HAL takes pen in hand.

Among the weekend’s action: Dinner with friends, the market, book club, the usual laundry and grocery chores, and what else…oh, right. Apparently there’s this book:

I’ve been robo-written. In a fit of late-night Googling, Alan found this eponymous volume, consisting of “high-quality content by WIKIPEDIA articles.” Yes, for a mere $45, you can get a print-on-demand edition of the Wikipedia article about me and my three-years-past celebrity brush with greatness. It’s 96 pages. That’s gotta be some big type to fill 96 pages. Maybe they cut and pasted the 570 comments that followed that day. But I think I need to deliver some disclaimers before anyone buys it:

1) My Wikipedia entry contains errors, which I freely acknowledge and will not fix, in the name of keeping those who rely on Wikipedia on their toes.

2) That is not me on the cover.

This phenomenon rang a bell, which sent me a-Googling, and I found this NYT piece, “Do Androids Dream of Electric Authors?,” a clever title explaining that the robots are wrangled by a German company, which I flat do not believe, based on the email exchange one subject had with its managing director, one Wolfgang Philipp Müller. That sounds like a German name a robot would come up with. I’m thinking this is Skynet we’re dealing with here. This is only an early effort.

Monday, o day of suck, have you at least kicked up some tasty linkage for my long-suffering readers? Let’s see…

I went off on a little rant about Mitch Albom yesterday on Facebook. I’m thinking I’m not going to reproduce it here, as we’ve heard it all before and as Mitch’s work product goes, it was no worse than any other Sunday column. But it prompted Jeff Gill to post a YouTube of another Sunday offering with about the same level of numb predictability, which y’all are welcome to check out, particularly if you’re megachurch attendees.

Chelsea Clinton is changing jobs again. Now she’s going to be a TV correspondent, reporting NBC News’ “Making a Difference” segment on the evening news, which is to say she’s going to be a glossy show pony appearing in — I refuse to use a word like “reported” — happy-happy stories for a very large salary. Yes, she’s donating all her salary to charity, and she’s not just going to be a famous face, nuh-uh:

But Mr. Capus emphasized that this, and the others, are all serious hires by NBC News. He said Ms. Clinton had “made it very clear that this is not going to be a surface-deep relationship.” He added, “She wants to be in the field for the shoot and in the edit room for the edit.”

A dues-payer! Gotta love it.

Because I know lots of you are Elizabeth Warren fans, a profile on her senate campaign from New York magazine. Haven’t gotten all the way through it, but it’s a good read so far.

Me, I must strap on armor and prepare for my week. I hope yours goes well.

Posted at 9:15 am in Media |
 

58 responses to “HAL takes pen in hand.”

  1. brian stouder said on November 14, 2011 at 9:45 am

    So, there’s no such thing as copyright?

    Or, they’re saying your name is ‘public domain’?

    I suspect if a person wrote a book – let’s say Bill O’Reilly wants to sell a book about Lincoln’s assassination – and, in a bid for credibility uses the name Michael Burlingame on the cover.

    Would this not bring down legal thunder and lightening?

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  2. Dorothy said on November 14, 2011 at 9:49 am

    Can they really do that, use your name on something and sell it and you don’t see a penny of profit? If so that stinks big time. I’m completely ignorant of such things if this is the case.

    My daughter Laura went to her best college pal’s wedding in New York on Friday. It was a small but very distinctive affair that took place inside the Housing Works bookstore on Crosby Street. Laura used to share an apartment in Norfolk with a gal named Lauren. Lauren also had a dear college friend get married the week before, on November 5. Laura got back to her hotel after Jamie’s wedding and saw some comments on Lauren’s Facebook page that were expressions of sympathy. Turns out that Lauren received some very, very sad news about her friends who were honeymooning in Hawaii last week: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11316/1189411-54.stm

    The only people in this story I didn’t know personally were the bride and groom who perished in the helicopter crash. But I still felt very sad about this much of the weekend. Sorry to be Dorothy Downer at the top of the new week.

