There should be some sort of saying for Thursday. I mean, Monday has the whole "someone's got a case of the Monday's" thing; Wednesday is Hump Day; and Friday is Thank-God-It's-Friday. But what does Thursday have to offer besides being the day after Hump Day and the day before TGIF? Well for one thing, Thursday has television. My Name is Earl, The Office, Scrubs, and 30 Rock all headline NBC on Thursday. Must See TV Thursday? Maybe. Until someone comes up with a better moniker that might have to do.
Politics
Edwards campaign fires bloggers
The right-wing blogosphere has gotten its scalps -- John Edwards has fired the two controversial bloggers he recently hired to do liberal blogger outreach, Salon has learned.
The bloggers, Amanda Marcotte, formerly of Pandagon, and Melissa McEwan, of Shakespeare's Sister, had come under fire from right-wing bloggers for statements they had previously made on their respective blogs. A statement by the Catholic League's Bill Donohue, which called Marcotte and McEwan "anti-Catholic vulgar trash-talking bigots," and an accompanying article on the controversy in the New York Times this morning, put extra pressure on the campaign.
Speculation from sources that the two bloggers might be rehired was bolstered by Jennifer Palmieri, a spokeswoman for the Edwards campaign, who said in an e-mail that she would "caution [Salon] against reporting that they have been fired. We will have something to say later." [READ MORE]
According to a New York Times article on the same issue,
Ms. Marcotte wrote in December that the Roman Catholic Church’s opposition to the use of contraception forced women “to bear more tithing Catholics.” In another posting last year, she used vulgar language to describe the church doctrine of the Immaculate Conception.
She has also written sarcastically about the news media coverage of the three Duke lacrosse players accused of sexual assault, saying: “Can’t a few white boys sexually assault a black woman anymore without people getting all wound up about it? So unfair.”
"...Ms. McEwan referred in her blog to President Bush’s “wingnut Christofascist base” and repeatedly used profanity in demanding that religious conservatives stop meddling with women’s reproductive and sexual rights."
So does that mean Bush doesn't have a wingnut Christofascist base? Or that John Edwards doesn't want to acknowledge that he's a North Carolina fan? No, but it does prove how politics affects free speech when you're working for a leading politician's campaign. I saw John Edwards speak at The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse when he was running for office a couple years back. He even brought Tim Reynolds, the accomplished guitarist and musician, to sing some Beatles songs. Too bad his campaign can't support two acid tongued bloggers wry wit.
More on the issue at Pandagon.net.
Sports
The small, exclusive club of openly gay professional male athletes has a new member.
Former NBA center John Amaechi, who spent five seasons with four teams, on Wednesday became the first NBA player to publicly come out.
His admission comes three years after his playing career ended, making him the sixth professional male athlete from one of the four major U.S. sports -- basketball, baseball, football, hockey -- to openly discuss his homosexuality.
Amaechi details his life in his autobiography "Man in the Middle," which will be released Feb. 14.
...News that Amaechi had come out surprised some players.
"For real? He's gay for real?" said Philadelphia center Steven Hunter. "Nowadays it's proven that people can live double lives. I watch a lot of TV, so I see a lot of sick perverted stuff about married men running around with gay guys and all types of foolishness."
Even so, Hunter said he would be fine with an openly gay teammate.
"As long as he don't make any advances toward me I'm fine with it," he said. "As long as he came to play basketball like a man and conducted himself like a good person, I'd be fine with it." [READ MORE]
I don't know if you've looked in the career mirror lately, Steven, but your 5.4 ppg and 3.9 rebounds per game are pretty terrible considering you're a former 1st Round pick. Not exactly what I would call attractive numbers for anyone, man, woman, gay or straight.
Technology
Super Mario hits Firefox (Download.com)
Apple, Beatles label strike deal over name conflict
Music
We've added our new friends JustGreatTickets.com to the sidebar, so make sure to stop by and check out their vast collection of tickets for all your concert, sporting event, or family event needs.
SXSW makes me want to move to Austin, Texas, if only so I can attend this event every year. If you're one of the lucky few heading out to support the blogger-led Hot Freaks! parties at SXSW this year, make sure to check out Oreska Band.
This teen girl sextet is taking the Japanese pop music scene by storm with their brand of "entertainment ska-rock"! ORESKA Band formed in 2003 when classmates from Osaka, Japan, Ikasu, Tae-san, Leader, Saki, Moriko and Tomi met in high school band class, and decided to start their own band. They started off playing at small local clubs quickly building a following with their energetic live shows and colorful personalities.
Recorded on their own in 2005, ORESKA Band released their first album, PENPAL, while expanding their fan base outside their hometown with appearances at local venues and music festivals. A&R reps from record labels caught the underground vibe of the band and by 2006 these talented High Schoolers were signed to Sony Music Japan..
From performing at local venues, ORESKA Band has gone on to gain recognition on a national level. An exceptional opportunity came when their song Hana no Ska Dance was used in a TV commercial for POCKY, a very popular Japanese candy. The girls themselves appeared in the commercial, which was shot while they were performing on a moving train show-casing their fresh ska-pop sound and lively personalities.
Juggling the roles of high school students and recording artists, ORESKA Band completed their debut mini album, Ore, with six original tracks in March 2006. Ore was released the following July, receiving massive critical acclaim and an invitation to perform at the prestigious FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL which they graciously accepted attracting 1000 attendees, a new artist record! The girls collaborated with trombone player/Ska legend Rico Rodriguez on his tribute session album JAPA-RICO RICO RODRIGUEZ MEETS JAPAN with their cover of the Ska classic MONKEY MAN.
Featured Artist: The Films
I was introduced to The Films a week or so ago via my favorite radio station in the world, XPN, a presentation out of Philadelphia which plays some stellar indie tunes to help me through the daily 9-5. I've been enamored by their song "Black Shoes" for over a week now and figured it was about time to give them the praise that they deserve on Veritas Lux Mea.
The Films are Michael Trent, Kenneth Harris, Jake Sinclair, and Adam C. Blake, a Charleston, SC quartet who produce dancefloor indie rock that you can't help but put on repeat. You can pick up their debut album, Don't Dance Rattlesnake, wherever music is sold. You can also pre-order up their upcoming EP, Being Bored, which hits stores Feb 13th, just in time for your indie-lovin' girlfriend on Valentine's Day.
The Films - "Black Shoes"
The Films - "Belt Loops"
The Films website
The Films at MySpace
The Films on YouTube
Pre-order Being Bored
Bonus MP3s:
The Shins - "Holiday Song (Pixies cover)"
Bob Dylan - "My Back Pages"