Ex-Surgeon General Says He Was Pressured. McCain Melt Down? Crunk & Wagnalls.
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"Morning Meeting" is a recap of our daily editorial meeting. If we had a show today, these are some of the stories you would probably hear.
Rapper, Goblet-Holder, Word-Inventor, What Can't You Do Lil' John?
Hello Sweet Spirits, it's been an educational week here in New York for the BPP staff (by which I mean me). I've learned that there is a whole other level of stink that happens when piles of garbage heat up to 120 degrees, and that I shouldn't go on a long jog before getting on a packed subway car. You know that really sweaty / creepy guy you try not to make eye contact with? I'm that guy.
Aw well, at least I'm not the person in charge of proofreading these ads that are posted ALL OVER the NY subway system.
NEWSCAST -- Former White House aid Sara Taylor sort of testifies about the firing of federal prosecutors. John McCain's Presidential hopes suffered another blow Tuesday, as two of his top campaign staffers bailed. The American League won it's 400th All Star Game in a row. Ichiro Suzuki hit an inside the park home run and was named MVP. Five people, some with NASCAR connections, died in a plane crash near Orlando. Four would-be London bombers got life in prison. And a tiny arthouse film called... I think... Harry Potter and Giant Pile Of Money hits theaters today.
HYPOCRITICAL OATH? -- Former Surgeon General Richard Carmona was on Capitol Hill yesterday telling a committee about his frustrations during his four years as the nation's top doctor. According to Carmona, the Bush Administration 'muzzled' him on issues like stem cell research, tried to water down a key report on the dangers of secondhand smoke, and wouldn't let him participate in the Special Olympics (the SPECIAL OLYMPICS!) because of its connection to a prominent Democratic family he declined to name (hint: it rhymes with Schmennedy). Meanwhile, the president's new nominee, James Holsinger Jr., is about to go through the Senate confirmation process. He is likely to catch heat for comments he wrote in 1991 calling gay sex unhealthy and unnatural.
GUTSY -- Yesterday Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff told the Chicago Tribune's Editorial Board that his "gut" tells him there could be a terrorist attack this summer. "Summertime seems to be appealing to them" Chertoff said. Today the White House played down the threat. While not directly criticizing Chertoff's gut, WH Spokesman Tony Fratto said there is "no credible evidence" that an attack is imminent.
PIZZA BOMBER UPDATE -- After almost four years charges could be filed today in the bizarre death of a pizza delivery man in Pennsylvania who claimed someone locked a bomb around his neck and forced him to rob a bank in order to get the device removed. Brian Wells was killed when the bomb went off before police could defuse it. Now a woman already in custody for killing her boyfriend is to be charged in connection with the bank robbery/bombing death.
THE 'CANE MUTINY, PART DEUX -- Yesterday we learned that Bill Proenza was stepping down as Director of the National Hurricane Center after just six months on the job. One of the issues that got him in trouble was his criticism of the main hurricane tracking satellite know as QuikSCAT. Proenza said that it wasn't up to the job, but others above and below him thought he was just trying to hit Washington up for more money. Well a Senate committee is holding a hearing on replacing QuikSCAT. Maybe we'll find out if Proenza was right or not.
FANTASY CONGRESS -- If, like me, you've been living with the secret shame of fantasy baseball, take heart! There is something waaay geekier out there. Fantasy Congress. The LA Times has a great interview with the guy who set it up, and kind of amazingly, the league claims over 60,000 users. I mean, I'm as much of a Robert Byrd groupie as the next guy, but seriously...
iRUMORS -- The Internets were buzzing yesterday with reports that Apple was developing an iPhone Nano, sort of a cheaper version of the iPhone. We even mentioned it in passing on this fine blog. Well, that story was crap. Not really crap, but a rumor that got started in Taiwan and picked up all kinds of steam as it moved stateside. Here's the blow by blow. The BPP regrets the error.
WORD UP -- The Merriam-Webster peoples announced some new words they'll be including in their upcoming Collegiate dictionary. They include: "Ginormous," "smackdown," "sudoku" and "crunk." Lil' John was reportedly really happy about the last addition. In a statement he said, quote: "Yeaaahhhhhhhhhh! Okaaaaaaaaay!"
10:25 AM ET | 07-11-2007 | permalink
