News Junkie - Live Wire

FOX/CNN/MSNBC DISSECTED

Some great analysis of the current cable media landscape from CJR today. I disagree with a few points (especially the bit about MSNBC offering a rainbow of opinons) but this quote is interesting:

From personal experience covering news around the world, you almost always run into a CNN crew or stringer. You almost never run into a Fox reporter, and never one from MSNBC.

Read the whole thing at CJR’s website.

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ROY ASHBURN: “I’M GAY”

California State Senator Roy Ashburn admits to being a homosexual in an interview today on KERN. You can listen to the interview in this post and read the details here. Ashburn vows to carry on.

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BETTY WHITE TO SNL

After a massive online movement to draft her into the hosting duties at Saturday Night Live, Betty White confirms she will appear on the show.

But will she host?

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PETA TARGETS SEAWORLD

PETA sees a wounded opponent in SeaWorld after last month’s killer whale attack. Their latest mantra: “Let whales and dolphins ‘out of prison.’

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ADAM GADAHN CAPTURED

HUGE news out of Pakistan: American-born al-Qaeda leader Adam Gadahn has been arrested.

Update: It’s not him?

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NYT ON SCIENTOLOGY

‘Breaking With Scientology’ won’t hit print until tomorrow but you can read the New York Times assault on Scientology online right now.

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PHOTOS: TOYOTA HEARINGS

Executives from Toyota Motor Corp made the journey to Washington D.C. this morning to face down angry customers seething over their company’s recall follies. Take a look at these pictures from today’s event.

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THE BLOOM BOX

I can’t decide if the Bloom Box is the greatest invention ever or if I’m a bit like an old lady being conned by a slimy auto mechanic. Regardless, you have to watch this video. [Video]

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SCOTTY LAGO PHOTOS

Snowboarder Scotty Lago leaves the Olympic village in Vancouver after sexually suggestive photos of the bronze medalist and his trophy surfaced online. Lago says he’s in a ‘blackout’ and can’t talk about the event until next month. [View The Photos]

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RAY GOSLING ARRESTED

What happens when you admit to a murder on British public television? Well, you get arrested, of course. BBC presenter Ray Gosling arrested on suspicion of murder. [Details]

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TIGER WOODS PRESSER

Tiger Woods will finally reemerge from the shadows this Friday. The golf pro and reported sex addict is planning on holding a press conference at the PGA headquarters at 11AM Eastern. [Details]

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JOE BIDEN’S FOREHEAD

As I was watching President Obama’s stimulus update presser today, several readers emailed to ask ‘What’s that spot on Joe Biden’s forehead?’ Joe Biden is the first Catholic Vice President the U.S. has seen so each Ash Wednesday these questions float in like crazy. It’s Ash Wednesday, folks.

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Corey Haim Dead At 38: Drug O.D. Suspected

Actor Corey Haim was found dead this morning at his home.

Corey Haim Dead

Actor Corey Haim died this morning of an apparent overdose — possibly accidental — according to LAPD. He was 38.

Police tell us they were called to St. Joseph’s hospital in Burbank, CA shortly before 4AM PT to investigate.

Corey Haim was in dozens of popular 80s movies before a career flat-line in the late 90s. Some sources saying his…


Chinese Grandmother Grows Horn From Her Forehead

101-year-old Zhang Ruifang is normal… except for that horn on her head.

woman with horn

Grandmother Zhang Ruifang, 101, of Linlou village, Henan province, began developing the mysterious protrusion last year.

Since then it has grown 2.4in in length and another now appears to emerging on the other side of the mother of seven’s forehead.

Now, I’m thinking if my grandmother had a horn growing out of her forehead it might strike me as…


FOX/CNN/MSNBC DISSECTED

Some great analysis of the current cable media landscape from CJR today. I disagree with a few points (especially the bit about MSNBC offering a rainbow of opinons) but this quote is interesting:

From personal experience covering news around the world, you almost always run into a CNN crew or stringer. You almost never run into a Fox reporter, and never one from MSNBC.

Read the whole thing at CJR’s website.


