Morbid Tweeting

Announcing executions on twitter does seem like crossing some sort of line.

Epic Music Journalism Corrections of 2010

Including this classic:

Public Enemy does not think 9/11 is a joke. 911, however…

The Washington Post said: Originally, an article on the group stated that Public Enemy called 9/11 a joke. A corrected version tells a different story: “Public Enemy has earned notoriety with more than 20 years of politically charged music about fighting the power, challenging racism and declaring that 911 was a joke. The group has joined forces with Virgin Mobile USA to combat youth homelessness as part of National Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week.”

The correction: “A Nov. 26 article in the District edition of Local Living incorrectly said a Public Enemy song declared 9/11 a joke. The song refers to 911, the emergency phone number.”

Tweet of the Day

Max Blumenthal mocks Haaretz's (tongue-in-cheek? one can only hope so) blurb on the Jewish content -- i.e. Scarlett Johansson and Sandra Bullock snogging, "a special treat for members of the tribe since Johansson is like the Jews’ very own Barbie doll" -- of the MTV Movie Awards: @MaxBlumenthal I had to read this twice bc I thought it a satire on Jewish identity. The last sentence is the best--or worst--part. http://bit.ly/9B1Fjv

Silver Lining

As MJ Rosenberg points out, one positive outcome of the flotilla disaster is that, as Jewish groups turn against the Turkish government, there is going to be more pressure on congress and the administration to get serious about recognizing the Armenian genocide of 1915.

New Stieg Larsson Manuscripts Found?

Really? Doesn't appear to be publishable... of course a cynic might wonder about the authenticity of 'newly discovered' material by an international literary sensation (from which someone might stand to make millions of dollars)...

The Power Broker

Looking at the divisions exposed by the Democratic Senate primary in Arkansas, Ben Smith has some smart thoughts about how the departure of Andy Stern has deprived the labor movement of a powerful insider to press its concerns in the White House, and deprived the White House of a powerful insider to press its concerns in the labor movement.

Zombie Lit Reading List

Mel Brooks's son, Max, seems to have a strong foothold in this genre.

FDR & The New Deal For Beginners

Book rec of the day.

Peeps

What's with candidates winning primary elections making statements like "the people have spoken" or Carly Fiorina's "I hear your message loud and clear - the people of California have had enough"? Since when is the Republican primary electorate 'the people?'