Recommended Reading
from Bruce
Andrew Tobias: An Uplifting Video
"Not much you can do about it, I suppose but you should know that those of us who gave our little pittances are drowning in emails from needy Democrats." -- John Kasley
Froma Harrop: Cats vs. Dingoes (Creators Syndicate)
The fight goes on. Whether cats are bird-killing machines or soft balls of love (for themselves, anyway) remains a subject of painful debate.
Froma Harrop: Do Groups Really Foster Creativity? (Creators Syndicate)
We're not done with the Yahoo story yet. Much has been said about whether workers produce more at home and whether CEO Marissa Mayer had slowed women's progress by denying working mothers the opportunity to telecommute. That is not today's topic.
Meet The Tattooed Hero Who Stood Up For A Stranger Who Was Bullied For Being Gay
Jordan thought bears were breaking into his car to get his French fries - but the truth was much, much worse. Maybe you've already seen this story's happy ending, but things get even more incredible when a certain daytime talk-show host steps in.
Interview by Laura Barnett: A Roman historian's view on Plebs (Guardian)
Pleb is transplanting 21st-century attitude to ancient Rome - so Roman historian Dr Anna Clark is surprised there are quite a few accuracies.
Michele Hanson: The Grim Reaper is stalking my elderly friends (Guardian)
In and out of hospital they go. Munch had a heart attack, Clayden had a dizzy spell and I've got explosions in my head.
George Dvorsky: Can Music Be More Effective Than Drugs? (io9)
According to a new analysis of 400 published scientific papers, the old adage that "music is medicine" may literally be true. Canadian psychologists from McGill University have shown that the neurochemical benefits of music can boost the body's immune system, reduce anxiety, and help regulate mood.
Darius Kazemi: Amazon Random Shopper
Every time I run it, I give it a set budget, say $50. It grabs a random word from the Wordnik API, then runs an Amazon search based on that word. It then looks for every paperback book, CD, and DVD in the results list, and buys the first thing that's under budget. If it found a CD for $10, then the new budget is $40, and it does another random word search and starts all over, continuing until it runs out of money, or it searches a set number of times.
Everything Wrong With 'The Hunger Games' In 3 Minutes Or Less (YouTube)
Did you love The Hunger Games movie? You probably read the book. Here are all the sins we found in the box office hit, 'The Hunger Games,' recounted in three minutes or less. ?
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Michelle in AZ
From The Creator of 'Avery Ant'
Selected Readings
from that Mad Cat, JD
In The Chaos Household
Last Night
Breakfast in Frazier Park, lunch in Folsom, dinner in Santa Nella. Busy day.
Tweet Boomerangs On US Embassy
'The Daily Show'
Yikes! It seems "The Daily Show" and diplomacy don't mix.
That's the lesson the U.S. Embassy in Cairo is learning the hard way after being rebuked by both the Egyptian government and the State Department for causing an international incident. The embassy tweeted a link to a Jon Stewart monologue that mocked Egypt's president - offending the Egyptians - and then deleted its entire Twitter account before restoring it without the post in question, irritating Washington.
Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi's office called the tweet "inappropriate" and unbecoming of a diplomatic mission while the State Department said the unusual affair was the result of "glitches" in the embassy's social media policies that are now being corrected.
The trouble began Tuesday when the embassy posted a link to Stewart's monologue on his Comedy Central show the night before. Stewart took savage aim at Morsi for the arrest and interrogation of Egyptian comic Bassam Youssef, who has frequently criticized the president on a popular TV program that has been likened to Stewart's own.
In the clip, Stewart accused Morsi of being petty, undemocratic and ignoring more pressing problems like Egypt's economic crisis and violent crime to go after satirists who are critical of his government. He pointed out that he has made a living by poking fun at political leaders and that such activity is harmless and should be protected.
'The Daily Show'
Leaving Next Spring
Leno
NBC on Wednesday announced its long-rumored switch in late night, replacing Jay Leno at the "Tonight" show with Jimmy Fallon and moving the iconic franchise back to New York.
Fallon will take over in about a year, the switch coinciding with NBC's coverage of the 2014 Winter Olympics. Veteran "Saturday Night Live" producer Lorne Michaels also will take over as executive producer of "Tonight."
NBC made no announcement on who would replace Fallon at the 12:35 a.m. "Late Night" slot, although Seth Meyers of "Saturday Night Live" is considered a strong candidate.
The change at "Tonight," the longest-running and most popular late-night talk show, had been widely reported but not confirmed by the network until Wednesday. NBC reportedly just wrapped up negotiations with Fallon on a contract extension.
Leno
Sets Summer Premiere Dates
USA
USA Network has set the summer return dates for fan favorites "Burn Notice," "Covert Affairs" and "Royal Pains." Additionally, the cable network announced premiere dates for the much-anticipated spy procedural "Graceland" and new unscripted series, "Summer Camp."
