Jack Abramoff Released From Prison, Sort Of

Tax fraud and Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff was sentenced to four years in prison back in 2008. Earlier this week he was moved to a halfway house — a residential facility that’s not quite prison and not quite home. “Halfway” must mean “you’re halfway done with your sentence, so out you go.”
Read the story here.
And watch this trailer for a new documentary called Casino Jack

Lady Gaga, Lady Gaga, Lady Gaga

Imagine if Marilyn Manson made a Madonna video, then add the self-indulgence of Michael Jackson so that it’s way too long, and you’ve got Lady Gaga’s newest video, “Alejandro.” Good luck sitting through all nine minutes of it — these days that seems like a lot to put up with, just to see a minute or two of sexy role playing:

Happy Birthday, Elvis

Had Elvis Presley not died in 1977, he would be 75 years old today. Only 75 years old, I might add.

Moby: “Gone to Sleep”

Recording artist Moby participated in a National Public Radio program called Project Song last month. The radio show was titled Moby: One Song, Two Days, Three Versions.

Paula Deen Says Her Maid Robbed Her

Fried butter chef Paula Deen says her maid swiped jewelry worth thousands of dollars. So she fired her. And had her arrested. The news just came in from TMZ.

Happy Birthday, Prince

Today is the birthday of pop star Prince, or, as you may know him, The Artist Formerly Known As Prince Who Is Now Known As Prince Again. He’s 52 years old.
In tribute, here’s a 2009 interview with Tavis Smiley of PBS:

Paul McCartney Gives Republicans Fits

Republican and House Minority Leader John Boehner wants an apology from Sir Paul McCartney. Stop the presses.

The story is here.

The Recurring Prop Newspaper

Thanks to the wonders of the internet, we now know that Hollywood prop masters recycle newspapers. In this case, it’s a specific newspaper prop, one that shows up over and over in movies and on TV.
Here’s the link.

Rafael Nadal Is Number One

Spain’s Rafael Nadal won his fifth French Open yesterday, beating Robin Soderling. That puts Nadal at the top of the rankings in men’s tennis, replacing Roger Federer.

That makes seven Grand Slam titles for Nadal. Federer has won sixteen Grand Slam titles in his career.

Ronald Reagan Died Six Years Ago

Today’s the anniversary of the death of President Ronald Reagan. He died in 2005 at the age of 93.Below is a video clip from one of his finest hours, as the governor of California. In this clip he’s as funny as he is brilliant.