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  3. Dexter said on November 14, 2011 at 9:59 am

    I read all of Albom’s columns since he replaced Mike Downey way-back-when (Downey went to the LA Times).
    I stopped reading Albom’s columns regularly when the Freep , like all the others, stopped long-range distribution of newspapers to the hayseed sticks, which is where I reside.
    Now I only read them when nance mentions them.
    And for all you Albom haters, do not miss Sunday’s column. It is Albom at his worst, his Dick and Jane reader style, his sing-song repetitive manner here pushes this column to the top of the heap of his worst efforts. I swear, Neal Shine
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHRb19OAZ3E&feature=player_embedded#!
    is about to spin up out of his grave and zombie-slap this guy.
    http://nealshine.com/

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  4. KLG said on November 14, 2011 at 10:27 am

    Well, the first part is just weird. The second part once again validates my decision to stop watching TV news after the 1992 election. Maybe Chelsea and Little Luke Russert can work together! That would be swell.

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  5. Jason T. said on November 14, 2011 at 11:15 am

    I tried several times to post a review at Barnes & Noble’s website, but it won’t accept it. So I’ll post it here:

    Worth 18 cents per word!: Although I have never met Nancy Nall Derringer face to face, I am certain that this book captures the essence of the Wikipedia article about her. And the cover photo, lovingly selected through what must have been an exhaustive Google Images Search that took up to 3 minutes, surely captures Nancy’s love of lounging lazily beside a digitally enhanced seashore. If you simply must spend $45 on a laser-printed Wikipedia article, you could do much worse than buying this laser-printed Wikipedia article, although I’m pretty sure Nancy would print the article for you herself for less money.

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  6. Julie Robinson said on November 14, 2011 at 11:45 am

    Megachurch video/Making a Difference/Mitch Albom; glossy show ponies all. Is Chelsea having a delayed adolescent rebellion?

    There’s a great quote in the story: “One person close to Ms. Clinton said she had been quietly raising her profile for some time, though the public had not been completely aware of it.” Wow, that is quiet!

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  7. Deborah said on November 14, 2011 at 12:00 pm

    Megachurch video Papyrus font award, that’s a good one.

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  8. brian stouder said on November 14, 2011 at 12:01 pm

    Dorothy, the story you linked about the helicopter crash with the newlyweds is terrible; certainly a terrible surprise for all the young people (such as your daughter and her friends) who are confronted with the sudden (seemingly random) death of loved ones*.

    Here in Fort Wayne, one of the major-major important business people, and a major local philanthropist (the guy who started and owns Sweetwater Sound), recently crashed the helicopter he was flying, from Fort Wayne down to Indy.

    Everyone somehow escaped the crashed aircraft unscathed, and then the aircraft burned up.

    Still, that particular close-call got everyone’s attention.

    *thinking of the classic Lincoln letter of condolence to a broken-hearted young lady who’s father was killed, early in the war

    Edit: http://showcase.netins.net/web/creative/lincoln/speeches/mccull.htm

    edit 2 – Julie – THAT was funny!

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  9. coozledad said on November 14, 2011 at 12:03 pm

    This calls for Monheit:
    Surhane, Tennoe, and Hensonnow have edited their way from the wiki islands and caught the big wave to National Book Award finalist, if the judges know surfin’. Safari with this, dudes!

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  10. Deborah said on November 14, 2011 at 12:48 pm

    Coozledad, I have no idea what that means?

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  11. Jolene said on November 14, 2011 at 12:59 pm

    Just listening to the Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me podcast from this past Saturday. News for Detroiters: He’ll be doing the show there in January. Could be fun.

    And, speaking of podcasts, I discovered a cool app called Pocket Casts for Android or iPhone/iPad. It’s a podcast aggregator. Much like an RSS reader, it links to whatever recurring podcasts you want to follow and updates them automatically. Always something appealing to listen to at your finger tips (not that a shortage of interesting audio and video is a problem these days).

    Any podcast enthusiasts who want to recommend their favorites here?

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  12. Jason T. said on November 14, 2011 at 1:01 pm

    Deborah@10: Oh, dear. Were Cooz and I the only ones here who read Spy Magazine?

    “Walter Monheit’s Blurb-o-Mat,” Monheit’s monthly column in the magazine—subtitled “Capsule Movie Reviews by Walter Monheit™, the Movie Publicist’s Friend”—showcased his mastery of the ad-friendly micro-rave. Of When the Whales Came (1989), starring Paul Scofield and Helen Mirren, he proclaimed, “Thar they bestow—Oscars!” Of Alan Rudolph’s Love at Large (1990), he wrote, “Elizabeth Perkins goes from Big to Large, and oooof!—she still leaves you begging for more!”

