(Hat tip: F. P.)
Anderson Cooper had absolutely nothing to do with it.
Friday, April 30, 2010
At The Museum
.
This color drawing of Mohammed in anachronistic 17th- or 18th-century garb comes from the 1719 German edition of the book Description de l'Univers, by Alain Manesson Mallet, which was first published in Paris in 1683 and later reprinted several times until 1719. The caption at the top says "Der falshe Profhet Mahomet": The False Prophet Mohammed.
(Hat tip: F. P.)
The cartoon above is the creation and responsibility of Peter,
Anderson Cooper had absolutely nothing to do with it.
(Hat tip: F. P.)
Anderson Cooper had absolutely nothing to do with it.
They Have The Money... LOTS!
.
April 30, 2010
Video: BP expected to pay for cleanup
Posted: 07:29 PM
Add a comment [to the AC 360º blog]
April 30, 2010
Video: BP expected to pay for cleanup
Posted: 07:29 PM
Add a comment [to the AC 360º blog]
Postcards From The Edge
.
...What Edge?
I don't remember these postcards, I just came across them in my old photo files, I don't have the actual postcards, nor do I think they were ever made into actual postcards, they were only for the Internet; I think they are from about 2003 as a promotion for AC 360º, I'm not sure; but they are surely gorgeous. I have no idea why they made them look old and worn out. Pretty, huh?
And why do I have three fronts and only two backs? It's a mystery... And the second back has my name both in the "To" and the "From" areas. Go figure.
...What Edge?
I don't remember these postcards, I just came across them in my old photo files, I don't have the actual postcards, nor do I think they were ever made into actual postcards, they were only for the Internet; I think they are from about 2003 as a promotion for AC 360º, I'm not sure; but they are surely gorgeous. I have no idea why they made them look old and worn out. Pretty, huh?
And why do I have three fronts and only two backs? It's a mystery... And the second back has my name both in the "To" and the "From" areas. Go figure.
A Circus in Anderson's Mouth
.
REMEMBER!
This Sunday, May 2, 2010 at 9 PM ET
A Circus Of The Mouth... Literally.
This looks and sounds like a Sunday with Anderson not to be missed by anything in the world. Not even sex should get on the way of this 60 Minutes segment.
Get ready for food like you've never imagined it. In award-winning Chef Jose Andres' kitchen, soft foods meet crunchy, the sweet improves the smoky and something cold can hide beneath something hot. Andres' avant-garde cooking technique is catching on across the country, it's a style called molecular gastronomy that he is credited with introducing to America. Watch Anderson Cooper's taste buds get taken to what one critic calls "a circus of the mouth."
Watch a preview of
"What just happened?"
Watch CBS News Videos Online
REMEMBER!
This Sunday, May 2, 2010 at 9 PM ET
A Circus Of The Mouth... Literally.
This looks and sounds like a Sunday with Anderson not to be missed by anything in the world. Not even sex should get on the way of this 60 Minutes segment.
Get ready for food like you've never imagined it. In award-winning Chef Jose Andres' kitchen, soft foods meet crunchy, the sweet improves the smoky and something cold can hide beneath something hot. Andres' avant-garde cooking technique is catching on across the country, it's a style called molecular gastronomy that he is credited with introducing to America. Watch Anderson Cooper's taste buds get taken to what one critic calls "a circus of the mouth."
"What just happened?"
Watch CBS News Videos Online
Charismatic and Personable
.
Positive response to Anderson Cooper
Patrick Harris
Issue date: 4/30/10 Section: College Life
On Thursday April 22, Anderson Cooper addressed SUNY Potsdam students via live telecast. Cooper spoke briefly about his work in Haiti after the recent devastation, then took several questions from a panel of students lead by President Schwaller.
Before the telecast began, the audience was treated to a brief introduction of Cooper's work in Haiti, including lengthy footage of his conversations with survivors and the incident in which he pulled a bleeding child out of a riot situation.
Cooper himself seemed charismatic and personable. His discussion of the events in Haiti was stirring yet matter-of-fact, and he presented his own actions as merely those demanded by his occupation. He described the riot scene at some length without any mention of his own heroism.
