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200 Feared Dead in Brazil Mudslide

2010-04-08T11:20:00.001-04:00

Filed at 9:56 a.m. ET

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) -- At least 200 people were buried and feared dead under the latest landslide to hit a slum in Rio de Janeiro's metropolitan area, authorities said Thursday.

If confirmed, the deaths would raise the toll sharply from the 153 people already known to have died this week in slides triggered by record rains.

NYT

Sarah Palin at Campaign Rally for Michelle Bachmann

2010-04-08T11:07:00.001-04:00

Once you get past looking at her helmet of hair, have a look at the woman behind her left shoulder. It's not 100% clear, but the expression on her face looks seriously pained. Like she's being held hostage by some crazies.

Palin and Bachmann: Between them their collective IQs barely reach room temperature.

Mike Lynche Survives, Siobhan Does Too

2010-04-08T10:52:00.001-04:00

OK, so I blew it on my AI elimination guess this week. Siobhan must have the nerd gurl following because her singing is really the pits.

Mike, who can actually sing and perform, ended up at the bottom of the draw, but was then saved by the judges, thus prolonging our collective agony for yet another round of cuts.

Personally, I think Mike has a very fine voice and may arguably be the most polished and dynamic performer of the remaining crew, but he's obviously not hitting the right notes with the voting public. At least this week.

It's perhaps fitting that Dancing with the Stars finally beat AI in the ratings, no doubt boosted by the Gosselin bump. And speaking of Gosselin, her performance to Lady Gaga's song was quite possibly the world's worst display of dancing seen since the legendary Elaine dance on Seinfeld. The important difference, of course, being Elaine was doing comedy and Kate was not.

Anyway, next week I'm sure we'll see more boring singing on AI made even all the more unpleasant by the useless commentary from the insipid four they call the judges.

Man arrested for Pelosi threats called "angry"

2010-04-07T22:48:00.002-04:00

Gregory Lee Giusti, 48, made at least four dozen harassing and threatening phone calls to Pelosi's homes in St. Helena and Washington as well as her husband's San Francisco office, authorities said.

I'd be angry too if I had to wear my mom's eyeglasses.

Read more:

American Idol: Siobhan Magnus Destroys The Universe

2010-04-07T10:53:00.001-04:00

Although the judges may have found her version of Across the Universe to be good, the screeching left my ears bleeding and cats in heat outside my door. It's time to put this girl -- and me -- out of her misery and remove her from contention.

While her screeching may be on par with last year's screecher -- Adam Lambert -- her singing is pretty awful.

I'm guessing the judges were either distracted by her glitter lips or thinking about the stupid money they're making for hosting this (no) talent contest.

Also, could the judges be any more annoying? Especially Cowell. Their worthless and repetitive commentary is tedious and boring. Enough!

The Fat Man Cometh: Christie Eats Every NJ School Lunch

2010-04-02T15:46:00.002-04:00

[NYT]

Public schools in Montclair, N.J., would lay off as many as 70 teachers, including reading and math specialists, and would no longer offer French and Spanish classes in its elementary grades.

Westfield would not be able to buy library books or replace aging computers, and a popular middle-school tradition — the fall play — could disappear.

Cresskill could see class sizes climb to 35 students in middle and high schools, it may charge students a fee to play high school sports, and it could eliminate middle-school athletic teams.

This is how the GOP values education and children.

Jesse James Nazi Salute Surfaces: The Real Picture

2010-03-31T10:21:00.002-04:00

Evidently the two-fingered salute under the nose is meant to signify Hitler's moustache. Jesse is reportedly now in rehab in Arizona, but unless they plan on rehabbing him by using an icepick on his prefrontal cortex, it would seem his career may be hanging by a thread.

On the other hand, Mel Gibson is again making movies so perhaps Jesse will be hosting a travelogue about motorcycles in the former East Germany in a year's time? This country seems to reward bad behavior.

Thank you, US Weekly, for paying for this photo, and for reminding us just how bad Sandra Bullock's taste in douchebags is/was.

The accompanying article goes out of its way to suggest that James is not a neo-nazi, but unless that's cover against slander, I'd say that's some bizarre reporting.

American Idol: Your Tuesday Roundup - Siobhan Made My Ears Cry in Pain

2010-03-30T23:06:00.002-04:00

In a night filled with largely forgettable, sometimes awful, and even some weird performances, if there's any justice at all, and there often isn't, tonight's big loser was definitely Siobhan.

Also, for you kids playing along at home, the producers do seem to routinely put the worst singers first and the best last. Since they're able to listen to the rehearsals, this is not as odd as it may sound.

In any event, based solely upon last night's performance, this chica below has to go.

However, if we take in the totality of the performances and rate the aggregate, then Didi should get the boot. Seriously, she sucks.

But truth be told, we could throw another three or four into the cut pile and not break a sweat in the process. America is obviously out of suitable talent.

Sarah Palin's Crosshairs of Stupidity

2010-03-26T11:48:00.004-04:00

Not content with the current wave of near hysteria from some people within the lunatic fringe of the right-wing nation of kooks, comes this tweet from Caribou Barbie regarding -- presumably -- the healthcare bill.