    That Walter had never actually screened any of these movies was immaterial. And certainly the producers of the Robin Williams movie Cadillac Man (1990) didn’t seem to care, for they went ahead and used Monheit’s blurb (“Eight-cylinder, sedan-tastic, luxury-car har-dee-har-hars that rocked my chassis like a speed bump!”) in their print campaign for that picture.

    Musto, in one of his nightclub columns for the Village Voice, once expressed skepticism that Monheit actually wrote the blurbs ascribed to him, saying that Walter didn’t come across “like a typical irony-laden Spy preppie.” To which Walter replied, “I write, and they write also.” The erstwhile powers that be at Spy stand by this statement.

    (Note to anyone from Columbia Journalism Review or the Poynter Institute who may be reading this: I indented the text to make sure you know it’s a quote. You’re welcome.)

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  13. beb said on November 14, 2011 at 1:33 pm

    Sadly, a collection of Nancy’s writing here would make an interesting book, run longer than 96 pages and could be published for (print on demand) for half what that company is asking.

    Chelsea Clinton would do us all a favor and keep a low profile through out her life. We don’t need another politcal dynasty a la the Bushes, or the Kennedys or even the Bidens (though Beau seems to be doing well as a state AG).

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  14. Jeff Gill said on November 14, 2011 at 2:16 pm

    Sooooo . . . who is that on the cover? Tim Goeglein? Bob Greene? George W. Bush? Clio, the muse of history? Annabella, the intern of a near-retirement-age editor’s dreams?

    (I am neither an editor nor near retirement.)

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  15. Jeff (the mild-mannered one) said on November 14, 2011 at 2:17 pm

    Apparently, if I change my name in keeping with my new label, I go into moderation. (i.e., this is a test)

    EDIT: Yes. Interesting. The program doesn’t distinguish by ISP, but by name. Well, I’ll just leave it and see what happens. Happy to be mild-mannered or not, it just went onto my tag to distinguish me from some rather unpleasant Jeff’s who jumped into the comments after Timmy G. melted down, and I just kept it.

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  16. Jolene said on November 14, 2011 at 2:25 pm

    Chelsea Clinton has, at least, a reputation as a smart, serious person. Undergrad degree from Stanford, two master’s degrees, and currently working on a PhD.

    Would any of us turn down the opportunities she has had? I don’t think I would.

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  17. nancy said on November 14, 2011 at 2:36 pm

    Jeff,

    As I recall, the filter distinguishes IP, name AND email address. Anytime you change one, it’ll moderate you. In the early days of the system, I had to clear Brian Stouder on about eight different computers he uses to pop in from time to time, using two different emails, etc. FYI.

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  18. nancy said on November 14, 2011 at 2:39 pm

    As for Ms. Clinton-Mezvinsky, no, no one here would turn down the opportunities she’s gotten. My point is, no one here would get them in the first place. She was dealt a royal flush at birth. Hard to play that hand wrong.

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  19. Jolene said on November 14, 2011 at 2:57 pm

    She was dealt a royal flush at birth. Hard to play that hand wrong.

    No doubt she picked her parents well, but we only know that in retrospect. They were both exceptionally capable young people, but it was their talents and efforts that made the difference. Neither of them came from privileged backgrounds. One more lost election in Arkansas, and we might never have heard of any of them.

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  20. Deborah said on November 14, 2011 at 3:01 pm

    Sometimes Little Bird uses my iPad to comment and she changes the name when she does it. Most of the time she forgets to change it back and I forget to check that, so when that happens I’ll comment and it gets attributed to her. One of these days I’m going to write something really embarrassing (well, more embarrassing than usual), that will teach her to change it back. As far as I could tell it didn’t go into moderation when that happened, so I guess it’s because both of us have been previously screened.

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  21. nancy said on November 14, 2011 at 3:03 pm

    Yes, and if that had happened, Chelsea Clinton wouldn’t have gotten this job. She “lets it be known” that she’s looking for a new opportunity, and people bring her bags of money to accept theirs. It’s really pretty sickening. I don’t expect her to cover herself in sackcloth and ashes, but for someone who’s always valued her privacy to suddenly decide to be a TV personality? Fuck her. I hope she enjoys getting her picture taken walking out of restaurants, and I hope she has the grace not to complain about it.