Cooper's answers to student questions were well-constructed and informative. His knowledge of the panelists showed familiarity with their biographies; though he seemed at one point to refer quickly to a document off-camera, there is no question that his preparation for the appearance included familiarizing himself with the students with whom he would be speaking.
Questions ranged from Cooper's thoughts on the events in Haiti to guidelines on how students here in Potsdam could best help victims of this and other disasters. After the panelists were finished, a Haitian student from SUNY Canton was invited on stage. Cooper again impressed by taking a sincere interest in the well being of her family before addressing her question; at no time did he seem at all uncomfortable with the deviation from the event's plan.
The question-and-answer panel for this event was assembled based on recommendations from faculty and staff, representing a broad cross-section of SUNY Potsdam's students and departments. Students on the panel included Vita Ayala, Brian Butts, Victor DeJesus, Danielle McMullen, Danny Smith and Sal Sarmiento. The panel included members of the student government as well as students who have witnessed the situation in Haiti, traveled to the Dominican Republic for construction projects and fundraised for the ongoing Ethiopia school project.
Cooper, who anchors Anderson Cooper 360° on CNN, is known for his willingness to travel to scenes of violence and tragedy without hesitation. According to his biography, Cooper has reported from Afghanistan and Iraq, the ongoing violence in Mexico, the bombings in London and the Israeli-Hezbollah conflict. Cooper and his program have won several journalism awards and multiple Emmys.
On the whole, Cooper's appearance was very enjoyable. Students who were unable to attend surely missed out.
The event at SUNY Potsdam was made possible by class of '84 alumna Kathleen Friery, executive producer for Anderson Cooper 360°. Friery will also be appearing at SUNY Potsdam this year as commencement speaker; we hope to profile her in a future issue of The Racquette.
Positive response to Anderson Cooper
Patrick Harris
Issue date: 4/30/10 Section: College Life
On Thursday April 22, Anderson Cooper addressed SUNY Potsdam students via live telecast. Cooper spoke briefly about his work in Haiti after the recent devastation, then took several questions from a panel of students lead by President Schwaller.Before the telecast began, the audience was treated to a brief introduction of Cooper's work in Haiti, including lengthy footage of his conversations with survivors and the incident in which he pulled a bleeding child out of a riot situation.
Cooper himself seemed charismatic and personable. His discussion of the events in Haiti was stirring yet matter-of-fact, and he presented his own actions as merely those demanded by his occupation. He described the riot scene at some length without any mention of his own heroism.
Cooper's answers to student questions were well-constructed and informative. His knowledge of the panelists showed familiarity with their biographies; though he seemed at one point to refer quickly to a document off-camera, there is no question that his preparation for the appearance included familiarizing himself with the students with whom he would be speaking.
Questions ranged from Cooper's thoughts on the events in Haiti to guidelines on how students here in Potsdam could best help victims of this and other disasters. After the panelists were finished, a Haitian student from SUNY Canton was invited on stage. Cooper again impressed by taking a sincere interest in the well being of her family before addressing her question; at no time did he seem at all uncomfortable with the deviation from the event's plan.
The question-and-answer panel for this event was assembled based on recommendations from faculty and staff, representing a broad cross-section of SUNY Potsdam's students and departments. Students on the panel included Vita Ayala, Brian Butts, Victor DeJesus, Danielle McMullen, Danny Smith and Sal Sarmiento. The panel included members of the student government as well as students who have witnessed the situation in Haiti, traveled to the Dominican Republic for construction projects and fundraised for the ongoing Ethiopia school project.
Cooper, who anchors Anderson Cooper 360° on CNN, is known for his willingness to travel to scenes of violence and tragedy without hesitation. According to his biography, Cooper has reported from Afghanistan and Iraq, the ongoing violence in Mexico, the bombings in London and the Israeli-Hezbollah conflict. Cooper and his program have won several journalism awards and multiple Emmys.
On the whole, Cooper's appearance was very enjoyable. Students who were unable to attend surely missed out.
The event at SUNY Potsdam was made possible by class of '84 alumna Kathleen Friery, executive producer for Anderson Cooper 360°. Friery will also be appearing at SUNY Potsdam this year as commencement speaker; we hope to profile her in a future issue of The Racquette.
