Aside from presents and overeating, I'm continuing my five season push through Lost in anticipation of the final season starting in February. Like so many other heavily hyped things, I didn't climb on board the bandwagon, and the talk that it dragged around the middle kept me away. But as it reaches the home stretch, and the last season was called a return to form, I figured I should watch before the series ended and the twists and turns were ruined. I skipped The Sopranos and Six Feet Under for similar reasons, but this series I figured I'd watch.
After one season of catch up, from what I can tell the story is about a bunch of plane crash surviors who end up on an island of child abductors. "Lost" has a better ring to it than "Pedophile Island".
Best of the week: Raging against shitty music.
In one of the most unexpected victories of this decade, Rage Against The Machine’s “Killing in the Name” beat out The X Factor winner Joe McElderry’s “The Climb” to become the U.K.’s Christmas Number One single. The victory was aided by a grassroots Facebook campaign that chose Rage’s 1992 hit to halt a run of four consecutive wins for the Simon Cowell-produced reality competition show. According to the BBC, the final tally revealed Rage had beaten McElderry by around 50,000 downloads.
At one point it was much closer than the 50K-gap outcome, but Rage’s announcement last week that they’d perform a free “thank you” gig in the U.K. led to a late frenzy of downloads before the December 19th deadline. “It will be the victory party to end all victory parties,” guitarist Tom Morello promised, adding that both McElderry and Cowell would be invited to MC the show. The band also vowed to give all the royalties from the “Killing” downloading spree to charity Shelter.
Despite previously criticizing the campaign, Cowell took the Christmas single loss admirably, saying he had already called Jon and Tracy Morter — the organizers of the Facebook effort — to congratulate them. “I called Jon on Saturday to congratulate the two of them that, win or lose, they turned this into a very exciting race for the Christmas Number One,” Cowell told the BBC. Even Paul McCartney, who appeared on the massively popular X Factor this season, spoke out in support of Rage’s campaign, saying a victory for the 1992 song would be “funny” and “prove a point.” Yes, that American music from over 15 years ago was better than the manufactured pop drivel that comes out year after year.
“The people in the U.K. are tired of being spoon-fed one schmaltzy ballad after another and they want to back their own charts, and we are honored that they have chosen our song to be the rebel anthem to try to topple The X Factor label,” Morello told the BBC5 moments before Rage performed “Killing in the Name” live over the airwaves. Rage’s performance was cut short after frontman Zack de la Rocha sang “Fuck you, I won’t do what you tell me” four times over the air (yes, that's the link to see the performance, uncensored).
Also: Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante has confirmed that he has “quit” the band, writing in a MySpace blog post, “To put it simply, my musical interests have led me in a different direction.” Funny, I felt the same way starting with their Californication album.
The Peppers are reportedly working on their follow-up to 2006’s Stadium Arcadium, and rumors began circulating last week that Frusciante had permanently left RHCP and was replaced by guitarist Josh Klinghoffer, who along with Frusciante toured with the band in 2007 and also appeared on Frusciante’s 2009 solo album The Empyrean. Representatives for the RHCPs would not confirm the news of Frusciante’s departure, who clarified in his MySpace post that he actually left the band over a year ago when they were on indefinite hiatus.
“I really love the band and what we did,” Frusciante writes, adding that there was no drama or anger involved in his decision to leave. “Over the last 12 years, I have changed, as a person and artist, to such a degree that to do further work along the lines I did with the band would be to go against my own nature. There was no choice involved in this decision. I simply have to be what I am, and have to do what I must do.”
Frusciante’s statement ends his second stint with the Red Hot Chili Peppers. After appearing on 1989’s Mother’s Milk and 1991’s Blood Sugar Sex Magik, Frusciante left the Peppers in 1992. Following RHCP’s brief Dave Navarro era, Frusciante rejoined the band for their three most recent albums The band was nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame but will not be a part of the Hall’s class of 2010.
Frusciante’s full letter reads:
After one season of catch up, from what I can tell the story is about a bunch of plane crash surviors who end up on an island of child abductors. "Lost" has a better ring to it than "Pedophile Island".
Best of the week: Raging against shitty music.In one of the most unexpected victories of this decade, Rage Against The Machine’s “Killing in the Name” beat out The X Factor winner Joe McElderry’s “The Climb” to become the U.K.’s Christmas Number One single. The victory was aided by a grassroots Facebook campaign that chose Rage’s 1992 hit to halt a run of four consecutive wins for the Simon Cowell-produced reality competition show. According to the BBC, the final tally revealed Rage had beaten McElderry by around 50,000 downloads.