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  22. brian stouder said on November 14, 2011 at 3:18 pm

    See, yesterday we watched a Dolly Parton bio on one of the channels, and now I’m humming “Jolene” (Jolene, Jolene, Jolene Jo Leeeeen, etc*).

    Regarding Chelsea ‘quietly raising her profile’ (STILL chuckle-worthy, Julie!), allow me to agree with both the Proprietress and Jolene.

    Afterall, Chelsea seems to have her mom’s brains and drive, since she could otherwise simply never do another thing but enjoy life (or worse).

    Anyway – when she was no older than our 13 year old daughter, she was subjected to a vile bit of defamation by the Head Flying Monkey of the right wing airwaves, which earned her a lifetime pass, in my book.

    (although, as Nance points out, once she crosses this bridge, there’s no turning back, nor complaining about whatever comes her way, including the Flying Monkeys.)

    Speaking of the Proprietress, I think we’re sending some very nasty weather her way. So far, an almighty storm is missing us just to the north, and the line seems to go straight for Motown.

    Regarding oddball IP addresses: anymore, on the(all-too-rare) occasions that I find myself out and about – say, at a hotel in Dale, Indiana (right next to Santa Claus) – it gives me some odd pleasure to post from the “house” computer, and go through moderation again. (Don’t ask me why. Why do I enjoy attending school board meetings?)

    * http://www.lyricsfreak.com/d/dolly+parton/jolene_20041709.html

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  23. Sue said on November 14, 2011 at 3:20 pm

    I seem to recall reading that Maria Shriver was a first in/last out kind of worker when she first started out and someone made the comment that she didn’t have to work as hard as she did, prompting the simple reply “Yes, I do”.
    I don’t get the same feeling with Chelsea. I get more of a Caroline Kennedy “Why certainly I will accept the position of senator, give me a minute to rearrange my schedule with my social secretary” presumption.

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  24. leigh said on November 14, 2011 at 3:29 pm

    There’s a part of me that thinks that if you have a President for a father and a Senator for a mother, and there was never any doubt about your ability to get into and pay for a big-name college, it must be kind of sad to be Chelsea. You’re never allowed to fail, or even to settle into a life of comfortable mediocrity, but no success you could have is going to be as big as you should have considering the advantages you were born with. How does anyone achieve anything without a wolf at the door? I’m not even sure how a person could play that hand right.

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  25. Julie Robinson said on November 14, 2011 at 3:49 pm

    My dad was a local celebrity due to his constant presence on the one local radio station. When we were out as a family, people would come over and fawn over him, and even if I was just with friends, I would still be recognized. There wasn’t much room for error and that had to have been magnified by a bajillion for a President’s daughter. Going to a large, out of state university was a huge relief to me, and yet, Chelsea is walking back into that scrutiny. Go figure.

    Speaking of chuckle-worthy, I forgot to thank Jeff for the video, which is going out to my fellow members on the worship committee. Right now our inspiring hymns are accompanied by the magnificent pipe organ we are lucky to have, but there is a small minority wanting more “praise” music. Praise music makes me churlish.

    And Jolene, I am almost too in awe of your research skills to suggest podcasts, but if you like classical music, Performance Today is wonderful. Our local classical station, which I can’t get anyway, dropped it a few years ago, and finding it online has been a joy.

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  26. Vince said on November 14, 2011 at 4:02 pm

    Nance, that photo on your book cover captures you perfectly! It’s just how I remember seeing you lounging on the lawn of Wallace House in Ann Arbor. Too bad they replaced the grass with a dock and the ocean. The original pose was spot on.

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  27. Deborah said on November 14, 2011 at 4:02 pm

    I’d trade places with Chelsea Clinton any day of the week.

