Archuleta's The Idol

once again I don't watch American Idol but I've heard so much good stuff about this kid David Archuleta that I had to check him out



wow. wow. first that boy does not sing like a 17 year old at all, Randy was right. secondly him meeting the season 1 finalists when he was 11 makes me feel really old. thirdly singing Dreamgirls at 11- he's gayer than a goldfish (even if he doesn't know it yet) but damn can he sing. hopefully they don't try to "straighten" him out. Paula is terrifying, btw
and yes i am prone to making outlandish statements like the title above based on 2 minutes of singing, I've done it before...
p.s. he kind of looks like Marco from Degrassi

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In Case You Care

there's this rumor from Ain't It Cool News about who will step into Heath Ledger's role in the Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus

I think it’s beautiful that the script loaned itself to this sort of idea, that we’re going to see Heath Ledger’s work in Terry Gilliam’s new film, and that we’re also going to see three very interesting actors step up to offer interpretations of him as a way of paying one final tribute to this actor whose career was cut so sadly short.

We’ve heard rumors about who might be stepping in, but now we’ve got the names verified. Count on it.

JOHNNY DEPP.

JUDE LAW.

COLIN FARRELL.

Nice choices, Gilliam. Can’t wait to see what happens inside the IMAGINARIUM OF DR. PARNASSUS

And in case you were wondering how they could pull this off apparently in the movie:

“There is a point in the film when Heath falls through a magic mirror,” says the anonymous source. “He could change into another character after that and that is where Johnny [or others] would come in. It’s a weird, fantasy, time-travel movie so Heath’s character could easily change appearance. It would be a poignant moment"

So maybe there's that. Hollywood magic and all

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Dwight Dunks

I have a soft spot for Dwight Howard; when I got suckered into my first ever fantasy league last year thanks in large part to Dwight I won so I always want the best for him.
And so since the NBA Dunk Contest (I think) is this weekend and this video, seemingly sponsored by Vitamin Water, is circulating of Dwight practicing his potential dunks I want to go out on a limb and predict that if he does the dunk at about 28 seconds where he lobs the ball throws it off the backboard with his left hand and catches and dunks it with his right (and can actually do it) he will win



So good luck Dwight, you should’ve won last year . Maybe this year you can actually try your Kiss The Rim dunk

Watch your head though.
Just one small request (in exchange for my support) could you try to involve JJ somehow because that’ll be the only time he’ll have seen the court this year. KthnxBai

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The One To Beat?

This is Michael Johns.
A lot of people think he will be the next American Idol.
I'm tempted to agree
Here he is performing Bohemian Rhapsody.
Enjoy

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Quantum of Teasing

Here's the teaser poster for the new James Bond film, Bond 22 "Quantum of Solace." And just from this you can tell Daniel Craig is wearing a tux but is by no means stuffy. That and he has a really big gun. (You know what they say about guys with long shadow, don't you? They're amaaazing to stand next to on ultra bright days.)

And while we're kind of on the subject I must admit my favorite teaser poster for a highly anticipated film that incorporated a shadow has to be this one for Episode I: The Phantom Menace. I just thought it was a simple yet beautiful bit of foreshadowing.

Too bad the movie was such a let down. Here's hoping "Quantum" doesn't suffer the same fate.

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Duke Class of 2019

From Seattle’s KOMO and their Little Heroes series comes the Next Phenom, Ja’sean Augusto* an 11 year old “baler” who runs a mile in 4:50


(via Duke Basketball Report)

*I think that may be how to spell it...maybe Jayshawn (?)

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A Quick Question

so which was the dumber strategy (and eventual blunder): France's Maginot Line or Rudy's Florida Strategy?
[And at 7:22 p.m. pst John King of CNN reports that Giuliani to drop out of the race and endorse John McCain tomorrow in California. Sad, no not really]

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New Hottness

Gnarls Barkley has a new song called Run that’s either leaked or been released so be prepared to hear it an awful lot. But first hear it here:
Gnarls Barkley-Run [download]

I’m assuming this is off their new album “The Odd Couple”
And here are pictures because I really like their shtick








Odd indeed, but utterly fabulous
They really put on an amazing live show

The only reason I can hate on these two is because Cee-Lo let his daughter go on My Super Sweet 16, which is never okay, for her 15th birthday, which is even worse
Gnarls Barkley

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So You Don’t Actually Have To Watch

(and after all of this I probably won’t-I kinda want to see In Treatment)

Here’s what tonight’s speech will be about according to Politico

President Bush goes before Congress tonight, urging quick action on an economic stimulus package and new Iraq war funding but also demanding a second round of cuts from the home state spending projects so favored by lawmakers.

