Commentary

You Can't Make This Stuff Up

The NY State Commission on Public Integrity says embattled NY Gov. David A. Paterson falsely testified under oath during an ethics investigation into his acceptance of free World Series tickets last fall. The commission said Mr. Paterson sought and accepted five free tickets for Game 1 of the World Series. Paterson must really love those $7 Yankee franks -- since he is legally blind.

Good news: Roy Messenger was not seriously hurt after he collided with a power pole. Bad News: he was killed while urinating on a power line downed by the accident. He apparently urinated into a roadside ditch, but didn't see the live wire. The urine stream likely served as a conductor, allowing the electricity to reach his body.

In an odd strategic decision, the broadcast networks (which, if they choose, could show full frontal nudity after 10 p.m.) are arguing that all other media -- including cable, satellite and the Internet -- should be held to the same "decency" standards as they are by the FCC. This, they say, will "level the playing field." I don't know -- I'm not sure "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" would have been nearly as much fun if everyone kept their thongs and tunics on.

Yet another embattled NY politico, Representative Charles B. Rangel, stepped down on Wednesday as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, a post with great influence over tax legislation, because of ethics violations -- among them the failure to pay federal taxes on rental income from a villa he owns in the Dominican Republic. As the old joke about the Pope goes: "You no playa da game, you no makea da rules."

In a nation where it is not uncommon to buy a "sleep machine" that replicates the sound of the wind blowing, folks living near wind turbines are suing over the "noise" they make. They say it is keeping them awake at night.

When the Internet's advertising industry's favorite uncle, John Durham, asked a discussion list for examples of employee review forms this was one example he got back:

Does this employee suck? ____Yes _____No _____Afraid to say

 

As if the world needs another reason to hate the French: Google could be taxed every time a Frenchman clicks on one of their ads if Frog leaders listen to The Zelnik Report. It recommends a levy on online advertising companies, as well as ISPs, to raise between $50 and 72 million annually for media hit by digital, i.e., news publishing and music. It names Google, Microsoft, AOL, Yahoo and Facebook among the companies that would be affected by the online advertising tax.

File under: And he was probably texting, too. In Idaho, a drunk driver engaged in sexual activity plowed into a couple's home. Lewiston Police say the driver lost control of his 2003 Dodge pickup truck and drove through the kitchen with force so great that an oven was pushed into a neighbor's front yard. A police report showed the driver's blood alcohol level was double the legal limit. He told officers that he lost his concentration while having sexual relations with a woman in his truck while he was driving.

As if the Olympics weren't embarrassing enough for our neighbors to the North, now comes word that Ottawa wants to start a public discussion on whether Canada should adopt a gender-neutral version of the song. "O Canada," the country's national anthem, has included the line,: "True patriot love in all thy sons' command," for nearly 100 years.

And you think Toyota has auto problems? Authorities in central Georgia have arrested a couple they say traded sex with their 14-year-old daughter for payments on their minivan. The couple bought a minivan from a used car dealership in March 2008, but has not made a single payment on it. They made their daughter perform sex acts on the dealership's manager in lieu of making the $281 monthly payments on their minivan.

File under: Why, yes, there are certain things inappropriate for Facebook -- why do you ask? The Israeli military called off a raid in Palestinian territory after a soldier posted details, including the time and place, on social networking Web site Facebook. Facebook friends then reported him to military authorities.

2 comments about "You Can't Make This Stuff Up".
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  1. Ellen Mccullough from BiddingForGood, March 5, 2010 at 8:42 a.m.

    "Frog leaders?" Are you serious?

  2. George Simpson from George H. Simpson Communications, March 5, 2010 at 9:55 a.m.

    mais oui

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