The lady ain't wrapped too tight?!

In the latest Vanity Fair for eighteen pages the curtains are opened on the life of Sarah Palin and what's behind the curtain doesn't look very nice. In fact is that the lady looks a little crazy.

Ms Palin is shown as a person who is abusive to her family and staff, resorts to fear and retaliation to control the people around her, and as a habitual liar.

Michael Joseph Gross, who wrote the Vanity Fair Palin story, said on yesterday's MSNBC’s Morning Joe show, of Ms. Palin -- "This is a person for whom there is no topic too small to lie about. She lies about everything." See the video.

Ms Palin's reaction was predictable. Reporters are 'limp" and "impotent" said the lady? Why the sexual references? Who knows?

Politico reports: "Sarah Palin on Thursday ( yesterday) tore into 'impotent, limp and gutless reporters' who quote anonymous sources criticizing her. Though she did not name a story in particular, Palin seemed to be referencing a new Vanity Fair story on her that relies heavily on anonymous stories and contains several unflattering anecdotes about her temper. 'I hear there is some pretty ugly stuff right now,' Palin said of her recent coverage in an interview on Sean Hannity's radio show."

Mr. Gross of Vanity Fair said on Morning Joe, "The worst stuff isn't even in there I couldn't believe these stories either when I first heard them, and I started this story with a prejudice in her favor. I have a lot in common with this woman. I'm a small-town person, I'm a Christian, I think that a lot of her criticisms of the media actually have something to them. And I think she got a bum ride, but everybody close to her tells the same story. I started this with every good intention toward her. I was just shocked and appalled at every step at what I found. And I wrote this story sort of against my will. It wasn't what I wanted to write, it wasn't what I wanted to find. It was what was forced on me by the facts."

Well, any objective person who has been following Ms. Palin in the news -- her reaction to the reporter who rented the house next door to her, the way she relates to the father of her grandchild, the stories of how she tried to get her ex-brother in law fired -- could conclude that indeed, the lady isn't wrapped too tight.

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Virtual Girlfriends

Some Japanese young men instead of playing games in which they blow up stuff, defeat monsters, and defend the planet earth against an alien threat, are playing a video game with the goal of maintaining a relationship with a virtual girlfriend, and like comic-con caters to sci-fi and comic book geeks, a resort hotel in Japan is catering to these dudes with their virtual girlfriends The resort is called 'Love Plus' Resort, a place where real live young men go for expensive weekends with their virtual girlfriends.

There are plenty of jokes and questions about this. First joke: This is a joke! Is this a joke or what!?

Answer: Not a joke. It's a way for young men to pass time, and for game makers to make money, and for a resort to make money.

More jokes: Can these dudes get a date? Can they get virtual herpes? Why are these dudes spending all this money, going to an expensive resort, playing an expensive game? Don't they know that every man virtually has a girlfriend? It is called his right hand, unless he's a lefty.

John Cusack -- Gone Political

Fox News and right-wing media are screaming the name "John Cusack" as if they fear the devil is after them. Fox News is in the business of raising devils, creating devils, real ones and pretend ones. I don't know what went through Mr. Cusack's mind; as he sent his verbal slam at Fox News to his 209,000 followers. Maybe he was just having fun, sending out tweets. Well, it seems as if that is all it was --just a little kidding around.

The Rolling Stone reports -- "It seems Better Off Dead icon Cusack was idly tweeting; and he rattled off this thing proposing the construction of a “Satanic death cult center” outside the Fox News building. The full tweet --

I AM FOR A SATANIC DEATH CULT CENTER AT FOX NEWS HQ AND OUTSIDE THE OFFICES ORDICK ARMEYAND NEWT GINGRICH-and all the GOP WELFARE FREAKS"

Even in kidding, folks shouldn't allow their passions to override their better judgment, or allow hyper rhetoric to overwhelm their message.

John Cusack is a high profile American who can do much good. Twittering about "death cult centers" is a wrongful and harmful waste of time. Twittering about why folks should oppose Republicans and the Tea Party, and the dangerous radical right-wingers is an excellent use of time. Railing against Fox News is not as an effective way to protest, as would be leading a boycott against the Fox organization, the News Corporation and the properties of Rupert Murdoch, whose 'news' media outlets, including Fox News poison the American body politic. A better use of Twitter would be for Mr. Cusack to ask his fans and followers not to watch Fox TV, or to support Fox Films, and Fox's other media properties, which markets to a mass audience. Fox News is a fringe marketing operation, with its fringe audience. Fox's real money bags are in its mass marketing properties, whose income is used to promote Rupert Murdoch's radical, right wing agenda.

Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew: The Fashion Disaster

Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew are taking it on the runway. In “The Fashion Disaster” by Carolyn Keene the girls get to be part of a fashion show. River Heights is having the first ever fashion show for dogs to raise money for the Rollover Rescue animal shelter. All the dogs in the show will be dressed in the latest fashions by a local dog clothing artist and to top it all off, the star of the show is none other than the famous doggy-diva Lola. Lola is a very pampered poodle and when her gourmet treats end up missing she refuses to walk down the runway.

Looks like Nancy, Bess and George on the case again. It doesn’t take them long to start jotting down suspects in this case. With every superstar, there are people out there who would rather see a falling star. But who would want to see Lola, an innocent dog that everyone seems to love and dote over, fail and become a laughing stalk? Nancy thinks she may know who. The girls put their heads together and their suspect list contains a doggy clothing fashion designer, Lola’s personal assistant or could it possibly be someone from the Rollover Rescue animal shelter?

Each suspect does seem to have something to dislike about the doggy-diva. The clothing designer was quite upset that Lola was not going to be wearing any of her designs in the fashion show. She spent most of the time saying mean things about Lola to the mayor and thought it was hilarious when she wouldn’t walk down the runway. Before the fashion show, Lola’s personal assistant quit because she was tired of Lola’s owner and the way she was being treated. She only wanted to be the assistant because she couldn’t have a dog of her own due to her brother being allergic.

The last suspect is someone from the Rollover Rescue animal shelter. Lola’s owner boasts about how rescue dogs are disgusting and that she doesn’t want them anywhere near her beloved Lola who just happens to be a very expensive French Poodle from France. The girls have no choice but to sneak into Lola’s trailer to look for more clues. But how are they going to do that without getting caught and what are they going to do if they do get caught in Lola’s trailer? Hopefully the girls can come up with a plan that will help them solve this mystery.

Filling the American food fight gap

SUMMER MADNESS

America, not to be out done by the Europeans, specifically, by the people of Spain and their annual La Tomatina, a food fight festival held for decades on the last Wednesday in August, during which tons of over-ripe tomatoes are thrown by people in the streets at each other for exactly one hour, that great American city, Reno, Nevada, has begun La Tomatina in Reno, an annual festival where America is given the opportunity to demonstrate that American young people know how to tomato fight too. This past Sunday, Reno hosted the second annual tomato fight, with about 2,500 people showing that American young people knows what to do with a 150,000-pound pile of Roma tomatoes. Yes, these tomatoes become missiles that young Americans began to launch at each other -- so reported the Associated Press. See the video.

Yes, it look like madness. It is summer madness, and is something to do with a tomato besides putting it on a sandwich or in a salad.

getting down with the Air Guitar?

SUMMER MADNESS

It might look dumb. It might sound dumb. It might be something dumb to do, but it looks like fun -- air guitar playing. And there's a world air guitar championship!

A championship for invisible strumming, for just doing the faking out stuff --

Faking out stuff, now that is something politicians have been doing for years.

I digress. Back on topic. This air guitar stuff may be something that I can participate in. I can't play a real guitar, but I can get on stage and jump around, and boogie, with the rest of them. Maybe not keep up, with the rest of them, but I could get up there.

Air Guitar -- maybe I should give it a practice? Or I could try out for lip singing. I wonder if they have a world championship?

Any way, the World Air Guitar Championship was held in Oulu, Finland. There were contestants from twenty countries, and the winner was a dude from France.

On Paris Too

Okay, so Paris Hilton's claim to fame is that she is famous? The celebrity-heiress-Paris-Hilton is now just about her legal name. Celebrity, heiress, and, legal, trouble, and, more, legal, trouble, and, Paris, Hilton, have become a group of words that follow one another. This time Miss Hilton has been officially charged with cocaine possession. What is so embarrassing about this charge is that she was arrested in Las Vegas. I didn't know that they arrested celebrities in Vegas. I thought celebrities had celebrity immunity. Maybe celebrity immunity. only applies tor "Vegas stars" and to America's 'A' list stars.

Miss. Hilton's arrest is big news. The big news organization is covering the story big time and I know why.

Too many of us, Americans, just do not like the rich. Too many of us, though, we dream of winning the lottery, just can't stand a rich kid, who inherited money, therefore, has money without having to work for it.

I know several people, who, if they had the opportunity to serve on a jury and Miss Hilton was the defendant, and she was charged with jaywalking, not only would they vote her guilty as charged, they would recommend to the judge that her punishment should be the death penalty. Yes, for a non-capital crime, in a non death penalty state!

Too many of us hate the rich, though almost all of us want to be rich. And when a rich kid like Paris Hilton stumbles -- that gives a lot of us, Americans, the chuckles. And too many of us sit back and hope the girl doesn't catch herself, but falls, right on her skinny rich narrow behind.

