It’s calm, it’s smooth and it’s soothing. The new release “Beautiful” by Mariah Carey and Miguel is a change from what is considered “music” in today’s world.
I’m sure you’ll agree. Beautiful!
Year: 2013
If this is the case, it’s way past due. This blowhard should have been dumped a long time ago. But it is reassuring to see advertisers doing the right thing and pulling their ads from his show.
As we reported earlier this morning, Rush Limbaugh is allegedly in the midst of a battle with Cumulus Media, the distributor of his radio show. The company’s CEO has blamed ad revenue losses on the conservative talkers’ controversial 2012 “slut” comments about Georgetown student Sandra Fluke.
Mediaite’s own sources confirm that the ad troubles in connection with Limbaugh’s show are, indeed, severe. In fact, one source within the radio advertising world with direct knowledge of the ad buys on Limbaugh’s show confirms the extent of the problem: “The vast majority of national advertisers now refuse to air their ads during Rush Limbaugh’s show,” our source tells us.
Limbaugh is reportedly considering a departure from Cumulus (or vice versa) after Cumulus CEO Lew Dickey‘s public comments that the Fluke incident is “still causing problems” with potential ad buyers. Limbaugh currently hosts the number-one most-listened-to radio show in the United States, and his departure would present a huge shake-up for the radio business.
But then again, Limbaugh is making millions for the lies he is telling. Lying is what he knows. Chances are, if he part ways with Cumulus, he will most likely find another media to continue misguiding his followers.
Categories
March of the Cicadas
They’re Baaacckk!
If you live on the East Coast and haven’t heard yet, we are in for a(un)pleasant visit from a swarm of cicadas (Brood II) who have spent a lengthy amount of time (17 years to be exact) underground developing and preparing for this upcoming swarm.
The million cicadas march will begin their travels this May starting from as far down as Georgia and stretching as far north as New York and Connecticut.
Residents in the Washington DC area, Philadelphia, and New York should begin seeing these diligent insects sometime around June.
Even though they have spent an insurmountable time underground, the cicadas lifespan as an adult above ground only lasts for 2-3 weeks and only the strong will survive the entire trip.
You’ll know that they’ve arrived once you hear that recognizable loud buzzing sound that will surely be amplified due to the incredible size of this swarm.
Cicada means tree cricket, so while they are no threat to humans, they can leave a most damaging effect on various small to larger trees. Using a pest netting to cover smaller trees/bushes and applying aluminum foil to tree trunks can help minimize damage.
To learn more about the cicadas and this amazing journey, visit:
The University of Michigan Museum of Zoology – Periodical Cicada
HOUSTON, Texas — The National Rifle Association has asked a vendor at its convention to remove a target that resembles Obama from its booth, a worker told BuzzFeed.
The company, Zombie Industries, sells a range of three-dimensional “life sized” targets that “bleed when you shoot them.” The Obama likeness has been on display for two days, but was notably absent on Sunday.
“Someone from the NRA came by and asked us to remove it” a Zombie Industries booth worker told BuzzFeed in hushed tones. “They thought it looked too much like President Obama.”
When asked if the Obama likeness was intentional the worker said, “Let’s just say I gave my Republican father one for Christmas.”
“They are just scared some liberal reporter will come by and start bitching” another booth worker said to men gathered around the booth. “But ya know, he does look very familiar.”
The model, named “Rocky” is still available for purchase at the booth but is hidden from sight, leaving a gap among the targets on display which range from Osama bin Laden to a Nazi soldier.
h/t Buzzfeed
In an increasing effort to shine a light on what happens when girls in the developing world rise up and above obstacles in their lives, 10X10 films brings us Girl Rising by Academy Award nominated director Richard Robbins. Nine girls’ stories from around the world. Each girl paired with a writer from their own country to tell of the journey to where they are now. Narrative performances by Anne Hathaway, Cate Blanchette, Salma Hayek, Selena Gomez, Alicia Keys, Meryl Streep, Priyanka Chopra, Kerry Washington, Chloe Moretz, Liam Neeson, and Frida Pinto draw you in.
Wadley, a precocious third grader in Haiti, loves going to school. She takes pride in memorizing her history passages. One evening while doing her homework the earthquake hits. Wadley and her mother’s world is turned upside down and around. In the aftermath, Wadley walks a long way each day to get water for the family. One day she sees that the school has opened up again; Wadley runs home to tell her mother. Heartbroken when her mother tells her she can’t go to school because they don’t have any money, Wadley decides to go to school the next day. Her teacher recognizes her and tells her unless her mother has paid she has to leave; embarrassed Wadley walks home. The next day she vows to go back until they let her stay.
Azmera was 13 when her mother was about to agree to an arranged marriage to some strange visitors one day. The only daughter alive in her family, Azmera and her brother are all their mother has left after her husband dies early and she loses a child still young. Thankfully, just in the nick of time, Azmera’s brother walks in from tending the fields of Ethiopia and sees what’s about to happen. In a chivalrous gesture, he pleads with his mother and puts his foot down as the man of the house saying that Azmera will not marry one of the men.