The president is threatening to veto any appropriations bill that doesn’t reduce so-called earmarks by 50 percent from 2008 levels, already cut by Democrats from prior Republican Congresses. The new benchmark is less severe than House Republican demands for a moratorium this year on any such projects, but Bush’s stand still contrasts sharply with his history of long tolerating pork-barrel spending which exploded under Republican rule.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi didn’t dismiss the demands for further reductions from earmarks but suggested the administration and Republicans were not being consistent in their position. “If the president wants to do away with earmarks, then we should do away with presidential earmarks as well,” she said this morning. “There is great ambiguity in the Republican Party. They want to beat a loud drum but when it comes down to it, they want their earmarks.”

White House aides caution that Bush will temper his own legislative ambitions this evening but the speech will be laced with examples of where the president can act administratively to boost his goals.

The president’s legacy education initiative, No Child Left Behind, is up for review this year and remains a legislative priority, for example, but Bush will also announce new education initiatives, such as one targeted to high school dropouts, that can be implemented by his order alone. In the same manner, his crackdown on earmarks will be accompanied by an executive order this week telling agencies to ignore future projects unless the funding is spelled out in specific legislation, not simply tucked into an accompanying bill report.

The core Bush agenda will be evident in the president’s remarks, described as about evenly devoted to foreign and domestic policy. The administration has a pending request for $108 billion more for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as the larger war against terror. And faced with a Feb. 1 deadline, Bush will also demand a quick end to debate on legislation authorizing warrantless eavesdropping to fight terrorism.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s trip to Colombia last week will be the backdrop for Bush to press again for ratification of a trade agreement reached with the U.S. ally in 2006. Mideast peace efforts and the crisis in Darfur will be topics, and Mr. Bush will renew his call for not only more money to fight AIDS but also malaria in poor developing nations.

At home, Bush wants to make his signature tax cuts permanent—something left out of the $150 billion stimulus package agreed to last week by House leaders. But the White House is making a conscious effort not to over reach, given that, more than most, this State of the Union address has its changing dynamics.

This is because it is the last of the Bush presidency but also because the nation faces such historic uncertainty: wars overseas, falling financial markets, and no clear champion yet in either political party to take the helm when Bush leaves.

The president is expected to speak fervently of his trust in Americans, even as he asks voters to trust him with more surveillance authority - now being debated in the Senate - and billions more for the war in Iraq. But the downturn in the economy has shaken what’s been a pillar to his power, and Bush knows he will have to share the stage more this year even as he tries to hold onto a piece for himself.

Nothing illustrates this better than the new $150 billion economic stimulus package, a major subject tonight but one not even in early drafts of the speech a month ago.

The president will single out Pelosi and House Republican Leader John Boehner for their work in shaping the bill which comes before the full House Tuesday. And the re-emergence of Boehner as a legislative dealmaker could be hugely important if Congress were to go on and tackle a mega-bargain this year: pairing the president’s legacy education issue - No Child Left Behind - with expanded health insurance for working class children, a top Pelosi priority.



At the same time, it is difficult to overstate the impact of Treasury Secy. Henry Paulson in the stimulus talks. Republicans call him an “energizer bunny”; Democrats are relieved to have someone who listens. “I was going to call you but I was working my way up,” Paulson told Pelosi, when she telephoned him early on. “He’s not there to fight us, he’s there to work it out,” said House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.).

Looking ahead, the former investment banker and Goldman Sachs CEO is increasingly optimistic he can break through in the Senate this year and complete mortgage reform legislation, including tighter supervision of government sponsored entities like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, two entrenched Washington interests.

“I don’t want to sound naïve but I think there’s a real chance for action,” the secretary said in a brief interview Sunday. “There’s no excuse and we’ll be embarrassing ourselves if we don’t do it.”

Even before Christmas, Boehner warned that continued stalemate in Congress could hurt Republicans as well as the Democratic majority in November’s elections. And this seemed to motivate his activist role in the stimulus deal in which he was given unusual license from the White House to drive the bargaining with Pelosi.

The speaker has often been a political risk-taker, willing to jump ahead of her caucus as she did during talks last year on child health care. But it was striking for Boehner, who must protect his right flank, to also step forward and brought back memories of his deal making days on pensions and No Child Left Behind as chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee.

Mr. Paulson is more of a political newcomer, but anyone so successful in bond markets and college football is scarcely a stranger to competition. “When you’re down in the dirt opening a hole for a running back, it teaches you teamwork and determination,” he says of his days as an offensive tackle. And Paulson has a close alliance with House Financial Services Chairman Barney Frank (D-Mass.).