"Burn Notice" returns with its seventh season on Thursday, June 6 at 9 p.m. "Covert Affairs" will make its Season 4 return on Tuesday, July 16 at 9 p.m. "Suits" will be back for a third season on Tuesday, July 16 at 10 p.m.
"Graceland," from "White Collar" creator Jeff Eastin follows agents from different branches of law enforcement who live under one house. A take on the network's usual "big sky" fare, "Graceland" touts an impressive cast, including "Rescue Me's" Daniel Sunjata and Broadway and "Les Miserables" film star Aaron Tveit. It premieres Thursday, June 6 at 10 p.m.
"Summer Camp" places 16 adults in a beautiful secluded landscape to relive the experience of attending summer camp, with some camp-inspired competitions thrown in. It comes from "Big Brother" producers Allison Grodner and Rich Meehan and Fly on the Wall Entertainment in association with Sony Pictures Television. It debuts in July.
In addition, USA announced that "White Collar" will return in the fall along with much-buzzed about unscripted series, "The Choir," an adaptation of the award-winning UK hit.
USA
Cancer Recurrence
Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert will be writing fewer of his famed movie reviews because of a recurrence of cancer, but the movie critic promises his illness will give him other topics to write about.
The Pulitzer Prize winner announced on his blog that he is undergoing radiation treatment for cancer that was discovered after he fractured his hip last year. He can't attend as many movie screenings, he said, so he will scale back.
He's calling it a "leave of presence."
"It means I am not going away," Ebert, 70, wrote in a blog post late Tuesday. "I'll be able at last to do what I've always fantasized about doing: reviewing only the movies I want to review."
Roger Ebert
Widow, WWE Settle Lawsuit
Owen Hart
The widow of World Wrestling Entertainment performer Owen Hart has settled her lawsuit against the WWE over royalties and the use of her late husband's image.
The settlement was announced Wednesday by Martha Hart and confirmed by the WWE. Hart hasn't disclosed any details. A spokesman for the WWE says he has no comment.
Owen Hart, a Calgary native, died in 1999 while being lowered into the wrestling ring at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Mo. He was 34.
Martha Hart sued in June 2010, alleging the WWE didn't pay royalty payments owed to Owen Hart's estate and violated a contract restricting the use of his name and likeness.
Owen Hart
Enough!
Reebok
A women's rights organization will protest outside Reebok's Manhattan store on Thursday, demanding the athletic goods retailer cut ties with rapper Rick Ross over a song whose lyrics it says boasts about drugging and raping a woman.
The Miami-based rapper released the song "U.O.E.N.O." in January featuring lyrics that seem to reference drugging and having sex with a woman who is unaware of what is happening.
Since then some radio stations have dropped the record from their playlists, a parents' watchdog has protested and women's rights advocates have posted video on YouTube objecting to the song.
"In remaining silent, Reebok is using its brand to promote rape," said Nita Chaudhary, co-founder of UltraViolet, which claims membership of some 400,000 people fighting to combat sexism and expand women's rights.
The song contains the lines "Put molly (slang for the drug MDMA) all in her champagne, she ain't even know it, I took her home and I enjoyed that, she ain't even know it."
Ross "is pushing the idea that if you don't use the word 'rape' it doesn't count," Chaudhary said in response. "We are fed up and disgusted with Reebok, and Thursday we will bring this fight to their front steps," she added
Reebok
Writers Not Getting Paid
E!'s "Fashion Police"
Eight writers on E!'s reality show "Fashion Police" on Wednesday filed a claim with state labor officials alleging that they're not being fairly compensated for the hours they've been working.
"The most I've been paid for a show has been for eight hours of work," said "Fashion Police" writer Eliza Skinner. "In reality, I put in anywhere from 12 to 32 additional hours on each show - time I should have been compensated for. On top of that is all the unpaid overtime we regularly work. There are some shows where we are required to work 16-hour days, from 2:30 p.m. until around 5:30 the following morning."
"Fashion Police," which debuted in the fall of 2010, features hosts Joan Rivers, Giuliana Rancic, Kelly Osbourne and George Kotsiopoulos commenting on celebrity fashions. A spokesman for the network, which is owned by NBC/Universal, had no comment.
The claim was filed with the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement. If upheld, it could result in the cable TV network having to pay more than $1 million in back wages, according to the Writers Guild of America West, which is providing legal assistance to the writers.
According to the writers, who are not working under a guild contract, "Fashion Police" ignores the California laws that require an employer to pay hourly employees their regular wage rate for all time worked in an eight-hour period. In addition, the law requires paying overtime for employment beyond eight hours in any workday or more than 40 hours in any workweek.
E!'s "Fashion Police"
More Reality
'Black Gold'
A Texas oilfield worker on the truTV cable network series "Black Gold" has been arrested for his alleged involvement in multiple hit-and-run accidents while driving drunk.
The Midland Reporter-Telegram reported Wednesday that 31-year-old Brandon Leigh Watson was released from jail last week after posting bond of $1,500.
He was arrested March 27 on a misdemeanor charge of driving while intoxicated, his second, and two misdemeanor charges of failure to stop and give notice after striking an unattended vehicle.
