Court document suggest Cubs threw the 1918 World Series

The headline:  Cubs threw 1918 World Series?

The link:  http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/news/story?id=6396358

The summary:  A document detailing a court deposition by Eddie Cicotte – one of the 1919 “Black Sox” charged with throwing the 1919 World Series – suggests that the Chicago Cubs did the same thing a year earlier in the 1918 World Series against the Boston Red Sox.

The reaction:  According to the deposition, Cicotte says that several Cubs players were offered $10,000 a piece to lose the World Series but gives no further details.

As a Cubs fan myself, isn’t 100-plus straight years of losing enough?  Do we have to add this little nugget to Cubs fokelore?  Granted their losing streak would only be hitting 93 years this summer had they won this series but still.

iPhone 5 set to debut in September

The headline:  Apple to ship new iPhone in September: sources

The link:  http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Apple-to-ship-new-iPhone-in-rb-2554243925.html

The summary:  Sources within the company say that Apple is getting ready to debut the next generation of the iPhone – the iPhone 5 – sometime in September ahead of the Christmas shopping season.

The reaction:  There’s good reason that Apple has become the alpha dog in the smartphone space.

The iPhone 5 is said to be largely similar to the iPhone 4 but with a faster processor speed.  This will probably end up flying off the shelves just like every version before it.

Oscar nominated film director Tim Hetherington killed in Libyan fighting

The headline:  Renowned war filmmaker killed in Libya

The link:  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42682853/ns/world_news-mideastn_africa/

The summary:  Tim Hetherington, director of the Oscar nominated war documentary Restrepo, was killed in the Libyan city of Misrata by a rocket-propelled grenade.  Three other journalists working beside him were also injured.

The reaction:  The Misrata situation is getting more dire by the day and the countless killings that are taking place in Libya absolutely need to come to an end.

I certainly hope this serves as a wake up call as many good innocent folks like Hetherington are getting caught up in this senseless fighting.

Dilbert creator hides behind fake online user name to bash critics

The headline:  The demotion of Dilbert continues, no comic relief for creator

The link:  http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thecutline/20110419/ts_yblog_thecutline/the-demotion-of-dilbert-continues-no-comic-relief-for-creator

The summary:  Scott Adams, the creator of the wildly popular cartoon Dilbert, has been revealed to have used a fake online pseudonym to go on to message boards to bash critics of his cartoon and his work.

The reaction:  I love Dilbert but Adams seems like he’s taking things a little personally.

In the business he’s in, you’re not going to please everybody and you have to understand that some people will like your work and some people won’t.  I don’t think going on to online message boards under a fake name to yell at people is a particularly wise use of his time.

Government unveils new terror alert system

The headline:  Government implements new terror alert system

The link:  http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/04/20/government-implements-new-terror-alert-system/?hpt=T2

The summary:  The federal government on Wednesday will unveil a new terror alert system designed to replace the color-coded system that has been in place since the attacks on September 11, 2001.

The reaction:  And I was just finally getting used to the old system!

I have no problem with this considering the old system wasn’t much of a system to begin with.  The alert level bounced between yellow (elevated) and high (orange) a few times but hasn’t moved off of yellow since 2005.  The new system is supposed to be simpler and alerts issued when a credible threat is discovered.

NBC exec: Trump presidential bid is a publicity stunt

The headline:  Donald Trump presidential run a stunt? NBC exec believes the reality star is bluffing for ratings

The link:  http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2011/04/19/2011-04-19_donald_trump_presidential_run_a_stunt_nbc_exec_believes_the_reality_star_is_bluf.html

The summary:  An executive at NBC believes that Donald Trump possible presidential bid is merely a publicity stunt to boost ratings of his show “The Apprentice”.

The reaction:  That’s kind of been my feeling all along.  I never really get the sense that Trump is in any way being political but instead he’s just using the presidential bid as a platform to get a lot of camera time on him saying whatever he feels.

I could be wrong and he could ultimately throw his hat in the ring.  Polls suggest he has a fighting chance but I won’t believe he’s running until I see him make an official announcement.

High school secretary-turned porn star outed by student after refusing oral sex

The headline:  Samantha Ardente, high school secretary-turned porn star, outed by student, fired by school

The link:  http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/2011/04/20/2011-04-20_samantha_ardente_high_school_secretaryturned_porn_star_outed_by_student_fired_by.html

The summary:  A high school secretary moonlighting as a porn star was fired from the school after being outed by a student who asked her for oral sex in exchange for his silence.

The reaction:  Wow!  That kid has some guts!  Blackmailing your school’s secretary for oral sex.

There must be more porn stars working at schools than I’m aware of.  I seem to have heard the story of a school teacher/administrator getting fired over a porn star past more than once.  Either way, this story’s a wonderfully weird and fascinating read.

Mom sues to eliminate Happy Meals from McDonald’s

The headline:  McDonald’s grimaces at Happy Meal lawsuit

The link:  http://in.reuters.com/article/2011/04/19/us-usa-mcdonalds-idINTRE73I3UF20110419

The summary:  A mother of two has filed a lawsuit seeking to prevent McDonald’s from selling Happy Meals on the grounds that the fast food giant’s advertising violates consumer protection laws.

The reaction:  What would we do in a world without Happy Meals?

I understand where this mom’s coming from.  McDonald’s has the cool toys in Happy Meals and the meals contribute to childhood obesity.  But consumers can make a choice too.  They can choose not to eat them.  So many people especially when it comes to McDonald’s like to play the victim and say it’s McDonald’s fault that they weigh 250 pounds.  Well, what did you think was going to happen when you eat there 10 times a week?

I’m not saying that’s the case here.  This mom seems pretty well-intentioned but if you don’t want your kids eating McDonald’s then don’t take them there.  You don’t need a lawsuit to accomplish that.

President Obama scolds Texas reporter during interview (with video)

The headline:  Obama to reporter: ‘Let me finish my answers’ next time

The link:  http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2011/04/obama-to-reporter-let-me-finish-my-answers-next-time-/1?csp=hf

The summary:  President Barack Obama gets testy with a Texas reporter during an interview and follows the conversation by telling the reporter “Let me finish my answers the next time we do an interview, all right?”

The reaction:  Obama seems to be getting a little shorter and more direct with reporters lately and is undoubtedly starting to feel the pressure that comes with a struggling economy, unpopular health care reform bill and upcoming election.

Obama may not have liked the questions asked but the reporter does need to give the president a chance to answer.  I think the reprimand here was appropriate.

Charlie Sheen to Barack Obama: “I was born here”

The headline:  Charlie Sheen ready to run for president? ‘I was born here’

The link:  http://content.usatoday.com/communities/entertainment/post/2011/04/charlie-sheen-mocks-obama-in-dc-i-was-born-here-/1?loc=interstitialskip

The summary:  Charlie Sheen is critical of President Barack Obama at the Washington DC stop on his tour.  He questions the presiden’t citizenship saying “I was born here”.

The reaction:  And so was Obama, Charlie.

This show was full of the non-sensical ramblings that Sheen’s become famous for lately including saying that he would choose Nicolas Cage as his running mate if he were to ever run for president.  I think I could turn this into a Charlie Sheen blog and still have enough material to post every day.