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  28. Dexter said on November 14, 2011 at 4:08 pm

    So much nepotism , but it doesn’t bother me much. How convenient that Tim Russert died just before Luke Russert graduated, job hungry, and Tim was so loved that NBC scooped young Luke up under their wing…I like to watch Anderson Cooper’s show, and yet it’s obvious he could have waltzed in anywhere he desired and taken jobs, with Gloria Vanderbilt as his mom.
    Even in sports, such as the Bell family, and the Boone family…three generations of major league players. Maybe if they didn’t all have the pedigree, some of the boys wouldn’t have been given such a long look as they developed along in the organizations. I played on a team with a great hitter and fielder named Joe Talley. He was from Spartanburg, SC , and he was a great prospect. He was signed by the White Sox and ended up tearing up the pitching in the Class AA league, out in Denver. He hit .365 and hit 65 doubles and 22 homers…never once did the White Sox call him up to the big team. I guar-an-goddam-tee if his name would have been Willie Mays, Jr., he’d have been there. I wrote him a few times and I was to be there when he finally got the call to “The Show”. I was going to pick him up at O’Hare or Midway and drive him to Comiskey Park…he never got the call. So if it takes a famous parent to get where ya wanna be…take the opportunity. Life isn’t fair anyway, and we all know it.

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  29. LAMary said on November 14, 2011 at 4:10 pm

    You know Fox news will have a field day with the history of Chelsea’s inlaws.

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  30. mark said on November 14, 2011 at 4:19 pm

    Funny, Wikipedia is already describing Chelsea Clinton as “a broadcast journalist.” I have no gripes with young Clinton, though this move seems like a step down for her to me. Is it a given that broadcast journalism at the network level requires no training and no experience, even for staging shoots and editing film?

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  31. Jolene said on November 14, 2011 at 4:26 pm

    Thanks, Julie. Your recommendation led me to the American Public Media page, which has podcasts of all the familiar APM shows.

    The BBC has good things too–comedy, history, and more. One of my sisters pointed out a podcast called BBC Witness, in which the speakers/interviewees are people who were involved in (or close to) important historical events.

    I wish there were a way to get paid for being an information sponge, but, so far, I haven’t figured out what that would be.

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  32. Little Bird said on November 14, 2011 at 4:48 pm

    I DO change it back, but for some reason, it doesn’t always take. Like the last time I used Deborah’s iPad to comment.
    At least Chelsea is smart. Just imagine Jenna Bush in the same spot.

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  33. Jolene said on November 14, 2011 at 4:55 pm

    Here’s what the politicos on Twitter are using for entertainment this afternoon.

    http://www.jsonline.com/multimedia/video/?bcpid=13960334001&bctid=1275195602001

    The Journal-Sentinel has provided a real public service here.

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  34. Julie Robinson said on November 14, 2011 at 5:13 pm

    Ohmyfreakin’goodness. Deliberate? You could see the wheels spinning as Cain tries to remember–um Libya, ummm Gaddafi, ummmmmmmmmmmm what was Obama’s position? How many more coffin nails are needed?

    Jolene, I’ve found many goodies on the BBC site too.

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  35. MichaelG said on November 14, 2011 at 5:27 pm

    Nepotism’s been around since Adam hired whatshisname.

    Anderson Cooper’s Gloria Vanderbilt’s kid? How did I miss that? Don’t answer.

    Love the cover, Nance. You look great.

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  36. Jason T. said on November 14, 2011 at 5:52 pm

    Jolene@11:

    WTF with Marc Maron. Each week he interviews a different comedian, usually from his garage — he’s had Jonathan Winters, Dave Foley, Ed Helms, Sally Wade (George Carlin’s partner) and lots of people I’ve never heard of. It’s a little in-jokey and sometimes he takes too long getting started (it’s also very NSFW and R-rated) but it’s rarely boring: http://www.wtfpod.com/

    I also like The Vinyl Cafe with Stuart McLean, which is an edited version of a weekly CBC show. Storytelling and lots of acoustic music. Think Garrison Keillor without the stick up his butt: http://www.cbc.ca/vinylcafe/listen.php?vLocale=podcast

    Also from CBC, WireTap with Jonathan Goldstein is frequently surreal and wet-your-pants funny, though it takes a couple of episodes before you catch the rhythm of the thing: http://www.cbc.ca/wiretap/

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  37. nancy said on November 14, 2011 at 6:08 pm

    Just a note: More than two links in a comment sends it to moderation.

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  38. Sherri said on November 14, 2011 at 6:20 pm

    I listen to Radiolab, This American Life, The Moth, and NPR’s Planet Money podcasts regularly. I’ve also sampled NPR’s Snap Judgement and The Story Collider podcasts.