At one point it was much closer than the 50K-gap outcome, but Rage’s announcement last week that they’d perform a free “thank you” gig in the U.K. led to a late frenzy of downloads before the December 19th deadline. “It will be the victory party to end all victory parties,” guitarist Tom Morello promised, adding that both McElderry and Cowell would be invited to MC the show. The band also vowed to give all the royalties from the “Killing” downloading spree to charity Shelter.
Despite previously criticizing the campaign, Cowell took the Christmas single loss admirably, saying he had already called Jon and Tracy Morter — the organizers of the Facebook effort — to congratulate them. “I called Jon on Saturday to congratulate the two of them that, win or lose, they turned this into a very exciting race for the Christmas Number One,” Cowell told the BBC. Even Paul McCartney, who appeared on the massively popular X Factor this season, spoke out in support of Rage’s campaign, saying a victory for the 1992 song would be “funny” and “prove a point.” Yes, that American music from over 15 years ago was better than the manufactured pop drivel that comes out year after year.
“The people in the U.K. are tired of being spoon-fed one schmaltzy ballad after another and they want to back their own charts, and we are honored that they have chosen our song to be the rebel anthem to try to topple The X Factor label,” Morello told the BBC5 moments before Rage performed “Killing in the Name” live over the airwaves. Rage’s performance was cut short after frontman Zack de la Rocha sang “Fuck you, I won’t do what you tell me” four times over the air (yes, that's the link to see the performance, uncensored).
Also: Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante has confirmed that he has “quit” the band, writing in a MySpace blog post, “To put it simply, my musical interests have led me in a different direction.” Funny, I felt the same way starting with their Californication album.
The Peppers are reportedly working on their follow-up to 2006’s Stadium Arcadium, and rumors began circulating last week that Frusciante had permanently left RHCP and was replaced by guitarist Josh Klinghoffer, who along with Frusciante toured with the band in 2007 and also appeared on Frusciante’s 2009 solo album The Empyrean. Representatives for the RHCPs would not confirm the news of Frusciante’s departure, who clarified in his MySpace post that he actually left the band over a year ago when they were on indefinite hiatus.“I really love the band and what we did,” Frusciante writes, adding that there was no drama or anger involved in his decision to leave. “Over the last 12 years, I have changed, as a person and artist, to such a degree that to do further work along the lines I did with the band would be to go against my own nature. There was no choice involved in this decision. I simply have to be what I am, and have to do what I must do.”
Frusciante’s statement ends his second stint with the Red Hot Chili Peppers. After appearing on 1989’s Mother’s Milk and 1991’s Blood Sugar Sex Magik, Frusciante left the Peppers in 1992. Following RHCP’s brief Dave Navarro era, Frusciante rejoined the band for their three most recent albums The band was nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame but will not be a part of the Hall’s class of 2010.
Frusciante’s full letter reads:
“When I quit the band, over a year ago, we were on an indefinite hiatus. There was no drama or anger involved, and the other guys were very understanding. They are supportive of my doing whatever makes me happy and that goes both ways.
To put it simply, my musical interests have led me in a different direction. Upon rejoining, and throughout my time in the band, I was very excited about exploring the musical possibilities inherent in a rock band, and doing so with those people in particular. A couple of years ago, I began to feel that same excitement again, but this time it was about making a different kind of music, alone, and being my own engineer.
I really love the band and what we did. I understand and value that my work with them means a lot to many people, but I have to follow my interests. For me, art has never been something done out of a sense of duty. It is something I do because it is really fun, exciting, and interesting. Over the last 12 years, I have changed, as a person and artist, to such a degree that to do further work along the lines I did with the band would be to go against my own nature. There was no choice involved in this decision. I simply have to be what I am, and have to do what I must do. Sending love and gratitude to you all.”
Not that I particularly liked his solo work, but the recent RCHP albums have been terrible, so perhaps like the Navarro experiment, the situation will yield another good album.
Plus: Stinky toilets, crying babies, airless cabins — the Obama administration said Monday passengers don't have to take it any more. Well, not for more than three hours - they ordered airlines to let people get off planes delayed on the ground after that time.
The three-hour limit and other new regulations are meant to send an unequivocal message to airlines not to hold passengers hostage on stuck planes. Coming on the eve of the busy holiday travel season, the announcement was hailed by consumer advocates as "a Christmas miracle." The airline industry said it will comply with the regulations — which go into effect in 120 days — but predicted the result will be more canceled flights, more inconvenience for passengers.
This year through Oct. 31, there were 864 flights with taxi out times of three hours or more, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Using 2007 and 2008 data, they said there are an average of 1,500 domestic flights a year carrying about 114,000 passengers that are delayed more than three hours.
Last month, the department fined Continental Airlines, ExpressJet Airlines and Mesaba Airlines $175,000 for their roles in a nearly six-hour tarmac delay in Rochester, Minn. In August, Continental Express Flight 2816 en route to Minneapolis was diverted to Rochester due to thunderstorms. Forty-seven passengers were kept overnight in a cramped plane because Mesaba employees refused to open a gate so that they could enter the closed airport terminal.
