News

O’Reilly Jumps Shark with Gay Terrorist Sneer

Andrew Belonsky :: Friday, June 4th, 2010 10:56 am

Bill O’Reilly’s no stranger to controversy: the Fox News man has made millions by inflaming political, social and cultural tensions. His latest stunt – comparing gay people to Al-Qaeda terrorists – thrust him into an entirely new realm of absurdity.

Can Al-Qaeda Be Killed?

Andrew Belonsky :: Thursday, June 3rd, 2010 10:30 am

The assassination of Al-Qaeda leader Mustafa Abu al-Yazid this week has people wondering if the terrorist organization, long the world’s collective super villain, will soon be a thing of the past. Good thing I’ve been researching that very question for a little over a month. The short answer is, “Yes, probably.” The long answer is: “Not on your life.” MORE »

Here’s the News, Which is Coke.

Andrew Belonsky :: Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010 6:30 pm

Sigh. No wonder journalism’s in the pits: MSNBC, USA Today and at least one hundred other outlets and websites are harping on how Coke mixed with Mentos can propel a “rocket car.” That car’s sponsored by Coca-Cola itself, and offers a glimpse of how deep branding has burrowed into our lives.
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The Confederate Flag Will Rise Again (And Again)

Andrew Belonsky :: Tuesday, June 1st, 2010 1:00 pm

The Confederate States of America lost their war 145 years ago. Why, then, do they and their flag continue to arouse scandal, like the one unfolding in South Carolina, where only two of that state’s six gubernatorial candidates support an ongoing campaign to remove the rebel banner from state property? Why does this emblem, so often associated with racism, continue to captivate? Will the Confederacy ever die? Should it? Probably not.

Should Your Music Be Top Ten?

Andrew Belonsky :: Tuesday, June 1st, 2010 10:00 am

A person’s music library speaks volumes. If someone asks you about your aural collection, you don’t go straight for the Justin Bieber or Miley’s infectious single, “Party in the U.S.A.” You highlight the exceptional, the rare, “Check out this live recording of Television from Max’s Kansas City” sounds way more cool than, “This is a mass produced Black Eyed Peas’ album.” What happens, then, when your favorite band blows up? Do you abandon them all together?
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American Idol, More Than Just a Franchise

Andrew Belonsky :: Thursday, May 27th, 2010 12:40 pm

Let us rejoice! An American Idol has been named! Lee DeWyze now reigns supreme, and he and runner up Crystal Bowersox are free to forge their new careers. Hoorah! For all the news coverage of this story, one would think the Messiah had returned. It’s hard to understand the hubbub over what amounts to an updated Star Search. Yes, Idol’s a perplexing phenomenon, one dripping in advertising dollars and commercialization. It also provides a much-needed education.

When Voters Consume, Does Democracy Win?

Andrew Belonsky :: Wednesday, May 26th, 2010 11:00 am

With primaries well underway, and midterm campaigns heating up, Americans will soon be inundated with mass mailers, commercials, and a host of other politically minded marketing materials. Candidates advertise in much the same way as brands. We American citizens are not just voters: We’re consumers, ingesting civil servants the same way we do a favorite soda. And private businesses are making bundles in the process. This may not be a bad thing.

The Amityville Horror House and American Demons

Andrew Belonsky :: Tuesday, May 25th, 2010 5:45 pm

Have you heard that The Amityville Horror house is on the market for $1.15 million? It seems every news site has a mention of it. Why does America, including myself, care so much? It’s not just the demons in the Long Island home’s basement.

The Inverted “Gusher”

Andrew Belonsky :: Monday, May 24th, 2010 11:00 am

President Obama has finally started taking more administrative control in the Gulf oil spill by sending three cabinet officials to survey the BP-led cleanup. It’s unclear whether Obama’s action will help stem the criticism flowing his way. In fact, this story, like the oil itself, shows no idea of stopping and, as it continues to spread, “gusher,” a word once upheld as the pinnacle of oil-based success, will come to symbolize disaster, not dollar signs.

Florida Mosque Attack Shows Man in the Mirror

Andrew Belonsky :: Friday, May 21st, 2010 11:00 am

If someone firebombs a Florida mosque, does America care? Clearly not, because it’s been almost two weeks since someone tried to blow up the Islamic Center of Northeast Florida and there’s been extremely scant coverage. The silence isn’t just deafening. It’s dangerous.

Political Innuendo: From Subtle to Sledgehammer

Andrew Belonsky :: Thursday, May 20th, 2010 10:00 am

Any mention of the census provides the right an opportunity to attack “big government” and the man at its helm, Barack Obama. Sometimes, though, rather than taking on the president full force, subtle forces work together to create an innuendo too perfect to be coincidence, like this image that links a sex-offender who worked for the census to Hooker-loving Eliot Spitzer and Barack “Joe-Bama” guzzling beer with white ladies.

Do Specter’s Loss and Paul’s Win Really Mean Anything?

Andrew Belonsky :: Wednesday, May 19th, 2010 10:05 am

With primaries in Kentucky, Pennsylvania and elsehwere yesterday, our nation’s now firmly embedded in midterm election madness. Considering two-term Congressman Joe Sestak’s win over long-term Senator Arlen Specter’s, and Rand Paul’s Tea Party supported rise in Kentucky, pundits and pollsters are going to be scrutinizing every little detail to further predict America’s political climate. Though yesterday’s results suggest anti-incumbent predictions were correct, the picture’s still hazy. That could actually be good news for progressives. Or at least progress.

DC Douglas, Once at Geico, Now a “Nipple Tweaking” Patriot

Andrew Belonsky :: Tuesday, May 18th, 2010 5:00 pm

DC Douglas has come a long way from Boston Common and Melrose Place, two shows on which the once obscure “Geico Gecko” actor has appeared. Now, thanks to an angry message on a Tea Party answering machine and subsequent firing as the voice of a new campaign, Douglas is far more famous than ever. His name has been dropped from coast-to-coast, and his new PSA “apologizing” to the Tea Party guarantees Douglas some more face time. That’s a good thing, because DC Douglas shouldn’t be just a trend. He’s too indispensable.

The Taliban, Pakistan and a Perverted Student Movt.

Andrew Belonsky :: Thursday, May 13th, 2010 2:40 pm

This month’s arrest of Faisal Shahzad for the failed Times Square car bomb sheds some light on how the Taliban has spread: an allied organization called Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan took responsibility. Though TTP translates to “Student Movement of Pakistan,” it’s anything but. The organization does, however, help highlight how the Taliban grew out of a perverted pupil power.

We Need a (Super) Hero

Andrew Belonsky :: Friday, May 7th, 2010 10:30 am

Iron Man streaks into theaters again this weekend. Thor, The Green Lantern and Captain America will soon fight big screen injustice, while Superman, Spider-Man and Batman have long reaped Hollywood success. Clearly there’s a demand for super heroes and their cinematic adventures. They’re flashy, exciting and bulging with testosterone. They’re wonderfully entertaining, yes, but super hero movies can also be terribly depressing. MORE »