News Junkie - Live Wire

ROBERT FEDER’S GIMMICK

It’s a subject I’ve left mostly alone, not because I’ve been told not to address it but because I’m hesitant to give airtime or blog space to a man who still calls Web traffic ‘hits‘ and has an unhealthy obsession with WGN Radio. Tonight, on the podcast, I’ll dive into the mud on this one. Stay tuned.

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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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Quick, Everyone Make Fun Of Sarah Palin!

What do you do when the nation’s unemployment rate hovers around 10%, when discontent and anger toward your administration grows as your agenda falls apart? Well, make fun of an unelected official, of course!


PALIN FOR MCCAIN

Sarah Palin will hit the trail for McCain.


PALIN TO FOX NEWS

Just crossed the wires: Sarah Palin has signed on to be a contributor with the Fox News channel.


PALIN MOCKS SHATNER

Sarah Palin appears on the Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien to read from William Shatner’s book.

The video, after the cut.


TOMATOES AIMED AT PALIN

Man arrested for throwing two tomatoes at Sarah Palin during book tour appearance in Minnesota. Bad news: He missed. Really bad news: He hit a cop in the face and spent the night in jail.

Update: Here’s a photo… CREEPY.


PALIN IN A HAT

I generally don’t buy into the ‘Sarah Palin is hot’ hype but she looks pretty good in this hat. Here’s a snapshot from a ‘Going Rogue’ event yesterday.

POLITICS-US-USA-POLITICS-PALIN


PALIN BACKS BIRTHERS?

Sarah Palin calls the quest for Obama’s ‘real’ birth certificate ‘fair game.’ She later backed off a bit via Facebook. Still, what a silly move…


PALIN THE HERO?

Sarah Palin to appear as ‘hero’ character in new comic book.

palincomic


PALIN SELLS 700,000

An AP source puts first week numbers of Going Rogue at 700k.


SARAH PALIN BOOK TOUR UPDATE

THE BIG NUMBER: 300k books sold in 24hrs.

FLIPSIDE: Gawker finds look-a-likes, angry fans and MARTHA STEWART.


Sarah Palin To Resign As Governor Of Alaska

The official press release is here… but you want find what you’re looking for if you read it. I couldn’t get a sense of what her goals may be from her hastily arranged press conference either. She wandered out into her backyard and delivered a short statement, taking no questions afterward, in the media blackhole that is the 4th of July weekend. Also, she leaked some information earlier in the day that…


Palin’s Got A Gun – The NRA Honors Sarah Palin With A Custom Rifle

The NRA is sending Sarah Palin a custom gun. Not just any gun, mind you, a custom M-4 rifle — the very type of assault weapon that many Congressional Democrats would like to pry from her (presumably) cold, dead hands. The M-4 is essentially the civilian version of the weapon troops in Afghanistan and Iraq are carrying right this very second. The only thing Palin could possibly do to anger the anti-gun…


Matthews: Palin’s A ‘Mail-Order Bride’

This guy is such an epic ‘I’m going to do what I can to make this work’ joke at this point, I almost hesitate to follow him. Then again, someone has to pay attention.


Palin Comic Selling Like Hotcakes

Want to buy a copy? You can purchase them here….

palin-comic

Sarah Palin, it turns out, remains extremely popular in the US – at least among readers of comics. A graphic biography of the Alaskan governor was released in the US yesterday and has been flying off the shelves, with its publisher already rushing back to press for a second printing.

Telling Palin’s life story – from PTA president to her surprise


Palin Hit With 18k In Per Diem Taxes

Democrats aren’t the only folks dealing with tax issues, apparently:

UNEAU, Alaska – Gov. Sarah Palin must pay back taxes on nearly $18,000 in expenses she charged the state for living in her home outside Anchorage instead of at the state capital, officials said Wednesday.

A review of state policy and Internal Revenue Service tax laws determined the per diem payments should be treated as income, Department of Administration Commissioner Annette Kreitzer