Midland police say he was arrested after becoming argumentative and uncooperative at one of the three hit-and-run accidents in which he was allegedly involved.
'Black Gold'
To Tighten TV Rules Over "Survivor" Deaths
France
France's broadcast regulator says it's taking steps to tighten safety rules for TV reality shows, following two deaths on the French version of adventure show "Survivor."
In a statement Wednesday, the Higher Broadcasting Council expressed deep sadness over the death last month of a young contestant and Monday's suicide of an on-screen doctor who treated him.
It said that it will consult with French TV stations in the coming weeks to find ways to further "respect human dignity" on such shows, and reexamine the current rules.
The council also reminded TV producers of the need to exercise "the greatest prudence when recruiting contestants."
It also expresses "wishes that participants get medical and psychological help during filming and for several months afterwards."
France
Threatens North Korea
Anonymous
Notorious hacking group Anonymous has targeted pedophiles, corrupt governments and financial institutions, however its latest target may be its most audacious yet. The group says that it has begun a new initiative called "Operation Free Korea" and is demanding controversial leader Kim Jong-un resign and install free democracy in the Asian country. Other demands include having North Korea abandon its nuclear ambitions and for the government to give universal and uncensored Internet access to its citizens. Anonymous hackers claim to have access to the country's local intranets, mail servers and Web servers and are threatening to wage war if their demands are not met.
"We got all over 15k membership records of Uriminzokkiri.com and many more," the group wrote. "First we gonna wipe your data, then we gonna wipe your badass dictatorship 'government.'"
Anonymous' threats towards North Korea come amid increased tensions on the Korean Peninsula with South Korea and the United States. The group explicitly stated, however, that it does not support the U.S. and is instead a fighter for freedom.
Anonymous
Youngest "Tonight" Host?
"Tonight Show"
Jimmy Fallon will be the next "Tonight Show" host because NBC hopes he can draw younger viewers. But he isn't the youngest person to get the job. Not by a longshot.
And the oldest person to take the job is a shocker: At 46, Conan O'Brien was older than any other full-time host when they first got the job. (Jay Leno was older, of course, when he took it back from Conan.)
For viewers who remember Johnny Carson's retirement at 66 - and who tune in to the grey-haired Letterman or Leno today - it's easy to believe that late night has always been an older man's game, and that it's only recently that relative whippersnappers like Fallon (38) and Jimmy Kimmel (45) have gotten into the action.
"Tonight" was first launched in 1954 with the 32-year-old Steve Allen at the helm. Jack Paar, the show's next permanent host, took over in 1957 at the age of 39 - the same age Fallon will be when he takes over next year.
Carson, the longest-serving host, got the job in 1962 at the age of 36. He handed off three decades later to Leno, then 42.
"Tonight Show"
In Memory
Pasha P183
Pasha P183, a prominent Russian graffiti artist who hid his identity and has been compared to Britain's Banksy, has died. He was 29.
The Teatralnoye Delo theatrical production company, which recently commissioned Pasha P183 to create scenery for the musical "Todd," said the artist died Monday in Moscow. It wouldn't elaborate.
Like Banksy, and late U.S. artist Keith Haring, Pasha P183 started out painting graffiti in the dead of night, and recalled being detained numerous times by Moscow police.
One of his most famous works was painted on the ground in a snow-covered yard and features a huge pair of glasses, with a lamppost serving as one arm. Another piece showed chocolate bars painted on a panel of concrete, an image he said reflected his abhorrence of the commercialization of art and life.
"I wanted that work to carry the most important message ... that a person mustn't sell himself," he said in a rare interview posted on adme.ru last year. "I made a chocolate bar that can't be bought, using a giant panel of concrete."
He said the work provided a more optimistic ending for a film he made - the original one had the hero jumping out of the window to his death, while the alternative had him landing safely in front of the chocolate bar.
Little was known about the artist, who carefully protected his identity. In the same interview, he described himself as an "anarchist" and spoke with contempt about the "constant run for money" in Moscow.
Many of his street works had political undertones and carried an apparent reference to a recent wave of massive street protests in Moscow against President Vladimir Putin's rule. One showed a protester lighting a flare and another work had shield-carrying riot police on a subway station's glass doors.
"Put simply, I want to teach people in this country to tell lies from the truth and to tell bad from good," he said in an interview with Russia Today television, wearing a black ski mask that covered most of his face. "This is what our people still cannot do."
Despite all that, he said he didn't consider himself a political artist and hated politics just as much as he hated advertising.
The artist has claimed to have had many professions since graduating from a university, working as a computer expert, photographer, cameraman, film director and even child psychiatrist. He scoffed at comparisons to Banksy, saying they belittled his own style.
The rock musical "Todd" is currently showing in Moscow.
"It was a colossal work," Pasha P183 wrote on his Facebook page of the production of the scenery. "If I die tomorrow, I can at least feel that I have left something real behind."
Pasha P183
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