“He is a rare example of a guy who came from totally outside the political process who understands how it works, how deals have to be organized,” said Frank, who has vowed to protect the secretary’s back if the mortgage reforms they both want are not enacted by the Senate.

Bowing to bipartisan pressure, especially from states like California, Paulson agreed in the stimulus package to allow Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to purchase or guarantee loans of as much as 125% of an area’s median home price. That translates into hundreds of thousands of dollars on top of the current $417,000 limit for such GSE’s, but Frank says this high-end relief will dry up at the end of this year unless tougher regulations are put in place as well.

“I said to Hank, here is the deal I will make for you,” Frank said. “I think we should raise the GSE limit but I will give you my commitment that it will be for 12 months and if the whole bill hasn’t been dealt with within those 12 months, it becomes a pumpkin.”

And don’t worry if you, presumably disagree with anything and everything that GweeB says, because once again it is “unlikely to yield action”
For a lame duck unfathomably unpopular president with an opposition Congress the State of the Union really is, well like Macbeth
The 2008 State of the Union ≈ is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.

And GweeB is a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And [will soon be] heard no more

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Geert Wilders: 9/6/1963-?/?/2008

Don’t know who he is? Neither did I, but don’t bother to get more familiar with him because he’s probably going to die soon. Geert Wilder is a Dutch Parlimentarian who just made a movie comparing the Koran to Mein Kampf and just said "I believe the Koran is, indeed, 'Mein Kampf.' They are the same package," Wilders said. "I believe that our culture is far better than the retarded Islamic culture."
Wow, wow. Guy is obviously fearless and isn't worried about speaking his mind in a very "controversial" manner.
So..he’s probably not making it to see 2009

More gems from the soon to be late Mr. Wilders

"People who watch the movie will see that the Koran is very much alive today, leading to the destruction of everything we in the Western world stand for, which is respect and tolerance," Wilders, the 41-year-old leader of the right-wing Party for Freedom, said last month in a telephone interview

Five months ago, he called for the Koran to be outlawed in the Netherlands.

"I believe our culture is much better than the retarded Islamic cultures," he told FOXNews.com. "Ninety-nine percent of the intolerance in the world comes back to the Islamic religion and the Koran."

Referring to the increased population of Muslims in the Netherlands, Wilders has said:

"Take a walk down the street and see where this is going. You no longer feel like you are living in your own country. There is a battle going on and we have to defend ourselves. Before you know it there will be more mosques than churches!"

Later, Wilders suggested that Muslims should 'tear out half of the Koran if they wished to stay in the Netherlands' because it contained 'terrible things' and that Muhammad would 'in these days be hunted down as a terrorist'. These statements caused strong reactions in Muslim countries such as Tunisia, Morocco, and Saudi Arabia. (Ed. Note: strong reactions being a code name for murderous plots)

On 8 August 2007, Wilders opined in a letter to the Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant that the Koran, which he called a "fascist book", should be outlawed in the Netherlands, like Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf. He stated that: "The book incites hatred and killing and therefore has no place in our legal order.

And he’s already under constant security precautions

Geert Wilders stayed away from regular meetings in parliament for several weeks. Even though a member's presence is not mandatory, it is uncommon not to show up for weeks on end. Wilders has stated that he did this out of concern for his personal security. Having been assigned a new seating position in the parliamentary meeting hall (one further away from the public observation area), he has once again started to attend meetings.

Wilders is under constant security protection because of frequent threats to his life. On 10 November 2004, two suspected terrorists were captured after an hour-long siege of a building in The Hague. They had three grenades and have been accused of planning to murder Geert Wilders as well as then fellow MP Ayaan Hirsi Ali. In September 2007, a Dutch woman was sentenced a 1-year prison term for sending out more than 100 threatening emails to Wilders.

I’m sure his security detail is loving him right now

Geert, rest in peace (eventually.)

(A quick note to my Islamic brothers and sisters everything offensive written above wasn't from me)

And slightly off subject but looking at his wikipedia picture I am reminded of that age old question: gay or European?