Detroit Lions Player Enters Cage With REAL Lion

Linebacker Zack Follett visits a California animal park… in his uniform.

Lions linebacker — and fan favorite — Zack Follett had some fun playing with real lions recently (he thinks he might’ve found a free agent sleeper in his new pal Pele, too), and he has the video posted on his website. Follett took his camera with him as he paid another visit to the Cat Haven Wild Animal Park near


Russian Launch Keys Featured On ‘Pawn Stars’ Show

People pawn everything these days. But nuclear launch keys? That’s a first…

Pawn Stars Russian Launch Keys

Apparently, the guy who was trying to sell these keys (for meth, booze, whatever) wanted $10,000. The guys who host Pawn Stars weren’t having any of that nonsense and offered up a few grand. Watching, all I could keep thinking was ‘how did this guy get his hands on Russian nuclear launch keys?’ and then I questioned their authenticity for…


ROY ASHBURN: “I’M GAY”

California State Senator Roy Ashburn admits to being a homosexual in an interview today on KERN. You can listen to the interview in this post and read the details here. Ashburn vows to carry on.


BETTY WHITE TO SNL

After a massive online movement to draft her into the hosting duties at Saturday Night Live, Betty White confirms she will appear on the show.

But will she host?


DJ Granny: Ruth Flowers Is A British Music Sensation

Sure, you can spin records. You can rock the crowd. But she’s 69-years-old.

Flowers, a trained singer who is from the Bristol area, met French producer Aurélien Simon through a friend. “We went wild together on this DJ granny idea,” Simon said. Simon taught her how to spin and helped her to develop a style, mixing her techno sets with tunes from Queen, the Rolling Stones and Lady Gaga. “We showed


PETA TARGETS SEAWORLD

PETA sees a wounded opponent in SeaWorld after last month’s killer whale attack. Their latest mantra: “Let whales and dolphins ‘out of prison.’


Daniel Angerer: NY Chef Makes Breast Milk Cheese

Daniel Angerer’s lactating wife provides a new ingredient for the chef.

As she produced far more than she could use for their their daughter Arabella, Daniel became curious as to whether human milk could be used in the kitchen.

So he began to experiment in using it to make cheese. He aged it for a fortnight before testing it – and was amazed at its sweet taste.

Now the unusual cheese


Megan Mariah Barnes Arrested: Driving While Shaving

Megan Mariah Barnes was shaving her crotch while driving. Seriously.

megan mariah barnes

Florida Highway Patrol troopers say a two-vehicle crash Tuesday at Mile Marker 21 on Cudjoe Key was caused by a 37-year-old woman driver who was shaving her bikini area while her ex-husband took the wheel from the passenger seat.

“She said she was meeting her boyfriend in Key West and wanted to be ready for the visit,” Trooper Gary Dunick said.


ADAM GADAHN CAPTURED

HUGE news out of Pakistan: American-born al-Qaeda leader Adam Gadahn has been arrested.

Update: It’s not him?


Alice In Wonderland Opens Big: $115 Million Weekend

Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter can pop the Champagne now:

Alice In Wonderland 2010 Box Office

Even so, the Tim Burton-directed, Johnny Depp-starring fantasy flick had the biggest 3D release of all time. Of its 3,728 North American locations this weekend, its total domestic 3D count is 2,063, plus 180 Imax 3D engagements. That helped the pic post a $115+M opening weekend with numbers blowing away Avatar’s first Fri-Sat-Sun. IMAX on Friday had the biggest day in


NYT ON SCIENTOLOGY

‘Breaking With Scientology’ won’t hit print until tomorrow but you can read the New York Times assault on Scientology online right now.


Video: Armed Robbery At Berlin Poker Tournament

This very well could be the most brazen robbery ever:

BERLIN — A heavily armed group stormed a poker tournament in a German luxury hotel Saturday afternoon and made off with a jackpot, a police spokesman said.

Several participants at the tournament in Berlin’s Grand Hyatt hotel were slightly injured when they panicked and fled following the daring afternoon heist, Carsten Mueller said.

Mueller said four robbers in disguises forced employees to