Stem Cells
.
April 30, 2010
Video: Stem cell medical breakthrough?
Posted: 10:34 AM
Add a comment [to the AC 360º blog]
Dr. Sanjay Gupta
AC360° Contributor
CNN Chief Medical Correspondent
April 30, 2010
Video: Stem cell medical breakthrough?
Posted: 10:34 AM
Add a comment [to the AC 360º blog]
Dr. Sanjay Gupta
AC360° Contributor
CNN Chief Medical Correspondent
Shakira in Arizona
.
April 29, 2010
Video: Big 360 Interview – Shakira
Posted: 10:08 PM
Add a comment [to the AC 360º blog]
April 29, 2010
Video: Big 360 Interview – Shakira
Posted: 10:08 PM
Add a comment [to the AC 360º blog]
In Lieu Of Anderson
.
April 30, 2010
Video: Consequences of the oil spill
Posted: 09:47 AM
Add a comment [to the AC 360º blog]
Dr. Sanjay Gupta
AC360° Contributor
CNN Chief Medical Correspondent
April 30, 2010
Video: Consequences of the oil spill
Posted: 09:47 AM
Add a comment [to the AC 360º blog]
Dr. Sanjay Gupta
AC360° Contributor
CNN Chief Medical Correspondent
Thursday, April 29, 2010
21 Days To May 20
.
Portrait of Mohammed from Michel Baudier's Histoire générale de la religion des turcs (Paris, 1625). It was sold at auction by Sotheby's in 2002. The same image was incorporated into the cover of issue #2195 of the French magazine Le Nouvel Observateur.
(Hat tip: Kilgore Trout, and Raafat.)
The cartoon above is the creation and responsibility of Peter,
Anderson Cooper had absolutely nothing to do with it.
(Hat tip: Kilgore Trout, and Raafat.)
Anderson Cooper had absolutely nothing to do with it.
What-A-Mess
.
April 29, 2010
Oil slick just a few miles from Louisiana coast
Posted: 05:26 PM
Add a comment [to the AC 360º blog]
CNN Wire Staff
A 120-mile oil slick advanced to within a few miles of the mouth of the Mississippi River on Thursday as authorities scrambled to keep the spill from damaging sensitive coastal wetlands along the Gulf of Mexico.
As of late Thursday morning, southeasterly winds had driven the slick to about three miles off the Louisiana coast, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration spokesman Charlie Henry told reporters.
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal declared a state of emergency Thursday as authorities scrambled to mitigate its environmental effects.
By the CNN Wire Staff
April 29, 2010 9:38 p.m. EDT
(CNN) -- A 120-mile oil slick advanced to within a few miles of the mouth of the Mississippi River on Thursday as authorities scrambled to keep the spill from damaging wetlands along the Gulf of Mexico.
As of late Thursday morning, southeasterly winds had driven the slick to about three miles off the Louisiana coast, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration spokesman Charlie Henry told reporters.
Oil company BP, whose ruptured well is at the heart of the spill, and state and federal agencies have strung miles of floating booms around the leading edge of the shoreline in an effort to contain the spill, but authorities said it could begin affecting some areas of the coast by Thursday evening.
Efforts to shut down the well have failed so far, and more complicated plans may take weeks. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal on Thursday declared a state of emergency ahead of the oil slick's arrival, warning that it covered as much as 600 square miles of water.
President Obama is sending Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, Department of the Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson to Louisiana on Friday to inspect the effort to contain the oil slick, his administration announced Thursday.
Ten wildlife refuges in Mississippi and Louisiana are in the oil's likely path, with the Pass-a-Loutre Wildlife Management Area at the tip of the Mississippi River likely to be the first affected, Jindal announced.
CNN affiliate WWL: Fishermen offer boats to help
Wildlife conservation groups said Thursday the oil could be a disaster for coastal areas of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.
Nearly 175,000 feet (about 33 miles) of floating booms have been deployed, with about a half-million more feet being readied, federal officials said.
