Monday 30 September 2013
Ed Sheeran Finally Says What We're All Thinking About Miley Cyrus
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Ed Sheeran: Santa cared for my cut hand on night out
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Sunday 29 September 2013
'Pacific Rim' Grossed More Than Any Other Original Live
Saturday 28 September 2013
Geoff Cox's DVD reviews: Epic,Deadfall, Sharknado, Citadel
The virtual Lady Gaga
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Friday 27 September 2013
Trayvon Martin killed for nothing
As an African American woman who has raised four all-black men, my heart and mind can't get off the Trayvon Martin tragedy. With all the news media and people protesting across the country, I felt that it was my duty to get involved. I know and realize that kids are dying and being killed every day, especially where I came from, Chicago. I wrote a poem feeling and thinking only as a parent's point of view, I kept watching and thinking: What if that was one of my sons?
I feel that if you haven't lost a loved one, then you can't imagine haw horrible it would be to hear your child was murdered for nothing.
Mildred "Millie" Henry
Hiawatha
Have you found an error or omission in our reporting? Is there other feedback and/or ideas you want to share with us? Tell us here.Video: What will the Knicks call Metta World Peace?
Video: What will the Knicks call Metta World Peace?
Eh, my friend, tell me how you like.
Oh man. I included that "Metta World News" video in my last post as a reminder of the lovely things about the Knicks, but it should have been this one. The great Charlie Widdoes and Jonah Ballow of KnicksNow sat down with damn near every Knick to get a sense for what folks would be calling Metta World Peace (née Ron Artest) this season. Aside from being a lot of fun, this is really our first chance to lay eyes on the new team in one place:
Highlights:
- I like "Peace" and it makes perfect sense that that's what Amar'e Stoudemire would choose. I hope that headband isn't a permanent thing.
- Hadn't occurred to me that both Beno Udrih and Tyson Chandler had played with...Metta...before.
- "Duct Tape". Nah.
-
- Dikembe Mutombo Mpolondo Mukamba Jean-Jacques Wamutombo. Six names. By heart, y'all.
Incidentally, I usually find myself saying "Ron Artest" out loud, but I'll be calling him Metta World Peace here, because that's what the SB Nation auto-tagger recognizes.
This was the best.
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Should Bargnani or Metta Start for Knicks?
The New York Knicks have made some fantastic additions in the 2013 offseason, but the question of how they'll be used remains to be answered.
In all likelihood, the Knicks will be going with a new starting five this season, with the incoming Andrea Bargnani and Metta World Peace both competing for a forward spot alongside Carmelo Anthony.
Elsewhere on the court, we know Raymond Felton and Tyson Chandler will be starting at point guard and center, respectively, while Iman Shumpert is likely to move back to his natural shooting guard position, whether off the bench or as a starter.
The big question, however, is the second forward spot. We know New York can have success with small ball, but with much more depth at power forward and the worry of Anthony taking too much of a physical beating, the Knicks may go in a different direction in 2013-14.
There's a good argument to be made for either Bargnani or World Peace to play alongside Melo, so let's take a closer look to see who has the strongest case to start for New York.
The Case for Andrea Bargnani
Starting Melo at power forward has given the Knicks plenty of spacing on offense, but with the addition of Bargnani, they can now build a small ball-style offense without actually matching him up with bigger players.
Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Because of Bargnani's ability to spread the floor with his three-point shot, the Knicks should be able to play Melo in the post without clogging up the lane, much like they did last season.
The only major difference for New York will be Melo's matchup on the offensive end. As a 7-footer, Bargnani will likely be guarded by the opposition's power forward, leaving Anthony to work on a smaller player whom he'll physically dominate in the post.
Melo is faster than most power forwards and stronger than most small forwards, so as long as he has spacing, he'll find an advantage over just about anyone this side of LeBron James.
Defensively, both Anthony and Bargnani have poor reputations, but the former improved significantly this season. We should expect the same from "Il Mago" given time to work with coach Mike Woodson.
Having two 7-footers in the middle while still spacing the floor on offense is something most NBA teams can't do, so as long as Melo and Bargnani put in the work on defense, this lineup has the potential to cause some trouble around the league.
With that said, this does operate on the assumption that Bargnani can improve his play after a woeful past two seasons with the Toronto Raptors. He has played in only 66 games since the lockout due to injury and has shot only 30 percent from downtown, which won't help when it comes to spacing.
Clearly, this is the best team that Bargnani has ever been on, which will let him work as a role player rather than an offensive centerpiece. He'll have plenty more space to work with when Melo draws double-teams and finally has a real center behind him in Chandler to help out on the defensive end.
