Recommended Reading
from Bruce
Noam Chomsky on America's Economic Suicide
We're a nation whose leaders are pursuing policies that amount to economic "suicide" Chomsky says. But there are glimmers of possibility.
Marc Dion: Anarchy is What It Used to Be (Creators Syndicate)
Writing on the day after May Day, I pause to consider the anarchists that police arrested in Cleveland. They were plotting to blow up a bridge. For some time now, I've been writing that America is rocketing back to the early part of the last century.
Paul Krugman: How to End This Depression (New York of Books)
The depression we're in is essentially gratuitous: we don't need to be suffering so much pain and destroying so many lives. We could end it both more easily and more quickly than anyone imagines-anyone, that is, except those who have actually studied the economics of depressed economies and the historical evidence on how policies work in such economies.
Why America spends while the world saves (CNN)
Both to decrease debt and increase savings, we need to curb predatory lending and increase financial access for small savers.
Susan Edwards: John Edwards: Jerk or Criminal? (Creators Syndicate)
If this were a reality show and the question for the participants to decide was whether John Edwards was the most narcissistic man on the planet, the biggest liar, the worst husband and father, a self-absorbed egomaniac who betrayed the trust of his family, his staff and his supporters and was willing to risk his party's chance at the presidency in service of his own outsized ambition, then no question.
Paul Begala: What's Mitt Romney Hiding in His Record as Governor (Daily Beast)
"He [Romney] said, 'I'm going to get the economy moving again. I'm a businessman. I know how to create jobs.' [The state] went from 37th in the nation in job creation to 47th in the nation in job creation. So we've tested the Romney acumen when it comes to creating jobs, and he's been found wanting." -- David Axelrod
Mark Shields: Slinging Mud (Creators Syndicate)
"I've never seen a guy change his positions on so many things, so fast on a dime. Everything ... He was pro gun-control. Fine, then he became a lifetime member of the NRA. ... He was pro-mandate for the whole country, then he becomes anti-mandate and takes that page out of his book and republishes the book. I can go on and on." - Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, "Morning Joe" on MSNBC, Dec. 15, 2011.
Rebecca Nicholson: "Björk: what inspires me" (Guardian)
The Icelandic musician shares her latest obsessions with us - from waterfronts to fado music, coconuts to surreal cinema.
Henry Rollins: Hunting, Gut Stew, and Sex With Your Sister (LA Weekly)
… Australia is full of great bands, with more coming up all the time. I just got a great stack of singles from the Vicious Sloth record store in Melbourne. I must confess, I am not familiar with any of them, but the A-sides sounded great so I picked them up. I will get them all into future radio shows this year as soon as I can.
Chris Kjorness: Delta Dawn (Reason)
How Sears, Roebuck & Co. midwifed the birth of the blues.
David Bruce has 42 Kindle books on Amazon.com with 250 anecdotes in each book. Each book is $1, so for $42 you can buy 10,500 anecdotes. Search for "Funniest People," "Coolest People, "Most Interesting People," "Kindest People," "Religious Anecdotes," "Maximum Cool," and "Resist Psychic Death."
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Reader Suggestion
Michelle in AZ
From The Creator of 'Avery Ant'
BadtotheboneBob
M*A*S*H Bloopers
Humor: M*A*S*H Bloopers | Military.com
(They sure do like to say sh*t alot)
BttbBob
Thanks, B2tbBob!
Selected Readings
from that Mad Cat, JD
In The Chaos Household
Last Night
Sunny and seasonal.
Fox "Mole" Scores Six-Figure Deal
Joe Muto
Joe Muto, perhaps better known as the "Fox Mole," has burrowed his way into a six-figure book deal, according to Gawker, the site that made him (in)famous.
Muto, the former Fox News employee who fed embarrassing information about his employer to Gawker last month, has struck a deal with Penguin imprint Dutton to pen a memoir, tentatively titled "An Atheist in the Foxhole," about his eight-year tenure at the broadcasting company, which came to an end after he was discovered as the source of information and terminated. Gawker says that the deal comes with "a low six-figure advance."
The web site cites a press release stating, "'An Atheist in the Foxhole' describes how Muto, an NPR-listening, Obama-loving liberal, took a job at Fox News expecting he'd only stay for a few months. But eight years later he was still there, working as a producer for Bill O'Reilly, a man with 'fair and balanced' views that made Muto cringe on a daily basis."
The release also reportedly states that, since Muto "was only able to share a few tidbits on Gawker," there is "much, much more to tell."
Joe Muto
Corvette On eBay
Neil Armstrong
A beat-up 1967 Chevrolet Corvette, which astronaut Neil Armstrong purportedly first owned, has attracted astronomical bids on the online auction site eBay. But did the first man to walk on the moon ever drive it?
