Author Archive
Ernie Anastos And The Chicken
There are many great screw ups on television, especially on the nightly news. It’s live. Something slips out. It happens. But this one by New York anchorman Ernie Anastos might be the best one ever.
While doing the Fox 5 news broadcast, Anastos turned to the weatherman and said “Keep fucking that chicken.” He did. Listen:
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdnXYWSa56w]
He apologized, saying that he meant to say “keep plucking that chicken.” I make that mistake all the time.
Via Buzzfeed
Dad Punches Dad at School Event
Parents’ night at school is always fun. You get to meet other parents, the teachers, maybe punch someone in the head.
Wait, what?
A Connecticut papa punched a fellow parent during an “open house” at a North Haven Middle School. “Rodney Rivera, 32, got into a fight over a debt he believed he was owed, police said. The victim and his wife called police from a classroom, the New Haven Register reports.” He was charged with “third-degree assault, breach of peace and threatening.” A woman who lives with Rivera, Catherine Sullivan was also arrested “on a breach of peace charge.” I guess she didn’t actually hit anyone.
I always figured I’d embarrass my children by playing Slayer when his friends come over. Beating up other dads isn’t even on my list.
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0AGUywHntw]
Source: NBC Connecticut via DetentionSlip
Image: Internet Archive
A Clarification on Kanye West
Since there may be some confusion (irritation, ignoring, whatever) regarding my seemingly conflicting opinions about the Kanye West / Taylor Swift incident and the Serena Williams outburst, here is a clarification.
Kanye West acted like a jerk. A big jerk. It was a stupid thing to do. It was rude. And so on.
But he didn’t threaten to shove anything down Taylor Swift’s throat. That I would have been up in arms about. He interrupted an award show.
Howard Stern said on the air today that he gets crazy when a man invades a woman’s space, and I can understand that opinion. I still think the public reaction to the whole thing is overblown. It’s a big scary rapper being mean to the willowy blonde girl. She’s so helpless! Please. This is an incredibly successful musician. Do you think someone becomes that famous at the age of 19 by being an innocent?
To be clear: I am not say what Kanye West did was OK. But some of the reactions were way over the top.
Also worth mentioning is the fact Kanye apologized relatively quickly, whereas Serena seemed not to understand what she did. Plus the public reaction to Serena was divided, with some people actually saying that it was OK. Haven’t heard anyone supporting Mr. West. (I guess I’m filling that void. Ha ha.)
Lastly, the two situations aren’t that comparable in my opinion. One is a major sports contest decided based on physical ability. The other is an award for the best music video from a channel that barely plays music videos anymore. Who decides who wins? Viewers, which means it was a bunch of 14 year old girls, which would explain why Taylor Swift won? Not the same.
Image from Archive.org. It has nothing to do with this post. I just liked the picture.
A Better Response To Kanye At The VMAs
People are all up in arms about Kanye West having the nerve – the NERVE! – to inerrupt Taylor Swift at the MTV Video Music Awards, aka the VMAs. This report from ABC News would make one think that something really important happened.
At worst, Kanye West acted liked a jerk. But “OH NOES! HOW COULD HE DO THAT TO POOR LITTLE TAYLOR SWIFT????” C’mon. “This was a huge night for her!” Really? This is what we get worked up about?
A better response?
The VMAs are bullshit. MTV is a corrupt enterprise responsible for the sexualization of underage kids. It barely plays music or videos anymore. It’s an award show. Pick one of these reasons. Or several. Or make up your own. But this is really highly unimportant.
If you want to see an award show interruption that’s much more fun, check out ODB at the Grammy’s. (Via Wrongspeech.)
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2-5GSjZvW8]
Everything ODB did was awesome. Except dying. That sucked.
Why Serena Williams Losing Might Be A Good Thing
I don’t understand tennis. But if I’m right in my analysis that Serena Williams lost the chance to defend her U.S. Open title because of a temper tantrum, maybe her losing was a good thing.
