Shakiwolf can't move like Shakira

Before starting, I hate Shakira's music in English, and I especially hate this "She Wolf" song.  Maybe its because I first heard it in Argentina or maybe its because she howls multiple times throughout it.


On America's Got Talent Shakiwolf sang her hit, and I was left confused.  More disturbing than lipsynching allegations, is the awkward non rhythmic way she "dances" across the stage throughout the performance, you be the judge.  Normally I love to watch her dance,but this looked kind of  like an upright seizure. Que paso Shakira? Why are you don't the robot? On another note, her hair looks FAB!

Why Reading is Fundamental

WTF.  The army notified a family that their son, Jesse Jasper, was dead when in fact he was very alive.  The girlfriend of the "fallen" soldier was confused to be on the phone with her "dead" boyfriend and see condolence groups forming on Facebook around his death.

The liason, wife of a deployed soldier, apparently misread the message that should have read:

"Sergeant Tyler A. Judin ... was killed in action while conducting combat operations in support of Bravo Troop 473 Cav."

to:

"I'm sorry to inform you that on September 12 Sergeant Judin and Sergeant Jesse Jasper were killed in Afghanistan,"

Big difference lady!Chick can't read.  Note to army: Don't get people to read  messages to be delivered verbatim if they can't read.

Note: Video is included just because I wanted to hear the themesong, and thought others would too.

Most expensive insurance ever :)

Finally, some numbers to feed the economist in me.  The proposed health care bill now has an official price tag, something critics and supporters alike have been asking for.  So, for health care reform that includes affordable public options for the uninsured akin to co-ops rather than the government option proposed by President Obama, we will have a new $856 billion bill to foot.  The breakdown:

$507 billion will be provided from cutting down government-funded health care
$349 billion will come from new taxes, fees, etc.

Honestly, I think the co-ops may not be all bad, at least it provides and alternative to overpriced insurance with high deductibles from giants such as Atnea, United HealthCare, and Kaiser to name a few. For critics who think it would be a waste of money and a failure, one word: Iraq. To date, the War in Iraq is costing:

and we have yet to withdraw, successfully transfer power, or meet our so called objective--oh wait there wasn't one just a personal family vendetta.  Afghanistan, different story and I can throw my weight behind that war, at least there was a clear, not contrived, reason for it.

So, I think we can afford to take a risk with something that will at least meet its objective.

Cracker Barrel the new Denny's?

Now everyone knows I love me some Cracker Barrel, so I was so dissappointed to hear that Cracker Barrel is apparently turning into Denny's. An African-American woman, and Army reservist, Tashawnea Hill was beaten and called various racial slurs (in front of her child might I add!) by the below gem. 

This guy, was apparently very hungry and wanted to make sure his biscuits were hot and in the process gleefully swinging the door open...into the above mentioned small child.  Maternally, Ms. Hill told Mr. Hungry Pants his transgression and in response he turned into Mr. Crazy Pants and punched her in the head! He also was Mr. Racist Pants, shelling out a number of slurs during the beating. CNN reports that the FBI is calling this a hate crime and Cracker Barrel is cooperating fully.

Calm down, there is enough hashbrown casserole for everyone!

The day the music died--Part I, Hip Hop

I'm not sure when it died...but it has. Hip hop was once a way for African American artists to talk about their neighboorhood, poltics, crime, governance, and even love.  Now its a forum for excess, bling, booze, boobs, and overall shallowness. 

Exhibit A:

Exhibit B:

But as bad as that is, I have a special place in my heart for a ghetto love song:

and a ghetto heartache song:

I think I'll tackle pop or rock next, but honestly...pop wasn't ever really that deep and rock is a marginal step up from the former.  Okay, I'll be really honest, I just think these 4 songs are absurd but painfully catchy, there I said it.