Those were the easiest stories to take in. However each story, no matter the outcome, grips you in the heart and squeezes. Every girls’ story is compelling. Interlaced with statistics of what happens when countries decide to educate their girls or not, Girl Rising demands we take notice and action.
In their own way each girl gives us solid reasons to help their fight. Amina, the 11 year old forced into marriage in Afghanistan puts it quite eloquently and to the point, “I will read. I will study. I will learn. If you try to stop me, I’ll just try harder. If you stop me, there will be other girls who will rise up and take my place. I am change.”
If those girls can fight for themselves in some of the most dire circumstances, surely we can take time to speak up for them and others like them around the world.
The former ‘Oliver’ child star says he’s prepared to take a DNA test to prove his story that he donated sperm to the pop legend. Lester, 51, was close friends with Jackson, and was named godfather to all of his children
Lester reportedly has not been allowed to see the children since Jackson’s death in 2009.
Amid Michael Jackson‘s wrongful death trial, British actor Mark Lester is continuing his efforts to prove that the late pop legend’s children are biologically his. The former “Oliver” child star says he’s prepared to take a DNA test.
“I wouldn’t have a DNA test without the children’s permission, but when the children come of age — and it’s not far away — and they decide they want me to do it, then I will,” he told British tabloid The Mirror.
Lester, 51, was close friends with Jackson, and was named godfather to all of his children. The two met when they were in their teen years — after Lester rose to fame starring in the 1968 movie-musical. They maintained a 30 year-long friendship.
Lester claims his is the father of Jackson’s children — Prince Jackson, Prince Michael Jackson II and Paris Jackson, shown with La Toya Jackson. He says Paris’ resemblance to his own daughter, Olivia, is uncanny.
According to The Mirror, Lester has not been allowed to see the children since Jackson’s death in 2009. After going public with his suspicions, Lester says the Jackson family stopped answering his phone calls.
“I just want to reconnect and be the godfather that Michael made me,” he said. “I just feel it is really cruel that our relationship has just been cut off. It is not what Michael would have wanted.”
Lester previously told Britain’s News of the World in 2009 that he gave Jackson his semen years ago, after the singer asked for “help,” suggesting he had fertility issues.
“It was a really strange request but while Michael was alive I never gave it another thought. I didn’t donate to get something out of it.”
“While he was alive, I never ever thought the children were anyone else’s but Michael’s.”
Now, Lester says the resemblance between Jackson’s daughter Paris, 15, and his own 18-year-old daughter Olivia, is uncanny.
h/t: NY Daily News
What the hell is going on with Mister Cee?
According to report by The New York Daily News, the popular New York DJ who works at the number one radio station called hot 97, was arrested last weekend for soliciting a male prostitute.
According to the report, Mister Cee was cruising in Brooklyn in the wee hours of the morning when he picked up an undercover police officer who was acting as a male prostitute.
According to other employees at hot 97 the problem is not that Mister Cee may be gay, the problem is he’s soliciting prostitution and that act is a crime.
It was also revealed, that this is the third time Mister Cee is arrested for soliciting prostitutes.
Imagine what would happen if the so-called education reformers knew what they were talking about. Could actually articulate a meaningful program that would improve teaching and learning. Didn’t have an agenda that blamed unions and teachers, and relied on privatizing the public schools.
Imagine.
Unfortunately, that’s not the kind of reform movement we have in this country. What we have is a reactionary movement of right wing ideologues who want to impose market-based principles on a system that must serve all children in the United States. They also want to thin the ranks of union membership and rely on self-selecting administrators to run the schools without input from the very people who have been trained to educate its students. The worst part, though, is that these reformers seem to be making this all up as they go along.
Consider.
This past week, the New Jersey State Board of Education agreed to lower the percentage by which standardized tests will be used to evaluate teacher performance from 35% to 30%. They also raised the amount of time a student would need to be enrolled in a particular teacher’s classroom for their tests to count for that teacher’s evaluation from 60% to 70%. Impressive numbers that show a marked concern for teaching, learning, effective evaluation and a nod towards the science of educational assessment, no?
No. Emphatically, no.
These numbers mean absolutely nothing. There is no research to suggest that 30%, 35% or any other numbers will accurately measure the teacher’s role in a student’s learning. It’s being made up. In fact, about the only number that would accurately measure the student-teacher learning relationship would be zero percent, because standardized tests should not be used for that purpose.
Further, the State Board did nothing to raise the student level of concern for these tests. They mean very little to the children, but everything for the teachers, and I’m sure that parents, and the students themselves, understand that it’s OK for them to not do well on the tests especially if the student has test anxiety or simply doesn’t care. Thirty percent of nothing still means nothing.
The larger point, though, is that Governor Christie, Commissioner Cerf, and the true believers in the Department of Education see this as a negotiable percentage. It proves that there isn’t a percentage that’s tied to effective teaching and lowering it by 5% in New Jersey is a political decision, not an educational one. They are simply making it up as they go along. Any teacher who did that wouldn’t last two months in the classroom. The Governor wants another four years.
Fail.