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Breaking News: New York Times to Endorse Hillary; I Actually Care

According to an exclusive on Radar the New York Times has decided to endorse Hillary before the South Carolina primary (so I guess in tomorrow's papers.)
Now usually I don't really actually care about endorsements or think they really matter but the New York Times is still The New York Times and I was wondering who they were going to end up supporting so this seems pretty big. And a little surprising because most of their op/ed columnists seemed to be nursing crushes on Barack (except for Paul Krugman) And also considering that my image of the typical New York Times reader is that "upper class professional white elite" that Barack seems to be appealing to doing so well with.
Hopefully this endorsement actually has some juice- I can't stand Obama(and the enemy of my enemy...)
Maybe there is still some good to be had from the "print industry"
{UPDATE 8:30 p.m. here is the text of the endorsement
This generally is the stage of a campaign when Democrats have to work hard to get excited about whichever candidate seems most likely to outlast an uninspiring pack. That is not remotely the case this year.

The early primaries produced two powerful main contenders: Hillary Clinton, the brilliant if at times harsh-sounding senator from New York; and Barack Obama, the incandescent if still undefined senator from Illinois. The remaining long shot, John Edwards, has enlivened the race with his own brand of raw populism.

As Democrats look ahead to the primaries in the biggest states on Feb. 5, The Times’s editorial board strongly recommends that they select Hillary Clinton as their nominee for the 2008 presidential election.

We have enjoyed hearing Mr. Edwards’s fiery oratory, but we cannot support his candidacy. The former senator from North Carolina has repudiated so many of his earlier positions, so many of his Senate votes, that we’re not sure where he stands. We certainly don’t buy the notion that he can hold back the tide of globalization.

By choosing Mrs. Clinton, we are not denying Mr. Obama’s appeal or his gifts. The idea of the first African-American nominee of a major party also is exhilarating, and so is the prospect of the first woman nominee. “Firstness” is not a reason to choose. The times that false choice has been raised, more often by Mrs. Clinton, have tarnished the campaign.

Mr. Obama and Mrs. Clinton would both help restore America’s global image, to which President Bush has done so much grievous harm. They are committed to changing America’s role in the world, not just its image. On the major issues, there is no real gulf separating the two. They promise an end to the war in Iraq, more equitable taxation, more effective government spending, more concern for social issues, a restoration of civil liberties and an end to the politics of division of George W. Bush and Karl Rove.

Mr. Obama has built an exciting campaign around the notion of change, but holds no monopoly on ideas that would repair the governing of America. Mrs. Clinton sometimes overstates the importance of résumé. Hearing her talk about the presidency, her policies and answers for America’s big problems, we are hugely impressed by the depth of her knowledge, by the force of her intellect and by the breadth of, yes, her experience.

It is unfair, especially after seven years of Mr. Bush’s inept leadership, but any Democrat will face tougher questioning about his or her fitness to be commander in chief. Mrs. Clinton has more than cleared that bar, using her years in the Senate well to immerse herself in national security issues, and has won the respect of world leaders and many in the American military. She would be a strong commander in chief.

Domestically, Mrs. Clinton has tackled complex policy issues, sometimes failing. She has shown a willingness to learn and change. Her current proposals on health insurance reflect a clear shift from her first, famously disastrous foray into the issue. She has learned that powerful interests cannot simply be left out of the meetings. She understands that all Americans must be covered — but must be allowed to choose their coverage, including keeping their current plans. Mr. Obama may also be capable of tackling such issues, but we have not yet seen it. Voters have to judge candidates not just on the promise they hold, but also on the here and now.

The sense of possibility, of a generational shift, rouses Mr. Obama’s audiences and not just through rhetorical flourishes. He shows voters that he understands how much they hunger for a break with the Bush years, for leadership and vision and true bipartisanship. We hunger for that, too. But we need more specifics to go with his amorphous promise of a new governing majority, a clearer sense of how he would govern.

The potential upside of a great Obama presidency is enticing, but this country faces huge problems, and will no doubt be facing more that we can’t foresee. The next president needs to start immediately on challenges that will require concrete solutions, resolve, and the ability to make government work. Mrs. Clinton is more qualified, right now, to be president.

We opposed President Bush’s decision to invade Iraq and we disagree with Mrs. Clinton’s vote for the resolution on the use of force. That’s not the issue now; it is how the war will be ended. Mrs. Clinton seems not only more aware than Mr. Obama of the consequences of withdrawal, but is already thinking through the diplomatic and military steps that will be required to contain Iraq’s chaos after American troops leave.
On domestic policy, both candidates would turn the government onto roughly the same course — shifting resources to help low-income and middle-class Americans, and broadening health coverage dramatically. Mrs. Clinton also has good ideas about fixing the dysfunction in Mr. Bush’s No Child Left Behind education program.

Mr. Obama talks more about the damage Mr. Bush has done to civil liberties, the rule of law and the balance of powers. Mrs. Clinton is equally dedicated to those issues, and more prepared for the Herculean task of figuring out exactly where, how and how often the government’s powers have been misused — and what must now be done to set things right.