I’ve been saying for years that athletes who act like 4 year olds should be penalized. We all laugh when a baseball manager kicks dirt on an umpire, and its funny to watch. But it’s bad sportsmanship. Even more idiotic is when a batter argues balls and strikes. There is no provision for an umpire to change a balls and strikes call, which means that arguing is pointless. There is a school of thought that says if you get in the ump’s head, perhaps you get the call next time. I would argue that for every call you get because of that, you lose two more because the umpire has decided not to reward the crappy behavior of petulant bratty rich kids, aka the players.
Athletes are generally millionaires several times over. Does that mean they shouldn’t care about a bad call? Of course not. But what we like to call “fire” or “desire to win” can also be viewed as a simple lack of self-control.
When Joe Wilson shouted “You lie!” at the President of the Untied States, he said that he let his “emotions” get the best of him. Why does anyone accept that as an excuse? Don’t we expect our children to be able to control themselves enough to not throw a block at another child because they were called, say, a baloney head? The issue at hand may be more important to grown-ups, but if you asked the average four year old which was more important, a perceived playground slight or national health care, I think we all know what the answer would be.
Serena Williams reportedly told a line judge that “You don’t fucking know me! You’re lucky I’m not shoving this ball down your throat!” While no athlete or sports fan wants to see an event decided by a technicality, perhaps Ms. Williams and other athletes will stop and think a moment before unleashing invective at the officials. Take a breath. Calm down. Might this take a bit off their game? Maybe. Or it might get them to focus on playing, rather than degrading someone who is only trying to do their job.
Commenters on Williams’ web site are divided, with some saying that she should apologize, some saying she did nothing wrong. One seems to blame the line judge for causing Serena’s outburst. Um, no. She did it. Whether she committed a fault or not (like I said, I don’t understand tennis) is irrelevant. Act like a grown-up. Control yourself.
Here is video of the outburst for anyone who missed it:
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DO_jlXjgxN8]
Serena has reportedly been fined $10,000. I have no idea if that’s a big amount for tennis or not. She can certainly afford it. Whether or not it will drive the message home is something else. Judging by her reaction at the press conference, I’m guessing no.
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AneiGX3hyqg]
Image: SportsCracklePop. The pic is from May of 2009, and apparently she told her opponent “I’m going to get you in the locker room for that, you don’t know me.” So the whole yelling at people thing isn’t exactly new.
Christina Aguilera Loves Her Jewish Man
Memo to hot young singers everywhere.
Get yourself a nice Jewish boy.
Christina Aguilera tells E! that she grew up sans male role model. And now she loves her husband, Jordan Bratman. Bratman was “born and raised Jewish” according to Wikipedia. That means that he’s, you know, Jewish. Why they don’t just say that is because, like the song says… well, listen to it.
Here’s the interview. Aguilera is hot, talented, and successful. And she married a nice Jewish guy from the South Bronx. Heck, her kid even has a fairly normal name, Max Liron Bratman; the “Liron” is apparently Hebrew, which is because BRATMAN IS JEWISH, not just “born and raised Jewish.”
Anyway.
via Famecrawler
Doug Manchester’s Wife Has Expenses
Permit me to enter Borscht Belt Comic mode for a moment:
You think your wife spends money? Listen to this. Elizabeth Manchester, the wife of “Papa” Doug Manchester, is getting a divorce. Papa Doug donated $125,000 to help pass Prop 8 in California. The bill that says gay people can’t get married. Cuz he believes in the sanctity of marriage! Right? So ok, they’re getting a divorce. Elizabeth says that she needs $131,625 a month. A MONTH! SO. What’s she spending it on? “$20,000 on clothing and jewelry, $7,000 in electric bills, $1,700 in groceries, $4,901 in household supplies, tuition at three private schools for some of the couple’s 10 grand children, $7,500 in salary for the full-time groundskeeper and housekeeper, $1,200 in membership dues for the La Jolla Country Club and money toward the hundreds of thousands of dollars in travel expenses the couple was accustomed to spending.” Hoo boy!
Thank you. Try the veal.
For what it’s worth, I hope Elizabeth takes him for all he’s worth. But it’s not up to me.
Source: LipstickAlley