For more, go to www.facebook.com/WhereDemocracyLives and on Twitter @rigrundfest
“These Refs Suck! These Refs Suck!” That was the main chant heard at the Garden on Sunday as the New York Knicks played against the Indiana Pacers. The chant was due to the seemingly unnecessary calls made against the Knicks, calls that put Carmelo Anthony, J. Smith, K. Martin and T. Chandler in foul trouble early in the game.
After three quarters of play, the Pacers led 81-65. Indiana had six players already in double figures compared to just three players for the Knicks. The third quarter also ended with Knicks leading scorer, Carmelo Anthony sitting on the bench, nursing his four fouls.
That is how the Knicks started round two of the NBA Playoffs against the Pacers. They played with no urgency, almost as if their first round win against Boston was their ultimate goal. Yes, the Boston win was just two days ago, but for the first three quarters, it was apparent that the Knicks were still celebrating advancing to round two.
Carmelo started the fourth quarter playing with his four fouls and scored six quick points for the Knicks. But he quickly picked up his fifth foul with 10 minutes remaining in the game. And after a 1 for 10 performance to that point, J. Smith hit a three pointer to get the crowd back into the game.
When ,,,, foul out of the game, the Garden crowd resorted to a chant they’d been saying practically the whole game… “these refs suck!”
The quarter went by quickly. With 4:41 left in the game, Indiana led by 14. Knicks had missed their last eight shots before Smith scored a running field goal. It was the Smith and Carmelo show and the lead was down to 8 with 3 minutes remaining, but that show was short lived as the Pacers held their own and won the game with a score 102-95.
Indiana went to the free throw line 24 times making 19, and out rebounded the Knicks 42 to 30. They out played the Knicks on the offensive board also, grabbing 10 compared to the Knicks 6.
D. West led the Pacers with 20 points, followed by P. George with 19. Four other Pacer players had double digit scoring.
For the Knicks, Carmelo had 27 points, followed by Felton with 18. Three other players had double digit scoring.
Game 2 will be in New York on Tuesday, May 7th.
This is a fast paced game, so all you slackers better keep it moving. This is not the game for you. For all the other real gamers looking for a challenge, download this free game on your Android or Apple product, and be prepared for the ride of your life.
Storyline
You begin the game as Jake, a graffiti artist caught spray painting his art in a train yard. Of course, he is caught by a cop and his dog and then the game starts, as Jake runs for his life to get away from the officer. As Jake makes his escape, he picks up coins, mystery boxes and other powerups along the way. He must also dodge oncoming trains and other obstacles and barriers, placed strategically in his way.
As you collect more coins, you can buy more players, hoverboards or mystery boxes. There are also daily challenges you must complete to advance in the game.
But the real object of the game is to brag. Yes, brag. When you connect Subway Surfers to your Facebook account, you get to see the progress your Facebook friends are making. And there is nothing like competing against a friend who think they can play better than you.
Subway Surfers is not a new game, but there is always updates from the game’s producers. If you haven’t downloaded this game yet, then you’re really not a true gamer.
The ex-Fugee rushed released track due to an ‘impending legal deadline’
Photo: PA
Lauryn Hill has released a new song titled ‘Neurotic Society (Compulsory Mix)’.
The track, which you can hear by scrolling down to the bottom of the article and clicking ‘play’, is the former Fugees singer’s first solo effort since 2010’s ‘Repercussions’. The song was released without warning via her label Obverse Creation – which she set up as part of her reported $1million deal with Sony Music – yesterday (May 4).
According to Hill, the song’s message is relevant in today’s society following the death of Kris Kross rapper Chris Kelly. “In light of Wednesday’s tragic loss (of former label mate Chris Kelly), I am even more pressed to YELL this to a multitude that may not understand the cost of allowing today’s unhealthy paradigms to remain unchecked,” she said.
It was reported last year that Hill pleaded guilty to not paying federal taxes on $1.8 million earned between 2005 and 2007. Judge Madeline Cox postponed sentencing, giving the singer until May 6 to pay off the money she owes – an amount currently standing at $504,000.
‘Neurotic Society (Compulsory Mix)’ is available via iTunes now.
H/t NME
President Obama on Thursday met Israel’s reigning beauty queen, who later called him ‘a world-class hunk, charming and an extraordinary gentleman.’
Obama and Yityish Aynaw, an Ethiopian Jewish immigrant to Israel, dined together at an official state dinner in Jerusalem, where the White House had requested her presence. Obama was in Jerusalem as part of a four-day trip to Israel, Jordan and the West Bank.
Aynaw, who goes by ‘Titi,’ made history a couple weeks ago by becoming the first black ‘Miss Israel.’
After the dinner, Aynaw gushed about meeting Obama in an interview with the Israeli publication Yediot Aharonot.
‘He’s an exciting man, a world-class hunk, charming and an extraordinary gentleman,’ she said.
Aynaw and Obama were introduced by Israeli President Shimon Peres.
‘You are very beautiful,’ Obama told her, according Israeli media. ‘And Michelle would have been very happy to be as tall as you are.’
h/t: Daily Mail