Shame! NYC's WNBC Co-opts Clinton's Historic DNC Speech For Sports

Watching Wednesday night's coverage of the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, I flipped from CBS, NBC and ABC to PBS, MSNBC and CNN, just to see how the networks vary perspective and camera angles and tailor talking heads' blah blah blah coverage.

I was in a state of disbelief over WNBC-TV New York's greedy decision to preempt former President Bill Clinton's keynote speech... and instead air the NFL season opener between the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys. WTF?! A fucking football game? How utterly dastardly of the network to favor their mighty income over offering equal time to the essential political issues that face our nation.

If there were ever a justifiable reason for the FCC to fine a station for obscene content, this, brother & sisters, is it. Shame, shame. Postscript: To make matters worse, the Giants lost the match! *

Model Perfect (And Then Some): Rugby Star Thom Evans

Who knew that our July 2012 expose on Thom Evans was the beginning of a long-lasting love affair? The Scottish rugby star's August 2012 cover pictorial for Brit mag Attitude was enough to alert the sirens that sports continues to be a whipping post for some of the sexiest men alive... but let's be Smoking honest here: This dude is damn model perfect, with his beautiful face and... uh... fulfilling features below the waist, yeah?

These new black & white pics come from a new photo shoot Evans did as part of F.Tape's "Obsession" series, celebrating masculinity. Following an accident that left him unable to perform on the field anymore, the 27-year-old is now—not surprisingly a model signed with Select Model Management—working for the likes of Emporio Armani, D.HEDRAL, Hom and Ralph Lauren (Photographer: Daniel Jaems) *

No Doubt Releases What Is Possibly The Worst Album Cover In 50 Years

What the fuck? After releasing its mildly amusing first single in nearly a decade, the ska/pop/sing-song "Settle Down," No Doubt previews the official album artwork for Push And Shove, No the group's sixth studio album, due September 25 on Interscope Records.

The gruesome black & white pencil sketch was executed by muralist and painter El Mac. Lead Gwen Stefani mustered, "His technique and ability is just mind blowing! The idea of him working with us on this record is classic."

Mind-blowing, yes, in the worst possible way. Classic... about as much so as a stinky tennis shoe. No go. WTF, No Doubt? *

Chick-Fil-A Prez Dan Cathy's Homophobia Bites Him In The Ass

Oh, poor, misguided codger Dan Cathy. The Chick-fil-A president's recent homophobic comments against same-sex marriage aren't sitting so well with a United States that has grown much less tolerant of the old guard's wearisome tirades against gays... because the Bible tells them so.

In addition to The Jim Henson Co.'s Muppets pulling its toys from the fast-food chain and seguing its financial support to GLAAD, Jon Stewart devoted an entire episode of The Daily Show to Chick-Fil-A's bombastic absurdity, alongside the Boys Scouts of America's proclamation that open gays are unwelcome.

And now, Boston Mayor Thomas Menino has fired off a letter to Cathy (god, I love that name!) urging him to stay the fuck out of his city: "In recent days you said Chick-fil-A opposes same-sex marriage and said the generation that supports it has 'an arrogant attitude,'" he began.

"Now, incredibly, your company says you are backing out of the same-sex marriage debate. I urge you to back out of your plans to locate in Boston. We are indeed full of pride for our support of same sex marriage and our work to expand freedom to all people."

In a radio interview, Cathy continued to put a big chicken bone up his ass when he whined, " I think we are inviting God's judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at him and say, 'We know better than you as to what constitutes a marriage. I pray God's mercy on our generation that has such a prideful, arrogant attitude to think that we have the audacity to define what marriage is about."

His original bullhorn tirade against gays went like this: "We are very much supportive of the family, the biblical definition of the family unit. We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that."

Oh, broooother... That collective "we being married to our first wives"... That's a good one! As if all stalwort Christian soldiers never divorce. Funny, I could swear that the 50% D-I-V-O-R-C-E rate in American struck a majority of said Christians. What a bunch of chicken-shit...

Meanwhile, former Arkansas Governor and one-time Republican presidential contender Mike Huckabee showed what an antiquated fathead he is by supporting Chick-fil-A's stance. He whined that he is "incensed at the vitriolic assaults on Chick Fil-A. Too often, those on the left make corporate statements to show support for same sex marriage, abortion or profanity, but if Christians affirm traditional values, we're considered homophobic, fundamentalists, hate-mongers and intolerant."

Oh, dear God. In one more generation forward, these kinds of comments are going to horrify what I count on to be a United States that stands for equality. But it's reassuring that already, such rhetoric sounds like a dinosaur brigade. Let's hope they're all soon extinct. *

Nanny Bloomberg's Soda Ban Hearing Fosters Plenty Of Opposition

Hundreds packed a NYC Board of Health hearing Tuesday to protest Mayor Nanny Bloomberg's civil rights-stomping plan to ban sugar sodas larger than 16 oz. in movie theaters, sports arenas, food carts, restaurants and delis.

