle the mind
Beware, you may not be able to absorb all these mind-benders in one sitting.
Axelrod: FOX isn't a real news organization
It's good to see the White House fighting back against the right-wing noise machine.
“The only argument that Anita was making is that they are not really a news organization, if you watch even its not even their commentators, but a lot of their news program. It’s really not news, it’s pushing a point of view and the bigger thing is that other news organizations like yours, ought not to treat them that way. And we’re not going to treat them that way, we’re going to appear on their shows and participate, but understanding that they represent a point of view.”FOX poses its own danger - at some point, tell enough people on the fringe enough times that the angry black man is a communist hell-bent on repeating Nazi Germany, and someone not playing with a full deck is likely to eventually to respond with violence. But there's a great issue here. Telling the rest of the media not to follow FOX's example. FOX likes to be sensational. And it works, in terms of getting viewers. Glenn Beck is a disturbed extremist, but to the core of what's left of the GOP, he is them. The rest of the media may learn the lesson that extremism sells. And if they do, our country will be in serious trouble. The Obama administration took a step this week towards saving the country from people who want to win at all costs, or at least bring the rest of us down with them.
"FOX is un-American"
His central tenet is that Rupert Murdoch imported a European model of biased, party-based journalism into the US via his creation, FOX News. FOX News is a foreign construction that flies in the face of a century of American media independence. It is per se un-American:
What's most distinctive about the American press is not its freedom but its century-old tradition of independence—that it serves the public interest rather than those of parties, persuasions, or pressure groups. Media independence is a 20th-century innovation that has never fully taken root in many other countries that do have a free press. The Australian-British-continental model of politicized media that Murdoch has applied at Fox is un-American, so much so that he has little choice but go on denying what he's doing as he does it. For Murdoch, Ailes, and company, "fair and balanced" is a necessary lie. To admit that their coverage is slanted by design would violate the American understanding of the media's role in democracy and our idea of what constitutes fair play. But it's a demonstrable deceit that no longer deserves equal time.
Whether the White House engages with Fox is a tactical political question. Whether we journalists continue to do so is an ethical one. By appearing on Fox, reporters validate its propaganda values and help to undermine the role of legitimate news organizations. Respectable journalists—I'm talking to you, Mara Liasson—should stop appearing on its programs. A boycott would make Ailes too happy, so let's try just ignoring Fox, shall we? And no, I don't want to come on The O'Reilly Factor to discuss it.
Secret Service under strain as leaders face more threats
The unprecedented number of death threats against President Obama, a rise in racist hate groups, and a new wave of anti-government fervor threaten to overwhelm the US Secret Service, according to government officials and reports, raising new questions about the 144-year-old agency's overall mission.
Pakistan, Taliban both claim success in fighting
The Pakistani army and the Taliban claimed to be inflicting heavy casualties on each other as fierce fighting raged Sunday on the second day of a military assault on an al-Qaida and Taliban sanctuary close to the Afghan border.
Driver Suspended For Wearing Pink Tie For Cancer
A Springfield Mass Transit District bus driver has received a one-day unpaid suspension for wearing a pink necktie to help raise awareness for breast cancer.
While the 'Pink' campaign for breast cancer is nothing but a front for wingnut fundraising this is a bit a an overkill on the Transit system.
If you wish to raise awareness and funds to find a cure for breast cancer then donate directly to the John Wayne Foundation which has done and is doing more for actually for breast cancer rather than pumping money into repugican campaign coffers like that 'charity' named for some Susan.
If you wish to raise awareness and funds to find a cure for breast cancer then donate directly to the John Wayne Foundation which has done and is doing more for actually for breast cancer rather than pumping money into repugican campaign coffers like that 'charity' named for some Susan.
Billions in unclaimed bonds date to World War II
The federal government is facing a lawsuit over billions in unclaimed bonds that date back to the patriotic fundraising efforts of World War II, leading to a showdown between states who say they should be given the money and a Treasury Department that claims ownership.
Chef pulls gun on waitresses
Police said too many orders of a popular Italian dish caused a chef to pull a gun on two women at a Boca Raton pizza parlor.
How to raise a young tycoon
How to raise a young tycoon
Entrepreneurship is nurtured, not created. Here's how to put your kid on the path.
How to make a bad first impression
How to make a bad first impression
You should never be late to a job interview, but how early is too early?
Best ways to pay off credit card debt
Best ways to pay off credit card debt
Learn the quickest ways out of debt, including the method that incurs the least interest.
Prettiest small towns in America
Prettiest small towns in America
The top locations boast beautiful architecture, picturesque avenues, and small-town charm.
Daily Ha Ha
How many Los Angeles police officers does it take to beat up a black motorist?
None. He fell down the stairs.
None. He fell down the stairs.
Scrutiny of balloon drama family increasing
A couple who frantically told a 911 dispatcher their 6-year-old son had floated off in an inflatable balloon remain in the spotlight, but now it's for a series of bizarre TV interviews about the escapade, a previous 911 call and efforts to land a reality TV show gig.
Daily Almanac
Today is Sunday, Oct. 18, the 291st day of 2009.
There are 74 days left in the year.
Today In History October 18
There are 74 days left in the year.
Today In History October 18
Our Readers
Some of our readers today have been in:
Duncan, British Columbia, Canada
Buenos Aires, Distrito Federal, Argentina
Mount Gambier, South Australia, Australia
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Brossard, Quebec, Canada
Faro, Faro, Portugal
Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Jakarta, Jakarta Raya, Indonesia
Budapest, Budapest, Hungary
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Lublin, Lubelskie, Poland
as well as Scotland, and the United States
Duncan, British Columbia, Canada
Buenos Aires, Distrito Federal, Argentina
Mount Gambier, South Australia, Australia
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Brossard, Quebec, Canada
Faro, Faro, Portugal
Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Jakarta, Jakarta Raya, Indonesia
Budapest, Budapest, Hungary
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Lublin, Lubelskie, Poland
as well as Scotland, and the United States
Daily Horoscope
Today's horoscope says:
People are always telling you try to 'live in the moment', but today you should not feel the need to follow that advice.
If your day is an especially busy one, you'll never have enough energy to fulfill that directive.
And if your day is a very quiet one, you might get inordinately preoccupied on the one or two small things that are going on.
So instead, look farther down the road of your life.
You shouldn't feel pressure to create a specific plan.
Sounds about right.
People are always telling you try to 'live in the moment', but today you should not feel the need to follow that advice.
If your day is an especially busy one, you'll never have enough energy to fulfill that directive.
And if your day is a very quiet one, you might get inordinately preoccupied on the one or two small things that are going on.
So instead, look farther down the road of your life.
You shouldn't feel pressure to create a specific plan.
Sounds about right.
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