January 17th: Ben Franklin born; Warsaw liberated from the Nazis; Eisenhower’s farewell address; Magnitude 7.2 earthquake hits Japan; Al Capone, Muhammad Ali born
Continue reading …Ricky Gervais kicked off the 2011 Golden Globe Awards by staying true to his vow to be more subversive than he was a year ago. Just ask Tom Cruise and John Travolta, at whom the comedian aimed this opening joke: “Also not nominated was I Love You Philip Morris , Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor. Two heterosexual characters pretending to be gay. So the complete opposite of some famous Scientologists, then… Broadcasting platform : YouTube Source : The Hollywood Gossip Discovery Date : 17/01/2011 04:53 Number of articles : 5
Continue reading …Click here to view this media (h/t Heather at VideoCafe) Susie mentioned it in her earlier post , but I think this is deserving of its own discussion. ABC News held a town hall in Arizona to address issues surrounding last weekend’s tragic shooting, with members of the community, law enforcement, tea party activists and even victims and their families of the shooting. When moderator Christiane Amanpour asked a question of AZ Tea Party head Trent Humphries–the same man who said that Giffords is the one to blame for the shooting because she had the gall to meet with constituents without armed security to protect her–shooting victim James Eric Fuller allegedly pointed a camera at Humphries and said, “You’re dead.” The incident occurred as Humphries criticized the applause at Wednesday’s memorial, and just before he suggested “introspection” before engaging in a “national debate” begins. Humphries also began by suggesting that health care privacy laws like HIPAA might be as culpable as gun laws in the tragedy. [..] Humphries doesn’t appear to have heard the initial remark, but there’s a moment, later in the clip, where he turns his head at another less audible utterance from someone in the crowd. ABC showed Fuller being arrested and escorted out of the building by police. He was later involuntarily committed for a psychiatric evaluation. I think it’s important to first and foremost say that threatening violence is unacceptable. I don’t know Fuller’s political ideology nor do I think it matters. Wrong is wrong is wrong, on either side of the aisle. At risk of being accused of being Dr. Frist, I have to wonder if Fuller is suffering some sort of PTSD from the shooting, but his issues may run deeper and longer than last week. Some on the C&L team have speculated that Fuller was trying to make a larger point over the dangers of the casual use of violent rhetoric and how it charges the climate with fear and instability. In a CBS profile , he blamed Sarah Palin, Glenn Beck and Sharron Angle for their eliminationist rhetoric. The pointing of a camera demonstrated just how easy it is to point a gun and get off a shot before anyone else can unholster their gun in response. It’s an interesting point, although it’s far too early to make definitive statements on Fuller’s motivation. But the point remains: we must, must, MUST ratchet down the rhetoric. Democracy doesn’t function in a climate of threats and violence.
Continue reading …Golden Globes: Chris Colfer won a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor in a TV series, and the night for his inspiring anti-bully remark. [ towleroad .] Broadcasting platform : YouTube Source : The Daily What Discovery Date : 17/01/2011 03:33 Number of articles : 5
Continue reading …Jay Cutler accounted for four touchdowns, as the Bears beat the Seahawks 35-24 in the NFC playoffs Sunday. Chicago scored touchdowns on three of its first four possessions and will play Green Bay next weekend. (Jan. 16)
Continue reading …Birdman and Lil Wayne choose to go the literal route for their newly unveiled “Fire Flame” remix music video. Watch stuff catch on fire above (via Hypetrak ). Broadcasting platform : YouTube Source : Consequence of Sound Discovery Date : 16/01/2011 22:22 Number of articles : 5
Continue reading …Click here to view this media Fox News contributor Mara Liasson said Sunday that while defending use of gun imagery, Fox News employee Sarah Palin actually admitted that political discourse can cause violence. Following a shooting in Tucson, Arizona that left six dead and Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) in the hospital, Sarah Palin attacked critics who said that her political advertisement that put gun sights over Giffords’ district had had created a dangerous environment for the congresswoman. Palin defended herself by saying, “Especially within hours of a tragedy unfolding, journalists and pundits should not manufacture a blood libel that serves only to incite the very hatred and violence they purport to condemn. That is reprehensible.” The term “blood libel” was historically used as an excuse to persecute Jews. “Here she is saying, when you talk about blood libel, that is the definition political discourse, a manufactured lie causing violence,” noted Liasson. “In this case she paints herself as the potential victim.” “Here she is agreeing with the left that political discourse can cause violence.” Fox News pundit Brit Hume attempted to disagree but Liasson stood her ground. “Yes, that’s exactly what blood libel is. You make up a lie about someone, you make a false accusation that causes violence against Jews, for instance,” she said. “All I’m saying is that it struck the wrong tone on a whole lot of levels.” Fox News pundit and notorious neoconservative Bill Kristol also thought Palin made a mistake with her video but he employed his own violent metaphor while making his point. “If you want to be a presidential candidate then you should let other people answer your critics and you should deal with things a sort of a presidential level and it wasn’t necessary for her to defend herself,” he said. “Probably one of the things you should do — either when you are governor or running for president — is that you should pick your fights a little more carefully and what is the expression?” “You don’t shoot down. She shouldn’t be fighting with Chris Matthews, Keith Olbermann or Paul Krugman.” “I hope I didn’t incite anyone to shoot down,” he added.