As strongly as we back her candidacy, we urge Mrs. Clinton to take the lead in changing the tone of the campaign. It is not good for the country, the Democratic Party or for Mrs. Clinton, who is often tagged as divisive, in part because of bitter feeling about her husband’s administration and the so-called permanent campaign. (Indeed, Bill Clinton’s overheated comments are feeding those resentments, and could do long-term damage to her candidacy if he continues this way.)

We know that she is capable of both uniting and leading. We saw her going town by town through New York in 2000, including places where Clinton-bashing was a popular sport. She won over skeptical voters and then delivered on her promises and handily won re-election in 2006.

Mrs. Clinton must now do the same job with a broad range of America’s voters. She will have to let Americans see her power to listen and lead, but she won’t be able to do it town by town.

When we endorsed Mrs. Clinton in 2006, we were certain she would continue to be a great senator, but since her higher ambitions were evident, we wondered if she could present herself as a leader to the nation.

Her ideas, her comeback in New Hampshire and strong showing in Nevada, her new openness to explaining herself and not just her programs, and her abiding, powerful intellect show she is fully capable of doing just that. She is the best choice for the Democratic Party as it tries to regain the White House.

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WTF is a Quantum of Solace?

Well apparently it's the name of the new James Bond film.
Hmm not nearly as catchy as Casino Royale and Q is such a weird letter- it just sounds weird when you say it especially if you were to say "I'm going to go say Quantum of Solace;" didn't your mouth feel weird?

According to Variety the film , Quantum of Solace

follows on directly from “Casino Royale” with Daniel Craig reprising the role of British super spy and embarking on a revenge mission following his betrayal by Vesper Lynd — Eva Green’s ill-fated character in the previous film — that takes him to Austria, Italy and South America.
As previously announced, Gallic thesp Mathieu Amalric (“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly”) plays Bond nemesis Dominic Greene, a ruthless businessman and member of a shadowy org. seeking to control large portions of the world’s natural resources.
Ukrainian actress Olga Kurylenko plays Bond girl Camille, who leads the Martini-shaking spy to Greene, while Brit actress Gemma Arterton (“St Trinian’s”) will play MI6 Agent Fields.

SO it seems to be nothing like the short story by Ian Fleming of the same name, Quantum of Solace

"Quantum of Solace" is not a spy story and Bond appears only in the background. Told in the style of W Somerset Maugham, the tale has Bond attending a boring dinner party at the Government House in Nassau with a group of socialites he can't stand.

Bond makes an offensive remark after dinner when the other guests have left in order to stimulate conversation. This solicits a careful reply from the elderly Governor of The Bahamas who tells 007 a sad tale about a relationship between former civil servant Philip Masters stationed in Bermuda and air hostess Rhoda Llewellyn. After meeting aboard a flight to London the two eventually married but after a time Rhoda became unhappy with her life as a housewife. She then began a long open affair with the eldest son of a rich Bermudan family. As a result Masters' work deteriorated and he suffered a nervous breakdown. After recovering he was given a break from Bermuda by the governor and sent on an assignment to Washington to negotiate fishing rights with the US. At the same time the governor's wife had a talk with Rhoda just as her affair ended. Masters returned a few months later and decided to end his marriage, although he and Rhoda continued to appear as a happy couple in public. Masters returned alone to the UK, leaving a penniless Rhoda stranded in Bermuda, an act which he'd been incapable of carrying out merely months earlier. But Masters never recovered emotionally, his vital spark never relit. The governor goes on to tell Bond how after a time Rhoda married a rich Canadian and seems to be happy, telling Bond that his dull dinner companions whom he found so boring were Rhoda and her new husband.

While the story does not include action elements, as other Fleming tales do, it attempts to posit that Bond's adventures pale in comparison with real life drama. Bond reflects that the lives of the people he passes somewhat superficial judgments upon can in fact hide poignant episodes.

Quantum Quantum Quantum Quantum Quantum Quantum Quantum Quantum. Solace Solace Solace Solace Solace Solace Solace Solace. Quantum Quantum Quantum Quantum Solace Solace Solace Solace
bizarre.
of course i'm still going to see it and Daniel Craig is still soo...I'd definitely let him Quantum my Solace

{UPDATE: And as an answer to my own question, apparently "the Quantum of Solace [is] the smallest unit of human compassion that two people can have. As long as that compassion exists, people can survive, but when it is gone, when your partner no longer cares about your essential humanity, the relationship is over." TMYN}

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I Hate Polls but...