Bargnani is still young and has a chance to improve-especially now that he's had a change of scenery-but his recent struggles have kept him from being a lock for the starting job.
The Case for Metta World Peace
If Bargnani can improve his play defensively and start shooting at a higher percentage, he'd be the man for the job, but based on recent performance, starting World Peace makes the most sense.
Victor Decolongon/Getty Images
While World Peace doesn't have Bargnani's height, he's capable of guarding both forward spots. He has earned a reputation as one of the league's best defenders over the last decade.
At the very least, his presence in the lineup gives New York the flexibility to put Melo on the opposition's weaker forward, leaving him more energy to work with on offense.
World Peace is limited offensively, but the Knicks aren't in need of a major scorer here. All they need is someone who can consistently hit an open three-point shot, which he's capable of doing. Over the last five seasons, he has shot 36 percent from beyond the arc, which is the same as Bargnani's career percentage.
In other words, although Bargnani has higher upside, these two are evenly matched in terms of what they bring to the table. World Peace provides more flexibility on defense, while Bargnani has a more diverse offensive game.
One other factor to consider, though, is how the second unit will look depending on who starts, If World Peace starts, the Knicks will have Bargnani, Amar'e Stoudemire, Kenyon Martin and Jeremy Tyler-all natural power forwards-competing for minutes off the bench.
If Bargnani starts, the bench frontcourt will be relatively clear-cut. World Peace will play at small forward and Martin will play at power forward, while Stoudemire will play at center with Tyler taking over when he needs rest.
The Verdict
Unless Bargnani comes into camp playing as well as he did between 2008 and 2010 with improved defense, there's no need for the Knicks to commit to a starter just yet.
Both players spread the floor fairly well and can help to reduce Melo's injury risk, so it makes sense to let them compete in camp or even change the lineup situationally based on whether the team needs extra offense or defense.
Considering the injury history of certain players in the frontcourt, the Knicks could definitely use this kind of flexibility. It'll also stop them from becoming too predictable and instead allow them to exploit different match ups on a game-to-game basis.
SEC bowl forecast: Florida to face ACC team in Chick
SEC bowl forecast: Florida to face ACC team in Chick-fil-A
by Jason Lieser
The outlook has changed for the Gators now that they are missing their starting quarterback and one of their top defensive players due to injury. While Florida should stay in the SEC Eastern Division hunt for a while, it will be tough under the present circumstances to overtake Georgia and South Carolina, as well as some of the top teams in the SEC West when it comes to bowl placement.
Currently, the Gators are projected to play in the Chick-fil-A Bowl (Dec. 31), which picks fifth among sites with SEC contracts. It also gets the No. 2 ACC team.
One interesting twist would be if Florida State and Clemson both land in BCS bowls, leaving Miami as the next best team. Would the Chick-fil-A organizers be interested in a rematch of the Hurricanes' 21-16 victory earlier this season?
Here's a look at The Post's current SEC projections:
Florida has played in a January bowl for eight straight years. The last time it did not was the 2004 season, when it lost to Miami 27-10 in the Peach Bowl. The Gators' only other Peach Bowl appearance was a 26-6 loss to West Virginia in 1981.
Mercer panel discusses Trayvon Martin case
"Trayvon Martin's blood cries out from the ground."
David Gushee made that statement Thursday as he described the controversial case, and the response it has drawn from the media and the nation. Gushee, a Mercer University professor of Christian ethics, was one of three panelists who took part in a discussion about the Martin case, which drew controversy and widespread attention from across the nation. The panelists addressed some issues surrounding the case, including empathy, legal effectiveness and the history of racial discrimination.
Martin, a black 17-year-old from Florida, was killed by George Zimmerman in February 2012. This past summer, Zimmerman was acquitted of second-degree murder and manslaughter charges, sparking outrage and debates about racial discrimination and injustice.
Mercer held the discussion at its Medical School Auditorium before about 150 attendees as it commemorates 50 years since the integration of the school. As the university reflects this year on the history of race relations at Mercer, Teri McMurtry-Chubb, a Mercer law professor, highlighted the history of violence and injustice against black people in America. As a panelist, McMurtry-Chubb mentioned other cases in which black people were killed and no one was held accountable, she said.
"America has a strong legal history of the seemingly unchecked killing of African-Americans, particularly males," she said. Those cases send a message that "black lives are not worth as much as white lives" and that black people are dangerous, she said.
Tim Floyd, also a Mercer law professor, gave the facts of the case and discussed the legalities of what happened in the courtroom. But a trial does not tell the complete story of what happened, and there is much the nation still does not know, he said. He also mentioned a couple of jurors who went public after the case, one of whom spoke to the media about the difficulties of not knowing what truly happened.
