Media takes dark view of building's lights

Speaking of the media stirring the pot, I wonder how many of our readers read this story the other day and laughed at its utter ridiculousness. I did. Apparently, the people behind the nightly lighting of the Empire State Building didn't deem Mother Teresa's 100th birthday a worthy enough reason to illuminate the building in her colors (which I assume would be blue and white, based on the iconic photos of her). A quick Google search brings up a variety of headlines attacking the building and its owners. Some make it sound like the building flat-out "rejected" the famous Catholic matriarch. Others call it a failure to "honor" the woman. Some Catholics were outraged, going as far as calling the move bigotry.
  Can we all step back for a second? The Empire State Building's lighting people can pick whomever the heck they want to honor with those lights. They probably have a roster that they stick to, and they probably don't want to offend people of other faiths. And after all, they are just lights. Half of the time, nobody has any idea what the colors represent (I sure as heck don't). And if you are looking at the lights, it's most likely because you're on a passing train or in a car or, like me, staring out of your bathroom window (I have a great view of the building from mine). Is this really something to get all worked up about?
  I'm going to take a wild guess and say that Mother Teresa is being honored in many other, more meaningful ways for her 100th birthday. If you're so put out, why not put up strings of white and blue lights on your house for a month? In fact, plan for your entire block to do the same.
  Please, mainstream media, it's time to get serious again.

—Posted by Will Levith

Is Rep. John Boehner really the father of Jersey Shore's Snookie?

Did anyone spot Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio) during the State of the Union last night? Is the House Minority leader trying out for the next season of MTV's Jersey Shore? Blink and you might miss him during the several moments the camera pans the Republican section of the room (you can find him about 14 minutes into the speech and in other spots). But maybe you should blink, since you might singe your eyes. The famously tan congressmen was positively glowing last night. He could have been mistaken for Snookie’s father. You have to wonder if Boehner's a proponent of GTL? That is, Mike "The Situation's" daily ritual of 'gym, tan and laundry' to create the mental balance so necessary for proper clubbing. He clearly hits the tanning salon (the forecast in Ohio tonight is a low of 9 degrees). Why not go all the way, Mr. Boehner, and embrace the, ah, dark side completely? MTV—it's time to add John, “The Minority” to the cast of season two. You need a new wrinkle to keep the show fresh (or fresh to death, as Paulie D. would say). Add Mr. Boehner to the cast, and donate his salary to his Ohio’s state budget to be used for creating jobs; perhaps some at the small tanning salon businesses he frequents.

— Posted by Mike Shields