And if the message isn't clear enough, her personal political action committee put together this charming piece:

When -- not if -- the violence escalates beyond the brick-throwing, the harassing and threatening phone calls, e-mails and faxes, we ("we" being those non-kooks) will look back at this kind of imagery and know that the message and the messengers are guilty of fomenting an environment of hate, intolerance and violence.

This imbecile, this completely inept, abjectly ignorant, despicable, racist white trash from the frozen north is emblematic of our new culture of celebrity first, everything else last.

Just how despicable is Palin's conduct? So much so that even her ardent supporter, Elizabeth Hasselbeck, is disgusted by it.

And now, to add insult to injury, Palin will soon have a program on the Discovery Channel to burnish her image and fatten her coffers. WTF!? Seriously.

Musical Interlude: Death Cab for Cutie-Brothers On a Hotel Bed (Studio)

2010-03-25T14:53:00.002-04:00

So many great tunes in the Death Cab for Cutie catalogue, but this one speaks to me today.

Musical Interlude: Priscilla Ahn "A Dream"

2010-03-25T14:42:00.001-04:00

I Hate Ann Coulter And So Should You

2010-03-25T13:43:00.004-04:00

Not just because she throws idiotic rhetorical bombs at anyone or anything that she might even imagine represents a threat to her circumscribed and racist worldview. And not just because I find her physically repulsive and imagine she smells like an old ashtray that has never been properly cleaned, and not just because her pinched face, hollowed eye sockets and endlessly obnoxious self-important tone are as pleasing as nails on a chalkboard.

And not just because she has championed the execrable senator Joe McCarthy or called the 9/11 widows "harpies" or said that Christians consider themselves "perfected Jews" and that it would be better if everyone was a Christian. And not because she characterized evolution as "bogus science" or that she has other views that are so blatantly racist and vile that I won't even repeat them here.

No, I hate Ann Coulter most of all because she has an attentive audience that hangs on her every idiotic utterance and worships her for what she is. And that saddens me deeply, because it means this world, and this country, is filled with the willfully ignorant and that the very seeds of real terrorism are born in exactly the same kind of vile positions and hatred that Ann serves up to her fawning, ignorant audience.

Facebook Stalker: The Best App

2010-03-25T13:13:00.005-04:00

So, because things are quiet here over at the home office, I decided I'd try and look up some old friends on Facebook. But because Facebook's search app is slow, dumb, and doesn't allow intelligent queries -- at least that I could find, I used my noodle instead.

First, I used Google and got a small number of matches. From there I found some Facebook public groups where I found old classmates, and from there I Facebook stalked their friend's lists, and then drilled down playing a variation on the six degrees of separation theme. This had a cascading effect in that I was now finding people I wasn't actively looking for, and it also took me down some rabbit holes that I'm sorry I found.

Nevertheless, it was an educational and fascinating exercise to drill down into my personal people history and find photos of some folks that I haven't seen in thirty years, and in some cases, these were found on other people's profiles.

Overall I hit and saved about fifty different profiles in about two hours time. These were then saved as .webloc files to a folder.

Now, if I want to take a trip down memory lane, I can do just that without having to Friend anyone. And for a pathologically shy person like me, that's just perfect.

Incidentally, I was alternatingly shocked and/or pleased to see how some of my past acquaintances have aged, or not.

Time can be a cruel, cruel mistress.

And I know; I own a mirror.

American Idol Prediction: Say G'night, Paigey

2010-03-24T17:36:00.003-04:00

In what has to have been one of the most awful performances in recent top 12 memory, Paige Miles blew her chances last night, and ended up sounding like me singing, and that, gentle readers, is incomprehensibly bad.

I know she was having some health issues that were affecting her vocals, but last night it seemed also to be affecting her hearing and taste.

Seems like a sweet girl, but unless Vote For the Worst can save her, this contestant is done.

Former Inmate Tries to Get Back Into Jail: Succeeds Brilliantly!

2010-03-23T13:00:00.001-04:00

Meet 25-year-old ex-con Sylvester Jiles of Brevard County, Florida. Sylvester was first imprisoned on a manslaughter conviction but was recently released after accepting a plea deal.

Jiles had begged jail officials to take him back into custody, saying he feared retaliation from the victim's family.

Well, Jiles has 15 more years to contemplate his actions, as he was caught attempting to break back into jail.

Jail officials said they could not take him in and told him to file a police report. Jiles seems to have gotten his wish: the Florida man was sentenced to another 15 years in prison on Monday for violating his probation after being convicted of trespassing on jail property and resisting an officer.

[CBSNews]

Film: 147 toddlers infected in Uzbek HIV outbreak

2010-03-23T12:47:00.002-04:00

MOSCOW (AP) - An AIDS outbreak at two children's hospitals in Uzbekistan has killed at least 14 children and left 133 infected with HIV, according to a documentary posted on a respected Central Asian news Web site on Monday.