Continue reading …The leader of France’s National Front, Jean-Marie Le Pen, has stepped down after four decades at the head of the anti-immigrant party which shook up French politics under his leadership. Le Pen’s youngest daughter, Marine, 42, is due to take over as party leader. Be part of the news. Send pics, video and tips to nzherald. Send France Share Email Print Post this story to: | Next Article: More on nzherald.co.nz International envoys tour key Iranian nuclear site…
Continue reading …NewsBusters asked Saturday if ABC's “This Week” would fully report a Tucson shooting survivor issuing a death threat to a Tea Party leader at a special town hall meeting taped earlier that day. Although host Christiane Amanpour, in a brief, 30 second after-thought at the close of Sunday's program, told viewers J. Eric Fuller's threat was directed at a Tea Party member, she omitted Fuller saying “You're dead” to Trent Humphries (video follows with transcript and commentary): CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR: As our town hall concluded, one of the victims of the shooting in our audience became agitated and was detained by security. James Eric Fuller, who was shot twice last Saturday, appeared to direct a threat towards a member of the Tea Party in our audience when he spoke. Fuller was charged with a misdemeanor and involuntarily committed according to the Pima County Sheriff's office. And that was it. No mention that Fuller allegedly took a picture of Humphries while he was speaking and said, “You're dead!” Why did Amanpour and Company omit this detail, especially since “This Week” included a rather lengthy, unrelated statement from Humphries in Sunday's program: TRENT HUMPHRIES: Well, I mean, we talk about the other things too is we talk about how come nobody could be aware this man had a medical history of — of that. But HIPAA laws would prevent that. It's not just gun laws that are standing in the way of this happening. There are all kinds of laws that Congress needs to look at and — and I think there is a time for this debate. But for what we saw and felt right now, I'm not sure that applause and things going on are appropriate right now until we've had actually, maybe had the funerals finished for the people that have –that were (sic) suffered and died. My neighbor is one of those people. And — and I loved that man. And — and I want to see — I want to see some introspection maybe from the people before the national debate happens. You know, and those — and — and it's very well to have those things. But something's going to have to happen with — with everybody. And — and I just — I mean, it's — it's something that where as a country, we talk about political discourse and what's appropriate and what's not. I think that — that applies to everybody including the media who's — who's — you know, and not in this — this — this has been a very, very cathartic thing for everybody. Immediately after the shooting to see people jump to political angles. I just don't want to see that right now and I'm a very political person. So I — I would ask that maybe we — we have that discussion and it's a larger discussion and that — and that we have that just a little bit later. This therefore makes it twice in the past two installments of “This Week” that key elements involving the Tucson shootings were intentionally omitted. As NewsBusters reported last Sunday, when ABC's Pierre Thomas interviewed a friend of the assailant, he completely ignored that Caitlin Parker had told people via Twitter Jared Lee Loughner was a liberal. This raises an important question: exactly what kind of credibility does ABC News strive for its flagship Sunday political program if producers feel they can omit pertinent details from stories whenever they're inconvenient to the message? Consider that the transcript of Sunday's “This Week” available at ABCNews.com not only failed to mention the specifics of the death threat, but also ignored the Tea Party component: AMANPOUR: As our town hall concluded, one of the victims of the shooting, who was in our audience because agitated and was detained by security. James Eric Fuller, who was shot twice last Saturday, took offices at what another audience member had said and mumbled what seemed to be a threat. He was charged with a misdemeanor and involuntarily committed according to the Pima County Sheriff's office. To be sure, transcripts are often rushed. But this bears little resemblance to what Amanpour actuallly said. Also curious were changes made to an article about the town hall meeting posted at ABCNews.com Saturday. As NewsBusters reported , the following two paragraphs were at the end of a piece on this subject: Towards the end of an otherwise thoughtful town hall, there was a single incident: James Eric Fuller, who was shot at the Safeway last week, allegedly made a threatening comment to another audience member, Tucson Tea Party co-founder Trent Humphries. It is unclear whether Humphries heard Fuller and the two never engaged. According to the Pima County Sheriff's Department, Fuller used a cell phone to take a picture of Humphries and allegedly said, “You're dead.” Fifteen seconds after the conclusion of the town hall, law enforcement officials approached Fuller and led him to a side entrance. A moment later, Fuller could heard yelling, “What's the matter–with you–whores!” Fuller was charged with disorderly conduct and threatening and intimidation and taken to a local mental health facility, according to the Sheriff's Department. That is now followed by these paragraphs added some time after NewsBusters filed its report: In a statement Humphries said, “I was asked to give my thoughts on gun control laws and perhaps the passage of new laws. … A gentleman in the audience who I had never met before began booing and made the comment 'you're dead' while taking my picture. I was escorted from the location of the filming and spoken to by several deputies about the incident. I told them I was very hesitant to press any charges against this gentleman, but after they urged me to do so based on the gravity of the situation, and the lessons learned from the recent tragedy. I allowed them to proceed as recommended,” he said. “This is another sad piece to add to an already tragic set of events,” Humphries added in the statement. “My hope continues to remain that we as a community be allowed the ability to heal and focus on those things that will best help our city and its citizens recover from this deadly tragedy,” he said. With all this additional information at her disposal, why did Amanpour give “This Week” viewers such a brief, incomplete description of what happened at the end of her town hall meeting? Would Amanpour have made the same omission if Fuller was the Tea Party leader and Humphries the shooting survivor? Quite the contrary, it seems a metaphysical certitude that if a Tea Partier had issued exactly the same threat to a shooting survivor during this gathering, it would have been a huge focus of Sunday's program, and would likely have been reported by every other news agency in America. Unfortunately, a liberal threatening a Tea Partier just doesn't fit the agenda so-called journalists are advancing today.
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