Gushee discussed how the media handled that case and others, offering them as "chew toys," he said. "Then everyone moves on to the next chew toy."
It seems like the more heart-wrenching and important the event, the less adequate the media coverage is, he said. The case becomes an anecdote to use in heated debates instead of a respectful, humane conversation, he said.
Gushee used Biblical verses to showcase lessons from the Martin killing. For example, he mentioned a verse that describes all humans as related. According to that verse, not only did Zimmerman kill his brother, but the nation should be sympathizing with his family as though they lost a brother, he said.
"We are all brothers and sisters," he said.
There are many, different conversations happening about the Martin killing, a case which proves that Americans have different realities, McMurtry-Chubb said.
For example, while the case caused a frenzied discussion about gun control in some communities, "there was a very different conversation going on in the community of color which was, 'Is somebody going to follow me into my neighborhood and shoot me,' '' she said.
To contact writer Jenna Mink, call 256-9751.
Thursday 26 September 2013
Metta World Peace: "I'd Rather Eat My Hand Than Have My Penis Cut Off"
Key & Peele, the show that brought us the great college-football-players-with-funny-names bit, boasted NBA oddball Metta World Peace as a guest last night. MWP did a short sketch called "Metta World News," in which he plays a news anchor who shares his free-associative thoughts about dreams, eating one's own hand, and penises. So basically, he just plays Metta World Peace.
Related
Remember part 1? Here's part 2, in honor of the new season starting next week. Still great. Read...
'First 100' hit Chick
By Steve Metsch smetsch@southtownstar.com
Tim Chaney, 50, of Fort Wayne, Ind., was the first customer at the new Chick-fil-A restaurant at 6 a.m. Thursday in Chicago Ridge. Tim and his son Adam, 24, said they love the chicken sandwiches and "quality service." | Steve Metsch~Sun-Times Media
At 5:30 a.m. Thursday in a parking lot in Chicago Ridge, Matthew Smith was packing up the tent he and his son John, 5, and friends had slept in the night before.
"I slept pretty good. I tried a new cot for the first time instead of an air mattress, and it worked out pretty well," Smith said.
"It's always interesting sleeping under these lights. It doesn't look like it's dark out from inside the tent. And there were some people (driving down Ridgeland Avenue) yelling profanities."
Overall, however, he said "it was worth it."
Smith and 100-some others had camped out in the lot south of Chick-fil-A, 9600 S. Ridgeland Ave., on an out lot of Chicago Ridge Mall.
Their quest? Getting 52 free meals each.
The first 100 chosen at random from 150 hopefuls early Wednesday had the chance - provided they stayed on the premises for 24 hours - to get vouchers for 52 free meals at any of the chain's 1,753 locations nationwide.
Smith had drawn No 103 in the random drawing at 6 a.m. Wednesday. He was an alternate but was soon thanking his lucky stars. Enough people had dropped out to allow him to move up to No. 100.
He smiled broadly beneath his faded blue Kansas City Royals visor when owner-operator Peter Glanvill, of Oak Lawn, handed him the coveted box of vouchers.
"I got it!" Smith said.
There were many smiles on the sleep-deprived faces when the doors opened at 6 a.m.
The 100 filed in as employees cheered and banged loudly upon cooking utensils while Glanvill greeted each customer with a handshake and robust "congratulations."
The man first in line was Tim Chaney, 50, of Fort Wayne, Ind., who brought along his son Adam, 24.
"It's fun (camping out), as long as it's not too cold," Chaney said, adding that he is a big fan of the restaurant chain founded in 1946 by S. Truett Cathy.
"The food is really good, but customer service and quality are the two most important parts of any business."
"Anytime I go to one - we have one in Fort Wayne - I enjoy being there," said Chaney, who was among the "First 100" in Muncie, Ind., in August.
Glanvill, 51, who moved to America 16 years ago from his native South Africa, is new to the restaurant business.
He previously worked in residential property management, but became "very intrigued with the business model" after learning more about Chick-fil-A.
"People asked how I slept last night. Like a baby, I woke up every couple hours," Glanvill joked.
"I'm looking forward to being invested in the community," said Glanvill, who is on the Chicago Ridge-Worth Business Association board.
Glanvill said he has received "great support from (Chicago Ridge) Mall, lovely guys" and management of stores like Sears, Home Depot and Kohl's.
He hired 82 employees from 1,300 applicants.
Colleen Foote, 27, of Chicago's West Lawn community, was one of those hired. She happened to be driving to the mall one day when she saw a sign seeking job applicants.