The editor of Ferghana.ru said the 2007 outbreak was first reported in an official documentary produced by Uzbek prosecutors for government television.

But, he said, the video never aired because authorities had second thoughts about broadcasting it, fearing that it would provoke a public outcry and unfavorable international publicity.

The documentary posted on Ferghana.ru reported that 12 doctors and nurses at two hospitals in the eastern city of Namangan were convicted of treating the children with contaminated medical equipment.

[AP]

Britain expels Israeli Diplomat Over Dubai Passport Row

2010-03-23T12:19:00.001-04:00

The UK's long history of anti-Semitism just added another footnote. They are now expelling an Israeli diplomat over the use of 12 forged British passports by the killers of Hamas leader Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in Dubai.

Mahmoud kidnapped and murdered two Israeli soldiers, but Britain has their knickers in a twist because they allege the Israeli government was responsible for the "misuse" of passports.

To them I say, Eff You!

Mabhoud was killed by electric shock. Ouch, bet that left a mark. Score one for the Mossad, none for the UK.

[Beeb]

Dancing with the Stars: Season 10 Premiere

2010-03-23T12:10:00.003-04:00

I have no idea why I thought this might be an entertaining two hours, but I did, and boy was I wrong.

Truth be told, I watched only the first hour and then saw Kate Gosselin sashay near the end of the second hour. Her arm flapping could not disguise the fact that she can't dance, but neither could Shannon Doherty or Niecy Nash.

Ratings were reportedly very strong -- 19% better than last year's opening show, but the show was flat, the dancing mostly bad, and the "stars" all faded, insipid, clumsy or reality TV recyclables.

Best moment: When Bruno said something on the order of "You looked like you wanted to eat her" to one of the male dancers. Cut away to Tom Bergeron who simply looked down and probably prayed the director would cut to commercial.

Sarah Palin TV Deal Said to Be Done: Blame the Discovery Channel

2010-03-23T11:51:00.001-04:00

The former governor's asking price was $1.2 million per episode. A network paying anywhere close to that figure would make "Alaska" one of the most expensive nature series ever produced.

[Live Feed]

File this under "the scum rises to the top."

8 students killed in China knife attack Suspect is said to be a former doctor with a history of mental problems

2010-03-23T11:32:00.001-04:00

BEIJING - A former doctor armed with a large knife killed eight children and injured five others Tuesday at an elementary school in eastern China, a local official said.

The assailant was arrested after the 7:20 a.m. attack, Xinhua News Agency said.

He is a former community clinic doctor with a history of mental health problems, said a man surnamed Wu in the Nanping city government office, who would not give his full name as is common among Chinese officials.

[AP]

Tata Nano: Sales are So Hot They're on Fire; Nano Nightmare

2010-03-23T11:08:00.002-04:00

One poor schnook took delivery of a new Tata Nano, and this is what happened as he was driving it home:

No injuries were reported, other than the crushing humiliation and pain of having your new car self-immolate during the first hour or so of ownership.

You can read all the gory details here.

Toyota, you're not alone.

Jesse James NAZI Photo Hits the Net!

2010-03-22T22:28:00.003-04:00

Pow! Try and deny it now, Mr. West Coast Choppers!

TMZ can kiss my ass!

If You Missed the 2010 Paralympics, You Missed a Great Show!

2010-03-22T19:06:00.001-04:00

Words cannot express the wonderful quality of the competition nor the individual and group achievements. From March 12-21, this Olympics was at least equal to if not greater than the able-bodied version. Alas, it did not get the TV time, but I was able to catch several hours of the programming and fell in love with it.

I especially enjoyed the Ice Sledge Hockey competition, which was fast, furious and fun.

My compliments to all of the athletes and the hosts for putting on a great event, even without that glare that accompanied those other Olympics.

Google Quits China Bitch: Will No Longer Filter its Results for Commies

2010-03-22T15:58:00.005-04:00

After a protracted battle with Chinese authorities over censorship, Google has pulled the plug on their Chinese search engine. Queries to that address are now redirected to Google Hong Kong.

Here's what Google had to say about the closure:

So earlier today we stopped censoring our search services--Google Search, Google News, and Google Images--on Google.cn. Users visiting Google.cn are now being redirected to Google.com.hk, where we are offering uncensored search in simplified Chinese, specifically designed for users in mainland China and delivered via our servers in Hong Kong. Users in Hong Kong will continue to receive their existing uncensored, traditional Chinese service, also from Google.com.hk. Due to the increased load on our Hong Kong servers and the complicated nature of these changes, users may see some slowdown in service or find some products temporarily inaccessible as we switch everything over.

And thus Google learns just how tough it can be to do business with the Chinese. Pity they didn't learn that a lot sooner as the Chinese have managed to turn Usenet into a cesspool of spam courtesy of Google's Usenet frontend.

Buy Airtime and Play Your Own Ad on TV

2010-03-22T15:35:00.002-04:00

Slate has a really cool story about running your own TV ads -- inexpensively -- via a new service from Google. Watch the video after the jump.