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  39. caliban said on November 14, 2011 at 6:29 pm

    So the clowns in the GOPer clown car were up in arms about the foreign aid budget and how wasteful it is during the CinC debate. Yeah, right you Bozos. Foreign aid expenditures are relatively mminuscule, and I’m pretty sure none of these idiots would admit to wanting to cut aid to Israel, perhaps the biggest sponge on the books. The shit spewed about Iran was pretty scary, but the ignorance on foreign aid was pretty much hilarious.

    This is similar to the GOPer shibboleth regarding tort limitations as a method of controlling health care costs. How stupid are these people and how much stupider are the fools that would vote for these steaming piles of outright mendacious merde.

    And how does invading Iran fit in with the new austerity, which has worked so well in Europe these idiots simply must try it over here?

    To my way of thinking, the most egregius nepotism in American journalism is the elevation of the insufferable weenie Jeremy Schaap, who goes so far as to mimic his late dad’s speech mannerisms while relying solely on ambush journalism. Reminds me of the little tampon Tucker Carlson, but on the sports scandal beat, and without the pre-tied bowtie.

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  40. JayZ(the original) said on November 14, 2011 at 6:33 pm

    Jolene, that is classic Herman Cain. He doesn’t have a clue about the controversies over NATO/US leadership, the timetable for getting involved, etc. Reminds me of that beauty pageant contestant from South Carolina a few years back, when she was asked about the American education system. At least she was just a teen ager. What’s his excuse?

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  41. ROGirl said on November 14, 2011 at 7:28 pm

    I’d love to go to the Fox Theatre to see Wait, Wait Don’t Tell Me, but tickets are $38, $58 or $68. It’s been a long time since I’ve gone to an event at the Fox or other venues like it. My speed is lawn tickets at Meadowbrook or DTE in the summer. I saw Los Lobos this summer and had a good time.

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  42. Jolene said on November 14, 2011 at 7:57 pm

    Thanks, Jason and Sherri, for the recommendations. Some are already on my list, but will check out those that are new to me.

    Just read that NPR is trying out a new toy called Infinite Player. It works more or less like Pandora in that it learns your preferences over time, but it includes news and topical shows as well as music. You can try a beta version on either Chrome or Safari.

    http://m.npr.org/story/142303990?url=/blogs/inside/2011/11/14/142303990/introducing-the-infinite-player&sc=fb&cc=fp

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  43. KLG said on November 14, 2011 at 8:32 pm

    Actually, Jolene, having parents who could afford to send you to Wellesley in the 1960s and then to Yale Law School is pretty much the definition of “privileged.” It was definitely the other way with The Clenis, but had he lived in a state lacking a patron such as J. William Fulbright, things may have turned out differently for him. But maybe not. He was a force of nature whose inner demons nevertheless did him in. Now, if only he would just go away.

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  44. Jolene said on November 14, 2011 at 8:48 pm

    That Herman Cain interview led the NBC Nightly News. Tee hee hee,

    Also, Bob Costas is going to interview Jerry Sandusky on Rock Center (NBC’s new magazine show) at 10:00 ET. Seems improbable that a defense lawyer would recommend such an appearance, but, as the kids say on the Internet, IANAL. I’m not sure I want to hear anything he has to say, but will probably listen out of ghoulish fascination.

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  45. Deborah said on November 14, 2011 at 9:29 pm

    Jolene, I had to look up IANAL. Today is my day for being in the dark.

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  46. Jolene said on November 14, 2011 at 9:37 pm

    Just being cute, Deborah. For others, IANAL: I am not a lawyer.

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  47. Suzanne said on November 14, 2011 at 9:43 pm

    That “Sunday’s coming” video was fabulous. I’ll take the pipe organ any day. If I want a show, I go see a play or an opera.

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  48. Kirk said on November 14, 2011 at 9:52 pm

    Keep talkin’, Jerry.

    “I am innocent of those charges,” the 67-year-old Sandusky said. “… I could say that I have done some of those things. I have horsed around with kids. I have showered after workouts. I have hugged them and I have touched their legs without intent of sexual contact.”

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  49. caliban said on November 14, 2011 at 10:48 pm

    The lawn at Meadowbrook is one of my favorite places ever. Saw Yusef Lateef play an oricinal concerto there. //there was a blues festival there one summer where we saw John Lee play with Procul for his backing band. Astounding. Los Lobos may be the best American band of the last two d3ecades. We saw them open for the Dead at Foxboro on Independence Day years ago. Got in a fight with an idiot Deadhead that was nattering all through Will the Wolf Survive.