The proposal is so absurd that it has gained national attention. USA Today called it a "misguided effort to curb obesity," pointing out that the day after Bloomerg announced his latest political whim on May 31, the closet queen had no issues celebrating National Donut Day.

The July 24 public hearing gave proponents and detractors a single opportunity to express their views before the 11-member Board of Health—all of whom were personally appointed by Bloomberg—rubber stamps the legislation in September. Mind you, during the hearing, not a $ingle of the Board member$ uttered a word. God forbid they $tand up again$t their lucrative appointment by New York's emperor.

The ban, which would be the first of its kind in the United States, drew such a crowd in Long Island City that an overflow room was needed. On the one hand, Kelly Brownell, a food policy expert at Yale University, te$tfied on behalf of the Bloomberg admini$tration: "Larger portions lead to overconsumption. This is established in science."

Daniel Halloran, a member of the city council representing Queens said, "When they came for the cigarettes, I didn't say anything, I didn't smoke. When they came for the MSG, I really didn't care because I didn't order it very often. I'm not a big salt eater, so I didn't mind when you guys regulated salt. But what will the government be telling me next?"

Saying he is "ashamed" by how the city is using its money and time, Halloran insisted the city should be addressing cultural changes, including nutrition & exercise, not intruding on people’s decisions. "What is the government going to tell me next? What time to go to bed? How big my steaks should be?"

My hero, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, an opponent, offered a rare bit of comic relief during the hearing, saying he is overweight not because of soda, but too much pasta, cheesecake and red velvet cake: "If someone has the right DNA, they can drink an entire two-liter bottle of soda and not gain a pound. If I do that, I’d be twice as big as I am today."

Meanwhile, The New York Times weighs in: "It is hard to think of a better way to turn soda into a symbol for intrusive, meddlesome, government than to have a humorless billionaire poking his finger of disapproval into one’s daily life and arbitrarily saying 'your cup shall not runneth over 16 ounces.' Bloomberg might as well have replaced Lady Liberty’s torch with a Big Gulp. He is a walking advertisement for libertarianism.

Indeed, no matter how bombastic such a move craps on individual's freedom of legal choice, we all know how Bloomberg works: Two months from now, his whim will be law. And New York will again be the laughing stock of the free world. *

Eagle Scouts Return Medals Over Boy Scouts' Bigotry

Here's a stance that truly demonstrates the metal of Eagle scouts. An uprising has begun where dozens of such former Boy Scouts are returning their badges of honor to protest the BSA's recent homophobic stance of not allowing openly gay people to serve as troop leaders or members.

Boing Boing writer Maggie Koerth-Baker posted a story about how her husband, Christopher Baker, a former Eagle Scout, returned his medal to the Boy Scouts of America. The post, which included Baker's letter to the BSA, drew such a robust reaction that other Eagles are voluntarily clipping their wings.

Baker wrote: "I am returning my Eagle Scout medal because I do not want to be associated with the bigotry for which it now stands. I hope that one day BSA stands up for all boys. It saddens me that until that day comes any sons of mine will not participate in the Boy Scouts."

Baker is not gay, nor are any of the other men who have submitted resignation letters to be posted on Boing Boing. Koerth-Baker said she is receiving a tirade of letters from men who have resigned from the Eagle Scouts.

Boy Scouts of America spokesman Deron Smith responded: "While a majority of our membership agrees with our policy, no single policy will accommodate the many diverse views among our membership or society. Although we are disappointed to learn of anyone who feels compelled to return his Eagle rank, we fully understand and appreciate that not everyone will agree with any one position or policy."

I'm assuming the Boy Scouts also, at one point, had a policy against little colored boys being members, as well. And handicapped kids. Grow up, BSA. It's 2012, not 1912. *

As Athletics Overshadow The Law, Penn State Gets What It Deserves

So many lessons... Penn State's shameful child-sexual-abuse scandal involving former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky exposes how athletics at the university level are accustomed to living above the law. 

Athletes slide through four years without passing the same academic muster as other students; they are awarded gargantuan scholarships for being able to throw a ball instead of use their brains; and, worst of all, college officials typically turn the other way when it comes to behavior that would be deemed unacceptable in any other forum (except, perhaps, the scandal-ridden Catholic church).

Looking at the faces of the Penn State University students who are aghast that the college was forced to pay for its sins pretty much says it all. Media reports say some actually wept out of disappointment! (These are the same students who held a demonstration when shamed Coach Joe Paterno was fired.)

On Monday, the NCAA took an unprecedented step in punishing the school for letting Sandusky slide for decades, just so its athletics program might continue to excel. The school was fined $60 million, banned from bowl games for four years and had a share of athletic scholarships stripped away. And perhaps best of all, every one of Penn State's wins from 1998 to 2011 has been stricken from the record. "The Penn State case has provoked in all of us a deeply emotional response and shaken our confidence in many ways," NCAA President Mark Emmert said. The sanctions were intended to help Penn State "rebuild a culture that went terribly awry."