The sports car, which the seller described as the "ultimate Corvette 'barn find,'" had as of Saturday morning (May 5) - the day before the auction closes - more than 70 bids, raising the initial asking price of $100,000 to just over $250,000. The high bid however, had not yet met the seller's hidden reserve, the price which he is obligated to sell and which he has revised twice.
The more than $250,000 in bids appear clearly focused on the seller's claim that Neil Armstrong had driven the car rather than its make, model or condition. Although described as stored in a climate-controlled environment, the Corvette Sting Ray has not been driven since 1981.
To prove its pedigree, the seller presents the car's original General Motors "Protect-O-Plate," a factory issued metal tag that displays the name of the car's original owner. A carbon rubbing of the raised plate shown with the description reveals the name "N. A. Armstrong."
Neil Armstrong
First All-Women Band
Ivory Coast
It took a mother's last wish, and a man to make it happen, but Ivory Coast now has it's first all-women musical ensemble in what is hailed as a little "revolution" in this fiercely patriarchal society.
"Why is it so surprising to see women play instruments?" asked Landry Louoba, one of the 10 women in the Bella Mondo band.
The energetic Louoba plays percussion -- and has the biceps to prove it -- alongside a drummer, a pianist, a bassist, singers and other musicians, most in their 30s.
The man who got things started is promoter Charly Maiwan, a Canadian from Montreal who was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo and made a promise to his mother, a passionate music lover, on her deathbed.
Ivory Coast
World Finals
Paper Planes
Paper plane flyers from Lebanon, Czech Republic, Poland, Turkey and the United States were crowned world champions in Salzburg, Austria after defeating rivals from over 80 countries over the weekend.
Czech "pilot" Tomas Beck won the longest distance category at the Red Bull Paper Wings World Finals on Friday and Saturday with a 50.37-metre (165.25-foot) throw, while Elie Chemaly from Lebanon achieved the longest flight time with 10.68 seconds, organisers of the tournament said in a statement.
For the aerobatics category, in which the construction, art and design as well as flight performance of the paper plane are taken into account, two pilots received the top marks of 50 points.
Regulations required that the planes be made out of a single A4 sheet of paper using no tools -- such as scissors or glue -- except in the aerobatics category.
Paper Planes
"Liking" Something Not Protected by First Amendment
Facebook
It should go without saying that you should be careful of what you "like" on Facebook. You should try not to "like" anything embarrassing or incriminating, lest it come back to bite you. A judge has ruled that "liking" something on Facebook doesn't protect you under the First Amendment
Six people sued Sheriff B. J. Roberts in Hampton, Virginia after he fired them. They say they were fired for supporting his opponent in his bid to be reelected, which would be a violation of their First Amendment rights. One of the six fired, Daniel Ray Carter, "liked" the Facebook page of Roberts' opponent. Roberts claims they were either fired for poor performance, or because supporting his opponent "hindered the harmony and efficiency of the office."
Judge Raymond A. Jackson acknowledged that other cases involving written messages on Facebook protected the speaker with the First Amendment, clicking the "like" button is different and doesn't warrant protection.
A lawyer for the defense has already said they'll appeal the decision. This seems to be similar to the debate over whether or not Retweets are endorsements on Twitter, which leads to a lot of journalists including lines like "RTs do not equal endorsements" in their bio. Not everyone agrees the endorsement is necessary, and the debate can get a little ridiculous
Facebook
Edith Piaf Souvenirs Stolen
Charles Dumont
French singer-songwriter Charles Dumont, who wrote the music to one of Edith Piaf's top hits, appealed Sunday for the return of precious mementos that were stolen from his Paris apartment.
"They took a lot of money but especially my souvenirs of Edith," Dumont, who wrote the music to the 1960 hit "Non, Je ne Regrette Rien" (No, I Have No Regrets), told the Paris daily Le Parisien.
The objects were in a safe that was ripped out of its place and removed from the apartment while Dumont, who is in his early 80s, was touring in Canada, the report said.
"The robbers took enough things of value. I ask them simply to return a few souvenirs to me, those of Edith and then also my father's wedding ring which I inherited a few years ago when he died," said Dumont.
Charles Dumont
No Under-16 Models
Vogue
The editors of all 19 editions of Vogue around the world pledged Thursday to use only healthy models no younger than 16 on their editorial pages in an attempt to shift fashion's approach to body image.
Anna Wintour, editor of Vogue's flagship US edition, and Emmanuelle Alt of Paris Vogue, which touched off a furor in 2010 with a photo spread featuring a 10-year-old girl, are among the editors who agreed to the pact.