Edwards Takes Back Lead in Iowa [Ed. note: woooo]

A new InsiderAdvantage poll in Iowa shows John Edwards leading among likely caucus-goers with 30% support, followed by Sen. Hillary Clinton at 26% and Sen. Barack Obama at 24%.

This is the first poll to show Edwards ahead of his rivals since summer.

Key finding: Edwards holds a significant advantage "among a group who could be key to the first contest of the presidential year: those who say their first choice is someone other than the top three. Under Iowa Democratic Party rules, candidates who poll less than 15 percent in the first vote at each caucus around the state are eliminated, and their supporters get a second chance to vote for another candidate."

from InsiderAdvantage

Edwards leads with 30 percent in a poll of Democratic voters who said they intend to participate in the Jan. 3 presidential caucuses, followed by Clinton with 26 percent and Obama with 24 percent. When the sample was narrowed to the most likely caucus-goers, based on several questions, Obama leads Edwards by less than a percentage point with 27 percent, with Clinton in third place at 24 percent.

Edwards holds a significant advantage, however, among a group who could be key to the first contest of the presidential year: those who say their first choice is someone other than the top three. Under Iowa Democratic Party rules, candidates who poll less than 15 percent in the first vote at each caucus around the state are eliminated, and their supporters get a second chance to vote for another candidate.

Under both screens, Edwards leads as the second choice of these voters, with Clinton trailing Obama.

“If Edwards is the second choice at this stage of those who intend to vote for other Democrats, then it would not be surprising if he produced a bit of a shock in Iowa,” said InsiderAdvantage CEO Matt Towery.

I hate polls and don't believe them and recognize they mean nothing and refuse to get my hopes up but... C'mon Johnny!!!!
Now that's a nice thought to help me fall asleep.

(p.s. i really feel my fingers are gonna end up sore and deformed by being crossed for the next two and a half weeks and the knocking on wood)

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The Dark Knight Trailer

This is very bootleg footage, like filmed in the theatre through the arm rest, but I wanted to post it before it was taken down. It's the trailer for the new Batman film The Dark Knight and I'm not sure how I felt about it before, with the new Joker but I am now really super excited. I heart Maggie and Heath Ledger looks really scary and creepy

Have I already said I'm excited? because I am. Excited that is. I am.

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Meet Your American Gladiators

Can you tell I'm excited?
I am so glad they didn't get rid of the spandex or give them regular names- the producers recognized where their bread is buttered.

Anyway here are our new American Gladiators (and on the website you can learn they're real names and heights and weights but to me they are no longer people with regular names and bodies but rather they are comic book figures; they are prophets of pain and punishments, acolytes of athleticism, steroid superheroes and so real names are irrelevant) with bios provided from the website

Meet the New Gods
Crush (she's pretty)
Don't let the winsome smile fool you... Crush earned her well-deserved moniker by smashing opponents into submission. Despite her girl-next-door looks, she's a powerful, fierce opponent who has no problem handling the women competitors, and then going back to breaking men's hearts.


Fury
Fury takes ferocity to a whole new level. At 5-feet, 8-inches, she is a maelstrom of raw aggression and the epitome of the female gladiator. Equally balanced in speed and strength... Hell hath no fury like, Fury. Period.



Hellga (get it?)
When she stomps into Gladiator Arena, most sensible opponents run for cover rather than risk a Viking funeral. She may have left her horned helmet on the boat, but she hits with the force of Thor's hammer, and quickly sends opponents straight to Valhalla.


Justice
Tipping the scales at almost 300 pounds of power and with 20-inch guns at his disposal, Justice does indeed have a very long arm, and he'll pursue any adversary to the ends of the earth to prove it. Ask any of his opponents and they'll tell you that sometimes Justice hurts, and the scales always tip in his favor.


Mayhem
A storm of smoldering intensity and lightning-quick reflexes, Mayhem unleashes waves of devastation through the ranks of even the most battle-hardened opponents.


Militia (somebody’s stuffing)
The 6-foot, 3-inch, 220-pound Gladiator targets his opponents with tactical precision. With an impressive arsenal of skills at his disposal, he is well equipped for any operation and will do anything to complete his objective. Once Militia has you in his sights, you'd better have a plan, or the game is over.



Siren
Consider yourself warned when she is heard in Gladiator Arena. Siren is a force to be reckoned with who will go off at the slightest provocation! Pay close attention to her every move, or siren will wail... on you!


Stealth
She flies under the radar for a swift and unexpected attack, and any adversary caught unaware will get a swift lesson in shock and awe. Immensely strong and cool under pressure, she executes her favorite move -- a quick counter-attack that you never see coming.