Emmert added that a "grave danger" of university sports programs is that they "can become too big to fail, indeed too big to even challenge."

The $60 million will be used to create an endowment to help prevent child sexual abuse. It equates one year's revenue for the football team, Emmert said. Being deemed ineligible for Big Ten championship games for four years will cost the university its $13 million share of bowl game revenues.

The moves follow a report this month from former FBI Director Louis that proved longtime Head Football Coach Joe Paterno and other university officials didn't act on allegations of sexual abuse involving Sandusky. He was convicted in June on 45 counts related to abusing 10 boys over a 15-year period, starting in 1994.

On Sunday, Penn State also removed a seven-foot statue of the late Paterno outside the school's Beaver Stadium. The 900-pound bronze artwork was an "obstacle to healing," the university said. *

Nanny State: Santa Monica Bans Smoking IN YOUR OWN HOME

While smoking is already banned at beaches, parks, restaurants and near buildings in Santa Monica, Calif., the municipality's Nanny State City Council has now voted to ban a wholly legal activity: smoking in your own home!

The frightening new civil liberties-sucking ordinance says that all new tenants of apartments and condos are committing a crime by lighting up in their own living rooms...

There's an even more sinister ordinance requiring residents in their current multi-unit homes to officially designate their homes as "smoking" or "non smoking." Once declared non-smoking, the mandate can never be changed, even if you move!

As usual, "public health" is the battle cry, though what the law actually does is cater to the whims of extremists who are determined to stamp out adults' personal choices. I'm sure NYC Mayor Bloomberg is having a hissy tantrum that he didn't get such a law passed in New York first (he's trying, believe me).

"People have come to testify to city council about asthma problems, people who had no prior health problems who developed health problems because their neighbors smoke," said one official.

Let's see... so that means if I don't like the smell of bacon emanating from my downstairs neighbor, I can simply claim that it makes me ill and boom! A law is in place. I don't smell smoke... I sniff bullshit.

I can only imagine what's next as the slippery slope of making legal activities taboo continues to gain momentum. Pretty soon, I'm sure that there won't be a single food, beverage, word, body function or bad habit that is tolerated without legislation. Welcome to 1984, Big Brothers. *

Dumbass Mom Sues Justin Bieber Because His Concert Was Loud

I'm assuming there's an ambulance parked in the driveway of Staey Wilson Betts... so she can quickly use it to chase boneheaded lawsuits. The dumbass Oregon mommy is suing Justin Bieber for $9 million because his Portland concert was just too damn loud for her delicate sensibilities.

Betts and her daughter attended Bieber’s show at the Rose Quarter on July 14, 2010. The concert was really (really) loud, she alleges, but grew intolerable when Bieber positioned himself in a "heart-shaped aluminum/steel gondola." She says he then "created a wave-like effect of screaming by pointing into various sections of the arena, then enticed the crowd into a frenzy of screams by continuously waving his arms in a quick and upward motion."

It was more than the dim-witted woman could bear. Using really big words no doubt provided by her attorney, she says the gondola served as a "sound conductor creating a sound blast that permanently damaged both of her ears." She now has severe tinnitus, which produces a whooshing sound in the ear.

Of course, there's no mention of the fact that Bieber's singing in and of itself is enough to give any normal person a coronary: That shrieky castrada falsetto should have been declared a national offense years ago. Oh, what a world, what a world we live in. *

Quite Possibly The Most Horrendous Image I've Seen... Millions Protest!

There are soooooooo many things wrong here. So many. So. many. Where to begin? Justin Bieber showing any signs of sexuality. Ew. Ewwww! Worse: His lips are touching the face of pop music's biggest skank. Oh, I hope lil' Biebs washed out his mouth thoroughly with lye soap. Third: Nicki Minaj. That's it. Gross-out. Period.

And the biggest offense of all: A mother fucking duet between the two least talented pop stars of the generation, which is included on Bieber's upcoming Believe CD. I do believe... that I'm going to have to swallow hard not to barf.

As you can see in the image to the left, millions of citizens around the world have taken to the streets to protest this offensive image: "Yuk!" we're hollering with unified fervor. I'm the one in the green shirt to the left. I really like that shirt. See it, with the plaid collar?

Now here's the clencher, and I am willing to admit defeat: “Beauty and the Beat” is a damn good song. A party anthem with awesome beats and an adhesive chorus... Bieber (although processed beyond recognition) is actually singing like a pop star instead of all that phony R&B "I'm down wit dat" crap" that he learned from Usher... I am 100% serious.

Unfortunately, just when I was starting to have a damn fine time... here comes Nicki's faux squawky squeak, with typical intellectual zest: “Justin Bieber, you know i’mma hit ‘em with the ether, Buns out, weiner, but I gotta keep my eye out for Selen-er." What? Huh? What the fuck are you talking about? If I were Selena Gomez, I'd be running for the hills... Oh, what a world. (Hear the track for yourself here.) *