"I needed a job. The energy is great here. I'm excited," said Foote, who has worked in food service.
Glanvill said he likes Chicago Ridge because "it reminds me of home. It's such a diverse community."
The restaurant is open from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays and closed on Sundays.
"It gives us time to rest," Glanvill said.
Indoors, there is seating for 132 people and a children's play area. There are 20 seats outside.
There is also a drive-through window, and catering is available.
Around 7 a.m., Linda Ilkanic, of Crestwood, and her son Mike pulled up for breakfast. It was Mike's first time, but his mother is a frequent visitor to the Orland Park Chick-fil-A.
They and other Chick-fil-A fans can take note that a new restaurant is scheduled to open in Vernon Hills in November, company spokeswoman Tiffany Simmons said.
False narrative of Trayvon Martin shooting embeds on campuses
Posted by William A. Jacobson Thursday, September 26, 2013 at 11:30am
The deification of Trayvon Martin, with comparisons to Martin Luther King, Jr. and Emmitt Till, is just part of the false narrative of the prosecution of George Zimmerman.
We are seeing a mythology grow and become embedded on campuses which misrepresents the factual and legal nature of the case. Long ago it was the false hoodie and racial narratives which feverishly were embraced on campuses, and now it is the "hunting season / stand your ground" narrative.
The latest is an email circulated by a University of Maryland official School official tells students Trayvon Martin case proved it is 'legal to hunt' children:
An email sent to students by a University of Maryland official that cites the Trayvon Martin shooting as evidence "it is legal to hunt down and kill American children in Florida" is being blasted as the latest evidence of a left-wing bias on campus.
The email, from William Dorland, director of the school's Honors College, starts by welcoming students back to campus, but then quickly veers into politics.
"This year, we learned that it is legal to hunt down and kill American children in Florida," it reads, in a reference to the trial of George Zimmerman, who was cleared of all charges in the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. The email went out to all students in the Honors College.
The political language continued:
"This year, the most activist Supreme Court in the history of the United States and radical factions of gun owners, gun manufacturers, and marijuana users are challenging the very fabric of the nation..."
Dorland then invites students to attend a lecture by former NAACP chairman Julian Bond.
Nothing could be farther from the truth.
The truth is that Trayvon Martin, someone who bragged about fighting and sucker punching people in the nose (evidence the jury never heard), was shot as he was on top of Zimmerman pounding him Mixed-Martial Arts " ground and pound " style, as described by an eyewitness backed up by the physical evidence of injury and ballistics.
This is how politicized mythology grows, and comes to be accepted as truth, as in the Matthew Shepard case.
For a clear explanation of why these narratives are false (racial motivation, "hoodie" targeting, stand your ground, etc.), watch the presentation Andrew Branca and I gave at Cornell Law School, Did the Jury get it right in The Zimmerman Trial?
False narrative of Trayvon Martin shooting embeds on campuses
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Lady Gaga's “Applause" (GOLDHOUSE Remix)
The "Applause" remixes keep on coming. Today (September 25) Lady Gaga's latest floorfiller gets an overhaul from one-man electro-pop movement GOLDHOUSE. This really is a match made in heaven. And not only because Grant Harris (the Chicago-based wizz behind this glorious mix) does an incredible job of deconstructing "Applause" and transforming it into a dreamy synth gem that sounds custom-made for an Ibiza sunset.
This guy is clearly an ARTPOP disciple, describing himself as follows on Facebook: "GOLDHOUSE is not a band, artist, or any other form of inferior music. GOLDHOUSE is a way of life." Lady Gaga probably squealed with delight and shed a tear when she read that. Listen to the excellent electro-makeover after the jump.
If this whets your appetite for ARTPOP, be sure to pre-order it from iTunes now. Once you've finished shopping, let us know what you think of GOLDHOUSE's remix in the comments below.
Wednesday 25 September 2013
Joint Base Lewis
Chicken coup: Chick
BY STEVE METSCH smetsch@southtownstar.com
Folks settle in Wednesday for their 24-hour wait for the new Chick-fil-A restaurant to open Thursday outside Chicago Ridge Mall. | Steve Metsch Sun-Times Media
Some came from a few blocks away, some from far-flung suburbs, some from St. Louis.
They arrived in the wee hours under the cover of darkness, set up tents in a freshly asphalted parking lot and settled in to wait for 24 hours - all to get 52 free meals.
It may sound crazy to some, but it's just another day in the life of folks who crave Chick-fil-A chicken sandwiches.
Chick-fil-A gives vouchers good for 52 free meals to the first 100 customers of its new restaurants. A new Chick-fil-A at 9600 S. Ridgeland Ave., at Chicgo Ridge Mall, opens at 6 a.m. Thursday.