Titan
With nearly godlike strength and skill, he is the ultimate warrior. Able to physically dominate foes with his impressive physique, he is equally adept at mind games and will attempt to mentally defeat opponents before the battle even begins. Titan is a double threat who will find a way to win... one way or another.


Toa
With his tribal garb and distinctive tattoos, he may conjure up images of an island paradise, but facing him in battle is pure hell. Drawing on the power of his ancestors, Toa has the strength of a thousand warriors flowing through his veins, and he will never, ever show mercy.



Venom
She has shed her skin to become one of the most feared warriors in Gladiator Arena. She stalks her prey with caution and strikes when it is least expected. Any opponent that faces her had better come prepared because there is no known antidote for Venom, who is lethal in any dose.


Wolf
When you enter Gladiator Arena keep an eye out for Wolf! Able to smell fear and always going for the jugular, Wolf is 230-pounds of primal fury. He will ferociously defend his turf... and thrives on the opportunity to sink his teeth into any challenge.



They all look so angry and terrfiying. This is going to be wonderful.
Pssh; who needs writers anyway? (I do! I think last night was the last 30 Rock and I'm really really sad. My Christmas is going to be far less than Luda)

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Report: David Cutcliffe New Coach at Duke

Sports Illustrated is reporting that Tennessee Offensive Coordinator David Cutcliffe has been offered the position of Duke Football Head Coach and sources within the Tennessee program are saying he is expected to accept the post.
From the article:

Cutcliffe and Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer did not return numerous calls from the News Sentinel seeking comment. Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton declined comment, citing a professional policy not to address coaching searches.

A spokeswoman in the Tennessee athletic department told The Associated Press late Thursday night that she had not heard anything about Cutcliffe receiving an offer.

Duke fired Ted Roof following a 1-11 record.

Cutcliffe has been Tennessee offensive coordinator for two seasons. He was head coach at Ole Miss from 1999-2004.

While there, he compiled a 44-29 record with the Rebels and coached Ole Miss to four bowl victories against one loss. He was the only Rebels coach in history to win at least seven games in each of his first five seasons.

Good luck Coach Cutcliffe. Let's go Duke!!!

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Some Mitchell Report Names?

This has been circulating in my friend's office this morning and I thought it was a little shocking and worth sharing.

Names reportedly named in the Mitchell (Steroid/Performance Enhancement Drug) Report

Jose Guillen, Jay Gibbons, Juan Gonzalez, Clay Hensley, Jerry Hairston, Felix Heredia, Jr., Darren Holmes, Wally Joyner, Darryl Kile, Matt Lawton, Raul Mondesi, Mark McGwire, Guillermo Mota, Robert Machado, Damian Moss, Abraham Nunez, Trot Nixon, Jose Offerman, Andy Pettitte, Mark Prior, Neifi Perez, Rafael Palmiero, Albert Pujols, Brian Roberts, Juan Rincon, John Rocker, Pudge Rodriguez, Sammy Sosa, Scott Schoenweiis, David Segui, Alex Sanchez, Gary Sheffield, Miguel Tejada, Julian Tavarez,Fernando Tatis, Mo Vaughn, Jason Varitek, Ismael Valdez, Matt Williams and Kerry Wood.

"Brady Anderson, Manny Alexander, Rick Ankiel, Jeff Bagwell, [He who will not be named], Aaron Boone, Rafaeil Bettancourt, Bret Boone, Milton Bradley, David Bell, Dante Bichette, Albert Belle, Paul Byrd, Will Cordero, Ken Caminiti, Mike Cameron, Ramon Castro, Jose and Ozzie Canseco, Roger Clemens, Paxton Crawford, Wilson Delgado, Lenny Dykstra, Johnny Damon, Carl Everett, Kyle Farnsworth, Ryan Franklin, Troy Glaus, Rich Garces, Jason Grimsley, Troy Glaus, Eric Gagne, Nomar Garciaparra, Jason Giambi, Jeremy Giambi,

Too many former dodgers on that list for my liking and some shocking names. Gagne? Say it ain't so! Pujols? I may have been naive but he always seemed so clean cut and just like a good person and so I didn't believe earlier rumours. I had heard the rumors about Pudge, Mark Prior and Nomar but I liked them so I didn't want to believe.

It's all kinda sad. But I always knew Clemens was dirty.

[UPDATE 11:41 a.m.- Here is the official Mitchell Report, all 409 pages. And just a quick search but Pujols, Mark Prior and Nomar aren't showing up. Gagne did.]