It was the first time the department had fined an airline for actions involving a ground delay. Transportation officials made clear the case was a warning to the industry. Airlines could be fined $27,500 per passenger for each violation of the three-hour limit. The regulations apply to domestic flights. U.S. carriers operating international flights departing from or arriving in the United States must specify, in advance, their own time limits for deplaning passengers. Foreign carriers do not fly between two U.S. cities and are not covered by the rules.
Airlines will be required to provide food and water for passengers within two hours of a plane being delayed on a tarmac, and to maintain operable lavatories. They must also provide passengers with medical attention when necessary. Airlines will also be prohibited from scheduling chronically delayed flights. They must designate an employee to monitor the effects of flight delays and cancellations and respond to consumer complaints. And they would have to post flight delay information on their Web sites. Carriers who fail to comply could face government enforcement action for using unfair or deceptive trade practices.
Best picture(s) of the week:
Plus: Stinky toilets, crying babies, airless cabins — the Obama administration said Monday passengers don't have to take it any more. Well, not for more than three hours - they ordered airlines to let people get off planes delayed on the ground after that time.
The three-hour limit and other new regulations are meant to send an unequivocal message to airlines not to hold passengers hostage on stuck planes. Coming on the eve of the busy holiday travel season, the announcement was hailed by consumer advocates as "a Christmas miracle." The airline industry said it will comply with the regulations — which go into effect in 120 days — but predicted the result will be more canceled flights, more inconvenience for passengers.This year through Oct. 31, there were 864 flights with taxi out times of three hours or more, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Using 2007 and 2008 data, they said there are an average of 1,500 domestic flights a year carrying about 114,000 passengers that are delayed more than three hours.
Last month, the department fined Continental Airlines, ExpressJet Airlines and Mesaba Airlines $175,000 for their roles in a nearly six-hour tarmac delay in Rochester, Minn. In August, Continental Express Flight 2816 en route to Minneapolis was diverted to Rochester due to thunderstorms. Forty-seven passengers were kept overnight in a cramped plane because Mesaba employees refused to open a gate so that they could enter the closed airport terminal.
It was the first time the department had fined an airline for actions involving a ground delay. Transportation officials made clear the case was a warning to the industry. Airlines could be fined $27,500 per passenger for each violation of the three-hour limit. The regulations apply to domestic flights. U.S. carriers operating international flights departing from or arriving in the United States must specify, in advance, their own time limits for deplaning passengers. Foreign carriers do not fly between two U.S. cities and are not covered by the rules.
Airlines will be required to provide food and water for passengers within two hours of a plane being delayed on a tarmac, and to maintain operable lavatories. They must also provide passengers with medical attention when necessary. Airlines will also be prohibited from scheduling chronically delayed flights. They must designate an employee to monitor the effects of flight delays and cancellations and respond to consumer complaints. And they would have to post flight delay information on their Web sites. Carriers who fail to comply could face government enforcement action for using unfair or deceptive trade practices.
Best picture(s) of the week:
Best bonus links:
• Five Held Hostage At Rural Virginia Post Office - Registered sex offender and second degree murderer, and the best part is he took hostages from his wheelchair.
• Pakistani Court Orders Two Men's Noses, Ears Cut Off - Not exactly an eye for an eye, buy hey, ears and noses are close enough.
• Mexico City Assembly Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage - Something good comes out of the Mexican legislature...no if they can only deal with their rampant poverty, corruption, drug trafficking and illegal immigrants, that country would be on to something!
• Prisons: Madoff Had Dizziness, High Blood Pressure - Die, you prick. But painfully.
Worst of the week: 911 is not a joke, folks.
Police say a frustrated Boston woman called 911 to say she couldn't get her 14-year-old son to stop playing video games and go to sleep. The mother called for help around 2:30 a.m. Saturday to say that the teenager also walked around the house and turned on all the lights. Two officers who responded to the house persuaded the child to obey his mother. Because that's what we have police for.
But larger abuses are in the case of a woman authorities claim has called 911 30 times over six months for non-emergency reasons, including a call to complain that her husband refused to eat his dinner. Last week, the woman allegedly made a pair of calls to 911, including a hang-up and another where a woman was heard screaming. Police were dispatched to the residence and were told by her that "her husband did not want to eat his supper." A police report said the 53-year-old woman was also yelling "about things that happened two weeks ago."
I want to know how many lives are lost and crimes are unpunished because authorities and resources are being tapped for dumb reasons. And then I want to know how to put that on those who are responsible.