Paris Being Paris

What is Summer News Without Paris?

Paris Hilton has been arrested again, and she is out on bail. The charge is powered cocaine possession. The buzz across America and the gossipy world is: Will Paris Be Going Back to Jail?

My response is: What for? Paris is only being Paris.. She is America's premier naughty princess. What are you going to do America? Spank her? Please!

The Associated Press reports on America's naughty princess' explanation to the police:for the content of her alleged purse, which, according to the Vegas police, included a small bag of white powder. Princess Paris said -- quote the AP -- "The rolling papers, $1,300 in cash and several credit cards were hers, but not the purse they were in. And definitely not the bag of white powder that fell out of it." See the video.

Of course people will believe what they will. She is Paris. Didn't the Vegas police department have something better to do? Like staking out one of the strip's casinos? They might have missed a chance to pounce on some nerdy dude counting cards?

410 Thread Count Queen Sheet Set - White

Have you been searching all over the internet for a great deal on queen sized sheets? Are you almost ready to give up? Well, don't - you can get the Sateen Stripe 410 Thread Count Queen Sheet Set (white only) for only $19.99 (plus $2.95 shipping) from Overstock. This is one of those deals that can't be beat - for the quality at least.

The set includes one Flat sheet, one fitted sheet (pocket depth: 15 inches), and four pillowcases.  The dimensions for these sheets are as follows: fitted sheet 60 inches x 80 inches, flat sheet 90 inches x 104 inches, and pillowcases 20 inches x 30 inches. These sheets are extremely soft and luxurious, this 410 thread count sheet set is an elegant addition to any bedroom. This sheet set showcases a sateen stripe weave which contributes to the luxurious feel and stylish look.

Just try and imagine yourself crawling into so soft, satiny bed with these cold sheets sucking away the bad day you just had. How is that for a refreshing image? If you want to experience these sheets in real life you have to buy them!

Having a little difficulty getting anyone to lay in bed with you - even the dog? Well, speaking as an untrained medical professional, it is likely that you are suffering from "scratchy sheet syndrome" - a condition that causes rough skin and cranky nights, brought on by cheap lower thread count sheets. This set is your cure - a cheap and easy solution - and at only $19.99 you can rest assured your getting a great deal!

I am more than a little iffy about white because so many things happen in bed that can get sheets a little dirty - if you know what I am sayin', but the price is right and you can always purchase more than one set as a back up. If you are a member of a collective group of hate mongers - this might also be just what you need for your nightly outfit. I am speaking of course about Halloween ghost costumes... what did you think I meant? These sheets would also be great in a spare bedroom - and the next day your guests will thank you!

The price these sheets are currently at is about 66% off MSRP and I am a firm believer that 60% or more is a great value - which this comfy little set will almost certainly offer. So what are you waiting for? Get them before they are gone!

 

The Benefits of Squat Toilets

The first time I saw and had the opportunity to pee into a squat toilet, I wasn't exactly thrilled by the possiblity of pee splattering on my thighs, and the design of the urinal-like toilet sitting directly on ground offended my western sensibilities. Of course, as I got accustomed to squatting, I started to see the benefits in both my thigh muscles and in the total time it took me to "drop my kids off at the swimming pool" whenever the need arose. Now, researchers are claiming that squatter toilets have health benefits as well.

As this writer so eloquently states:

"Proponents of squatting argue that conventional toilets produce an anorectal angle that's ill-suited for defecation. By squatting, they say, we can achieve 'complete evacuation' of the colon, ridding our bowels of disease-causing toxins."

An Israeli study confirms that defecating while squatting over a toilet takes less time- I would argue that the sheer comfort and luxury of being able to sit on a western style toilet-the throne- is probably the reason that someone using a squatter toilet takes less time. Unless your knees are in incredible shape, it's tough to squat over the toilet for long periods of time.

The same Slate writer didn't have his own squat toilet, so got his courage up and climbed on top of his western-style toilet to see how squatting felt. Thankfully for the intrepid writer, he didn't fall off of the toilet, nor into the toilet, and enjoyed his week-long experiment much more than you might expect. He also experienced the sensation of quicker, faster bowel movements, but again, if he was really perched on top of his toilet seat, he could have just been worried that someone would barge in and witness him in the ridiculous position. (It's one thing to squat outside on the ground or into a toilet designed for squatting, but it's quite another thing entirely to squat on a toilet designed for sitting.)

The great toilet debate may continue for some time. In my opinion, there is no way to fairly signify the the importance of comfort while performing ones daily personal duties- that may just outweight any other benefit of the so-called squatters.

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