The editors said that in a six-point pact to appear in their respective June issues, they would pledge not to knowingly work with models under the age of 16 or with those "who appear to have an eating disorder."
The editors will also instruct modeling agencies not to send them underage models, require casting directors to check models' ID prior to photo shoots and encourage "healthy backstage working conditions," including food options.
Vogue
World's Oldest Standing Army
Swiss Guards
Twenty-six Swiss men have joined the oldest standing army in the world, swearing to give up their lives to protect the pope as the Vatican's newest Swiss Guards.
The swearing-in ceremony took place Sunday inside the Vatican auditorium - a last-minute change due to rain. Usually it is held in the St. Damaso courtyard of the Apostolic Palace.
The ceremony is held each May 6 to commemorate the day in 1527 when 147 Swiss Guards died protecting Pope Clement VII during the Sack of Rome.
The guards, who sign up for a minimum of two years, must be upstanding, single, Swiss Catholic men under age 30. Famous for their blue-and-gold uniforms, halberd weapons and crimson-plumed helmets, they protect the pope, provide ceremonial duty and assist at Vatican functions.
Swiss Guards
Weekend Box Office
'The Avengers'
Hulk, smash.
That's what Captain America tells the Incredible Hulk to do in "The Avengers," and that's what the Marvel Comics superhero mash-up did at the box office, smashing the domestic revenue record with a $200.3 million debut.
It's by far the biggest opening ever, shooting past the previous record of $169.2 million for the debut of last year's "Harry Potter" finale.
If distributor Disney's domestic estimate Sunday holds when the final weekend count is released Monday, "The Avengers" would be the first movie ever to haul in $200 million in a single weekend.
As admission prices rise, Hollywood's record-breakers often take in more money but sell fewer tickets than previous blockbusters. But "The Avengers" took in so much money that it's the undisputed champ among debuts.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Where available, latest international numbers are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
1. "The Avengers," $200.3 million ($151.5 million international).
2. "Think Like a Man," $8 million.
3. "The Hunger Games," $5.7 million ($4.3 million international).
4. "The Lucky One," $5.5 million ($5.5 million international).
5. "The Pirates! Band of Misfits," $5.4 million ($2.6 million international).
6. "The Five-Year Engagement," $5.1 million ($2.3 million international).
7. "The Raven," $2.5 million.
8. "Safe," $2.47 million ($2.2 million international).
9. "Chimpanzee," $2.4 million.
10. "The Three Stooges," $1.8 million.
'The Avengers'
In Memory
George Lindsey
George Lindsey, who spent nearly 30 years as the grinning Goober on "The Andy Griffith Show" and "Hee Haw," has died. He was 83.
Lindsey was the beanie-wearing Goober on "The Andy Griffith Show" from 1964 to 1968 and its successor, "Mayberry RFD," from 1968 to 1971. He played the same jovial character - a service station attendant - on "Hee Haw" from 1971 until it went out of production in 1993.
He joined "The Andy Griffith Show" in 1964 when Jim Nabors, portraying Gomer Pyle, left the program. Goober Pyle, who had been mentioned on the show as Gomer's cousin, replaced him.
Although he was best known as Goober, Lindsey had other roles during a long TV career. Earlier, he often was a "heavy" and once shot Matt Dillon on "Gunsmoke."
His other TV credits included roles on "MASH," ''The Wonderful World of Disney," ''CHIPs," ''Fantasy Island," ''Daniel Boone," ''Rifleman," ''The Alfred Hitchcock Hour," ''Twilight Zone" and "Love American Style."
He had movie roles, too, appearing in "Cannonball Run II" and "Take This Job and Shove It." His voice was used in animated Walt Disney features including "The Aristocats," ''The Rescuers" and "Robin Hood."
Lindsey was born in Jasper, Ala., the son of a butcher. He received a bachelor of science degree from Florence State Teachers College (now the University of North Alabama) in 1952 after majoring in physical education and biology and playing quarterback on the football team.
After spending three years in the Air Force, he worked one year as a high school baseball and basketball coach and history teacher near Huntsville, Ala.
In 1956, he attended the American Theatre Wing in New York City and began his professional career on Broadway, appearing in the musicals "All American" and "Wonderful Town."
He moved to Hollywood in the early 1960s and then to Nashville in the early 1990s.
Lindsey devoted much of his spare time to raising funds for the Alabama Special Olympics. For 17 years, he sponsored a celebrity golf tournament in Montgomery, Ala., that raised money for the mentally disabled.
The University of North Alabama awarded him an honorary doctorate in 1992, and he was affectionately called "Doctor Goober" by acquaintances after that.
George Lindsey
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