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Indiana Jones And The Uninspiring Movie Poster

It seems like in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (?! that sounds like something on Legends of the Hidden Temple) Harrison Ford finds the Fountain of Youth, or just a great photoshop artist

(I mean isn't he like 70?) Meh, I'm not that excited. I guess it could just be a case of Indiana Jones and the Burden of Unreasonable Expectation though I think I like this new poster more than one for Raiders . But doing research today on the various posters, like for Raiders and Last Crusade I have to say this one for Temple of Doom has to be my favorite.

Harrison Ford such an 80s badass.

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Tim Minchin: Definitely Funnier Than Yahoo Serious

The L.A. Times today had a profile of the Australian comedian Tim Minchin that asked the question: "Could this be comedy's next superstar?" With the subtitle "[he] might or might not be the next big thing" and so of course in my pursuit of new hottness and things that I can find and love but then disavow when they get big and "sell out" I decided to check out some of his stuff and I have to say he is really hard to categorize

hH ranges from a pretty straight cover of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah (the only thing in it that's funny is the guy at about 1:02 who proclaims in disbelief "You've gotta be fucking kidding me)

to a surprisingly heartwarming original song about acceptance and being okay with what you've got called "Not Perfect"

A song that sounds like it really could be from like Ben Folds, "Rock n Roll Nerd"

to a song about true love and relationships, "If You Really Loved Me"

or the benefits of synthetic humans, "Inflatable You"

A poetic reading and exploration of one's own psychology "Angry [feet]"

and a summary of Donnie Darko (that finally helped me understand that film)

and his interest range all the way to the geopolitical, and environmental concerns as can be evidenced by this medley of "A Peace Anthem for Palestine/ Canvas Bag"

but all in all he's pretty brilliant (with songs that are really catchy). His piano playing is really impressive and unlike Flight of the Conchords I can actually listen to him for more than 5 minutes at a time without getting annoyed. And so while I don't know what makes the "next big thing" (middle america/frat types-I can't get into their heads) I really enjoyed him (the first thing that really made me laugh over the past few days) and he is probably the greatest Australian comedic export ever (though when your main competition* is Yahoo Serious and Paul Hogan that distinction may not be that hard to achieve.)

*and I'm sure there are a lot of great Australian comedians, but I'm drawing a blank right now

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Good For Her!

this may make me like Microsoft a little more. maaayybe. From Valleywag (via Queerty)
Michael Wallent, a general manager at Microsoft, will return to work in January as Megan Wallent. He came out to colleagues as transgender last month, first in person and then by email.
[skip ahead]
Wallent hopes that when he comes back to work, "maybe there are some questions, and then we move on and I keep doing the work I've been doing for 11 years." But at 6'2", Megan Wallent will cut a striking figure.

I am far from a techie, or geek or whatever and so I have no idea how important "Michael" was but anytime someone comes out an angel gets cute little rainbow wings and so I'm estatic for her. Welcome to the world, Megan

And speaking of people who couldn't wait for National Coming Out Day (which is tomorrow) sources are reporting that Bow Wow (oh how they grow up- I remember when he was lil') and Omarion are gay. For each other:

But a source in JD's camp claims that the real cause for the split was that Bow Wow expressed to [Jermaine Dupri] that his relationship with Omarion was more than simply musical after the two were caught engaged in a sexual activity. The source would not go into detail but said "He (Jermaine Dupri) was going nuts about it. These two were in a main room in the house doing all this. Me and two other assistants was with him (Jermaine Dupri) and we saw it going down and he sent us out of the room and was yelling and screaming at them".
The source claims that during the confrontation, Bow Wow and Omarion confirmed what had happened.
A producer who worked on the first Omarion-Bow Wow single released only a few months ago, confirms that, "what was going on with them in the backrooms and in the studio was more than just two dudes working on music. These dudes was feeling each other like a man and a woman". He declined to go into detail but he also added that in the music industry it is not uncommon..."to see something like that. Folks do it all the time. Sometimes they do it for money or to get they deals. Some of them are just under the table with what they like sexually".
A former member of Omarion's group B2K... when asked about the two's relationship, he declined to say anything more out of "friendship". But he would neither confirm nor deny.

(yay totally unsubstantiated rumours!)
well I guess if you have to have a beard Ciara is not a bad one at all. But if they are gay I think they're both at that coming out early twenties final realization phase so good for them. I still won't listen to their music but it's always good to discover others on the queer team

We accept her! We accept her! One of us! One of us! Gooble gobble, gooble gobble! One of us! One of us

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