Deep Throat (NOT the movie)

The identity of Deep Throat, the most (im)famous informant in American journalistic history seems to have been revealed.

(via Lost Remote)


For more Watergate tidbits read Leslie Stahl's autobiography, Reporting Live. Not only was she one of the first reporters to cover the story, but she used to date Bob Woodward.

Teaching English in Japan

I ran across a really wonderful website a few weeks ago. It's about a young man from CA who teaches English in Japan. Several things I've learned from reading the editorials posted there:

• when around Japanese schoolkids, you'd better watch your ass
• our American ideas about sex, gender, and the personal space bubble seem to differ from those in Japan
  
• Japanese women, on average, have smaller breasts than American women
• the Japanese have really taken a shine to gangsta rap

Presidential Elections as Reality TV

Over 500 million people cast their votes last night to crown Carrie Underwood the newest American Idol. 500 million. That’s more than the population of Canada!
Just over a million people voted in the last presidential election. Sad, considering who the president is matters more for us as a country.

What if we made the candidates for President of the United States competes on a reality show? Would putting the presidential election in the format of Survivor, American Idol, or Big Brother inspire more Americans to get involved in the electoral process?

The candidates would be locked in a house together, no advisors, no handlers, no high level donors. Citizens would be able to vote (only once) each week to kick someone off (like on American Idol) until only one is left. S/he gets to be the next President of the United States.

The candidates would compete in a series of tasks:

• An American history quiz
• Pass a citizenship test
• Recite the Declaration of Independence by heart
• Spontaneous oratory and debate segments
• Town meetings with ordinary citizens
• Moderate a “summit” (a trial run to see how a candidate might fare when actually in negotiations with, for example, Israeli and Palestinian leaders)

Idol Thoughts

I admit to not having watched the majority of this season of American Idol...not since the first few rounds anyway. However, I must say that I did predict that Carrie would move on to the top 2 (at the time of this writing they have not tallied the final votes).
I've had a knack for this. Season 2 (I only began watching American Idol at the end of season 1) I picked Ruben "the Velvet Teddy Bear" Studdard in the early rounds to win it all. And season 3 I called Fantasia as well. (really cool name + voice + personality).
If Carrie wins it all I will be very proud of my odd intuition that will in no way be useful to me in my everyday life.

The Contender

I am now watching the live season finale of The Contender. I've never watched a boxing match before, but the Pride of Providence, Peter Manfredo Jr. is one of the finalists. Being that RI is so small I've actually met the guy a few times when he's had to come into my place of employment. Nice guy, very polite. Dad was pretty nice too.
The fight is taking place at Caesars Palace in Las Veags. What really caught my eye was what occured when each fighter made his grand entrance- he walked through a door and was then flanked by some guys in very silly anceint Roman army uniforms. I have desperatly tried to find a picture, but failed. They just looked so funny. Like in Friends, when Joey ends up working at Caesars Palace. Crossed with something Shawn Michaels might wear.

Cycles

I found out that a close family friend died yesterday. Cancer + liver failure. She was only in her 50's, a college friend of my mom.
I'm so sick of people being taken from me. I know that might sound selfish, but I don't care. Since 2001 I have yet to go a year without having a relative or family friend die...and they have not all been elderly either. (At least 10 people in my extended family under the age of 35 have lost a parent sometime in the past few years, myself included). Cancer, car accident, Parkinson's......
At least I know that she was not in pain. Honestly, I can say that until I turn blue but it does not make it any easier. She deserved more time.
Writing about this was supposed to be therapeutic. It's just getting me more upset.

Amish-Mart

Via Fark, a Wal-mart for the Amish. I guess Wal-Mart really does some thorough demographic research.

Careful-'weird tech guys' on the loose

According to this article many employees are behind company computer sabotage, usually because they are mad at their superiror(s). I guess there is something worse than putting garlic in someone's phone receiver.

Holocaust Education From a Bartender

Alison Stern Golub is a very insightful writer of a column for a local Jewish paper that I serve on the editorial board of.
Check out her article on an unusual form of Shoah remembrance.

More Holocaust ads

First there was PETA's Holocaust on your Plate ad. Now Wal-Mart jumps into the fire.
(as seen on Independent America)

Federal Trade-offs.

How much is the federal government taking away from your state? Find out here.

Revelations about Fred Durst

I'm always a bit incredulous of the whole model/actor/singer/writer concept. Sure, some are closer to today's multi-tasking, multi-talented ideal than others. But I have to admit that Fred Durst just might be able to make it as an actor should his singing career dry up. I've been watching Revelations on NBC and think that Fred is holding his own. I am amused by the fact that the satanist Ogden (Durst) and his gal pal Tulia (Caryn Green) always seem to speak in rhyme.
(Should you get a chance to see Hour 4 of Revelations make sure you catch Fred's "Mormon" scene).

Math Lesson

12 foot RR overpass + 13 foot truck = chaos

(with some really good pictures)

Yom Ha Shoah- The Liberators

In addition to commemorating Yom Ha Shoah it is also the 60th anniversary of VE Day as well as the liberation of the concentration camps. The station that I work at produced this half hour special that I am very proud to have been a part of.