Also: Who thinks mega cooze Tila Tequila would make a good surrogate mother? Her brother and sister-in-law do, apparently. If that wasn't reason enough to deny them children...
Of course, Tila Tequila is not pregnant - yet. And she's not entirely clear on the concept. Despite the reality star's recent post declaring, "Im pregnant!!!!" and "BIG ANNOUNCEMENT: I am going to become a SURROGATE MOTHER for my brother & his Wife!!!" on Twitter, her nasty loins are still vacant.
"I'm about to be," Tila clarified. "When I tweeted that, I figured there's not enough space in the 140 characters. [I meant] I'm going to give him a Christmas present that's going to change his life." Actually, that's under 140, you stupid waste of life. "I don't have time to take care of a real baby of my own -- not yet however -- I feel I am very ready to experience the whole pregnancy process but without having to actually have the baby my own to take care of." I'm sure that won't the the first pregnancy for you, but the only one that went to full term. Or didn't abort itself once it realized you were the true mother.
In the animal kingdom, this is call "presenting".
Plus: Jimmie Johnson , the first driver in NASCAR history to win four consecutive titles, was honored as the Male Athlete of the Year by members of The Associated Press. Because driving a car in a circle requires real athleticism.
Johnson received 42 votes from editors at U.S. newspapers which are members of the AP. Tennis star Roger Federer (30 votes) and Olympic sprinter Usain Bolt (29) were the only other athletes with totals in the double digits. Although Tiger Woods was named Athlete of the Decade, the golfer received only nine votes for Athlete of the Year. He was tied with NBA star Kobe Bryant and slugger Albert Pujols in fourth place. Woods, who was ranked No. 1 in his sport but failed to win one of golf's majors this season, was never a top contender — even before the sex scandal that unraveled his personal life.
Johnson, is the first race car driver to be named the AP's Athlete of the Year in its 78-year history. He sais that even though he's a race car driver, he's "100%" an athlete. "I've looked at other sports, particularly baseball, and I've seen plenty of out-of-shape, fat players...so to anyone who wants to go head-to-head with me in athletic ability, let's go." He then added "I don't know how exactly you measure athletic ability, but I know my 5-mile run time will destroy most NFL players." Well, I guess that's the real measure and proves you're an athlete.
But it doesn't. As I've said time and again, physical conditioning and endurance do not make for an athelete or a sport. And don't argue that it requires skill too, because you'd better explain why we're not calling drummers athletes? Didn't think so...
Plus: Jimmie Johnson , the first driver in NASCAR history to win four consecutive titles, was honored as the Male Athlete of the Year by members of The Associated Press. Because driving a car in a circle requires real athleticism.
Johnson received 42 votes from editors at U.S. newspapers which are members of the AP. Tennis star Roger Federer (30 votes) and Olympic sprinter Usain Bolt (29) were the only other athletes with totals in the double digits. Although Tiger Woods was named Athlete of the Decade, the golfer received only nine votes for Athlete of the Year. He was tied with NBA star Kobe Bryant and slugger Albert Pujols in fourth place. Woods, who was ranked No. 1 in his sport but failed to win one of golf's majors this season, was never a top contender — even before the sex scandal that unraveled his personal life.
Johnson, is the first race car driver to be named the AP's Athlete of the Year in its 78-year history. He sais that even though he's a race car driver, he's "100%" an athlete. "I've looked at other sports, particularly baseball, and I've seen plenty of out-of-shape, fat players...so to anyone who wants to go head-to-head with me in athletic ability, let's go." He then added "I don't know how exactly you measure athletic ability, but I know my 5-mile run time will destroy most NFL players." Well, I guess that's the real measure and proves you're an athlete.
But it doesn't. As I've said time and again, physical conditioning and endurance do not make for an athelete or a sport. And don't argue that it requires skill too, because you'd better explain why we're not calling drummers athletes? Didn't think so...
Even as difficult as F1 driving is, comparing the differences (above) between the lazy oval of NASCAR and the twists and turns of GP on the Indianapolis circuit, they're still not athletes.
Worst picture of the week:
Worst picture of the week:
Is this what happened?
Worst bonus links:
• Jude Law Forgets How Many Kids He Has - It must be tough keeping track of all the tail you get as a celebrity, though I would think the number of broads you drop your seed is would e far less.
• Snowflakes On Christmas Cards Drawn Wrong - Thanks, assholes...take the fun out of Christmas.
• Jessica Simpson Battles Ear Wax - Merry Christmas! It's the go-fuck-yourself-OMG! link of the week. What do you call something less than news?
• Brittany Murphy's Father: She Wasn't Supposed to Die Like This - A 13 car pileup on the interstate would have been much better, right?
• Fannie And Freddie CEOs To Get Up To $6M In Pay - It's hard fleecing America, so the pay had better be good.
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