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  50. Sherri said on November 14, 2011 at 11:17 pm

    I promise, this is my last mention of Penn State: Charles Pierce has written about it for Grantland.

    http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7233704/the-brutal-truth-penn-state

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  51. paddyo' said on November 15, 2011 at 1:04 am

    Wow, ROGirl: 68 bucks to see Wait, Wait live? I had no idea . . . whatever became of free tickets? Yeah, I know, it’s for the good of public radio, but sheesh, even Letterman @ CBS doesn’t charge, though you’ve got to wait long in long lines . . .

    Hey, as for Chelsea C. live-on-the-scene, it’ll be interesting to see how/whether she measures up — which is to say, measures down — to that other presidential daughter’s stuff — Jenna Bush Hager on the Today Show . . .

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  52. Dexter said on November 15, 2011 at 1:28 am

    paddyo’—a facebook pal recently went to LA and while there took in a Craig Ferguson show. He had reserved the tickets way ahead, but , gratis also.

    My daughter and her Las Vegas, Nevada family spent a long weekend break in San Francisco last week. They came across an Occupy San Francisco march. One dude was marching nude, his schvantz swinging to the beat of the drummer…and boy, do these Occupy folks love their drums! It’s on my facebook page for my facebook friends here…she cut off the guy’s dick…IN THE VIDEO, I mean.
    http://www.facebook.com/dexter.friend

    Anyone want to get up close and personal with the Penn State situation? My son-in-law is boycotting the game with Ohio State this weekend. Two tickets, Section 5, $140. I can hook you up with a facebook connection or a phone number or email address if you are going to be in Columbus Saturday.

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  53. Casey said on November 15, 2011 at 1:46 am

    @ Jolene re podcasts. This is probably too late for you to catch, so I’ll maybe post again tomorrow.

    I second the recommendation for the CBC programs and add The Debaters on CBC Radio One. 1/2 hour. Hints of Wait Wait don’t Tell Me, in that it has funny people. Two guest comedians debate a question that is posed in true debate form. For example: “Be It Resolved That We Were Better Off BEFORE Digital Cameras”. The guest debaters are consistently good, and the host is marvelous. Terrific plays on words/topic. Look up the digital camera episode and you’ll see what I mean. http://www.cbc.ca/thedebaters/

    CBC Radio has been a real delight to discover up here in Alberta.

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  54. Dexter said on November 15, 2011 at 2:13 am

    http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/14/nyregion/for-neighbors-of-zuccotti-park-and-ground-zero-beat-drags-on.html?_r=1

    The drums of Zuccotti Park. This will take a free click away from your New York Times registration, fwiw.

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  55. Dexter said on November 15, 2011 at 2:31 am

    The Costas interview with Jerry Sandusky.
    http://rockcenter.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/11/14/8804779-jerry-sandusky-to-bob-costas-in-exclusive-rock-center-interview-i-shouldnt-have-showered-with-those-kids

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  56. ROGirl said on November 15, 2011 at 4:51 am

    Sherri, Charles S. Pierce nailed it. It’s the institutions, whether the Catholic church, corporations or universities, that wield their power at the expense of individuals, and they will do anything to protect it.

    I’ve listened to CBC radio for a long time. As NPR has become more news and talk oriented, CBC still has good music programming.

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  57. Sue said on November 15, 2011 at 8:25 am

    I don’t know if Nancy is going to be discussing Sandusky in her new entry today, so I’ll mention it here: Jerry Sandusky decided to talk to Bob Costas because that’s how it always worked for him before. All he has to do is explain that he didn’t do the horrible things he is accused of, yes it looked bad but it wasn’t what everyone thinks, perhaps I regret the horseplay but it was all innocent. See? Reasonable people understand that I made some mistakes, so let’s just get back to our regularly scheduled lives.
    The deluded freak thinks what worked in the past on a few people is going to work on the WHOLE COUNTRY.

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  58. coozledad said on November 15, 2011 at 9:17 am

    Expect to see a bit more of this. Even here, as the cops finally realize how deep they’re being dicked.
    http://news.yahoo.com/syrian-soldiers-killed-clash-defectors-131725807.html

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