To be considered as being among the first 100, one must camp out for 24 hours, spokeswoman Tiffany Simmons said. That's why about 150 people were there by 6 a.m. Wednesday.
A random drawing determined the lucky 100, along with 10 alternates who are hoping some of the lucky 100 head home early.
Wes Silvertone, 32, and wife Heather, 29, of Glenview, arrived at 5:50 a.m. They've been through this eight times before.
"It's one year of free chicken. Their meals are really good. And the people are fantastic. We have a tight-knit community for one day. Quite a few of us know each other," Wes said.
He and Heather took time off from work to be there. So did most of the people camped in the parking lot just south of the building.
Five friends drove five hours from St. Louis for the pilgrimage. Nathan Temple, 39, Matthew Smith, 33, Micah Temple, 24, Ava Benrubi, 27, and Sean Hamre, 21, played poker in one of their two tents to kill time. Smith brought along his 5-year-old son.
"They sort of dragged me here. I just wanted a day off work," Nathan Temple said, joking. "I've done this before."
Smith called it "a unique experience you can't get anywhere else. Once you do it, you like it or hate it. We all like it, that's why we do it over and over again."
In many ways, they Chick-fil-A fans are like the Deadheads, those legendary fans of the Grateful Dead who followed the rock band on concert tours, memorably descending on Tinley Park. All that was missing Wednesday were the tie-dyed T-shirts and endless loop of Dead songs.
Cathy Gonzalez, 51, and daughter Marissa, 22, live a few blocks away in Oak Lawn. They sat on a blanket playing cards on a sun-kissed autumn morning. Cathy's husband, Martin, was sent to get a tent for the gals to sleep in.
"We got here at 4 a.m. I thought it would be interesting," Cathy Gonzalez said.
Marisa rolled her eyes and smiled when asked if Mom had gone crazy.
"Just a little," Marissa said.
She and Cathy both received numbers lower than 100 in the random drawing, so if they stay on the premises until 6 a.m. Thursday, they each will get vouchers for 52 free meals of a chicken sandwich, waffle fries and soft drink.
"I love their sandwiches. They are fresh and delicious," Cathy said.
Chick-fil-A feeds the faithful breakfast, lunch and dinner, makes sure they are hydrated, and - to answer the big question - lets them use the restrooms.
A disc jockey was set to entertain the crowd Wednesday night.
The "First 100" promotion dates back to 2003, when Chick-fil-A officials realized customers were waiting in line at grand openings, Simmons said. A public relations bonanza was born.
"People bring flat-screen TVs. We've seen bachelorette parties," Simmons said.
Bridgeview resident Rich Gaudie, 45, was laid off a month ago and said he "had nothing else to do" as he stretched out trying to nap in the sun.
"One of my ex-girlfriends called me up and said I could come out here and get some free chicken," said Gaudie, who had No. 29 in the drawing.
His plan to pass the time?
"I'm going to sit and people-watch," he said.
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'Pacific Rim' Grossed More Worldwide Than Any Other Live
Much as we like to bemoan the dearth of original ideas in Hollywood, it's clear why the studios prefer to bet big on existing properties. The 2013 box office has been dominated so far by sequels, prequels, remakes, reboots, and adaptations - as was the 2012 box office, the 2011 box office, and so on.
Still, a handful of truly new films manage to break through each year, and this year none has broken through harder than Pacific Rim. While the Guillermo del Toro-directed sci-fi failed to make much of an impression domestically, its worldwide tally is the highest of any live-action movie released in 2013 based on an original idea. Hit the jump to read more about its box office ascendancy.
Since opening two months ago, Pacific Rim has pulled in just $101 million at the U.S. box office. It's fared much better abroad, however, grossing another $305 million to date for a worldwide total of $407 million. That makes Pacific Rim the tenth biggest film of the year at the global box office, and the one of only two films in the top 10 based on an original idea. (Animated family pic The Croods is the other.)
Interestingly, China was Pacific Rim's biggest fan, accounting for $111 million of that total alone. Iron Man 3 has been the only 2013 Hollywood film to do better, with $121 million, and that was actually a Chinese co-production. Given how desperate the major studios have been to break into the Chinese market, Warner Bros. would be foolish not to capitalize on that affection by green-lighting a sequel.
We should, however, should point out that those numbers are slightly less impressive when we consider that Pacific Rim cost $190 million to make. Given the added costs of promoting and marketing a film, Pacific Rim probably barely broke even when it crossed the $400 million mark. In comparison, Iron Man 3 cost $200 million but has made $1.2 billion to date.
[h/t ComicBook.com]
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