CNN affiliate WALA: Oil booms in Biloxi
Officials from a handful of federal agencies have recovered more than 18,000 barrels of an oil-water mix. They have deployed nearly 100,000 gallons of dispersant, which breaks up oil, as of Thursday evening, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
Roughly 1,200 personnel are responding to the oil spill, DHS said.
The latest forecast from NOAA showed the leading edges of the slick reaching the Mississippi and Alabama coasts over the weekend and stretching as far east as Pensacola, Florida, by Monday.
The Louisiana coastline is mostly marsh, and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries is worried that the lowlands will catch and hold oil when the water washes into them, spokesman Bo Boehringer said. The department is advising response teams on where to place the booms to protect wildlife. That includes brown pelicans, Louisiana's state bird, and migratory birds.
Oil spill could be disaster for wildlife
"For birds, the timing could not be worse; they are breeding, nesting and especially vulnerable in many of the places where the oil could come ashore," said Melanie Driscoll, director of bird conservation for the Louisiana Coastal Initiative.
"The efforts to stop the oil before it reaches shore are heroic, but may not be enough. We have to hope for the best but prepare for the worst, including a true catastrophe for birds," Driscoll said.
The oil well was ripped open by an April 20 explosion that sunk the drill rig Deepwater Horizon, leading to the presumed deaths of 11 missing men.
CNN affiliate KHOU: Survivor's wife shares chilling details
Wednesday night, the Coast Guard and NOAA raised their estimate of the amount of oil the damaged well was pouring into the Gulf to 210,000 gallons a day, or about 5,000 barrels.
An effort to burn off part of the oil slick on Wednesday destroyed about 100 barrels, said Doug Suttles, chief operating officer of BP. But the technique "clearly worked," and larger burns are planned when weather conditions make them possible.
Gulf Coast braces for an oily mess
"We believe we can now scale that up and burn between 500 and 1,000 barrels at a time," Suttles said.
The well is now leaking from three points, BP said. Under the 1990 oil pollution act, passed in the wake of the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska, the company is required to foot the bill for the cleanup.
In Washington, Obama pledged a robust response and said the military may be called on to assist. Obama told reporters he has been getting regular briefings from top officials in his administration. He said a thorough investigation of the spill is planned.
Florida senator calls for temporary drilling halt
"While BP is ultimately responsible for funding the cost of response and cleanup operations, my administration will continue to use every single available resource at our disposal -- including, potentially, the Department of Defense -- to address the incident," Obama said.
Napolitano declared the spill a crisis of "national significance" on Thursday. That's a move that Coast Guard Rear Adm. Mary Landry said allows the government to pour resources from across the country into the effort.
"If BP does not request these resources, I can and I will," Landry told reporters in New Orleans.
iReport: How is the oil spill affecting you?
Drilling a relief well -- a second well drilled up to a mile or two away that would enter the leaking well at an angle to help plug it -- will take months, NOAA said.
BP is attempting to deploy collection domes over the leak points to collect oil as it escapes, but getting that system in place could take weeks as well, Suttles said.
BP Group's CEO, Tony Hayward, has cast blame on rig operator Transocean Ltd. for the disaster.
iReport: BP tries to protect Alabama coast
Hayward told CNN that the well's blowout preventer -- which he called the "ultimate fail-safe mechanism" -- has failed to shut down the well as designed. Michael Saucier, the regional operations director for the Interior Department's Minerals Management Service, said federal inspectors will be checking test records for blowout preventers on every offshore rig in the aftermath of the disaster.
There has been no response from Transocean to BP's comments. The cause of the explosion remains under investigation, and at least one of the victims' families has filed a lawsuit against BP and Transocean, accusing BP specifically of negligence.
CNN's Barbara Starr contributed to this report.
April 29, 2010
Oil slick just a few miles from Louisiana coast
Posted: 05:26 PM
Add a comment [to the AC 360º blog]
CNN Wire StaffA 120-mile oil slick advanced to within a few miles of the mouth of the Mississippi River on Thursday as authorities scrambled to keep the spill from damaging sensitive coastal wetlands along the Gulf of Mexico.
As of late Thursday morning, southeasterly winds had driven the slick to about three miles off the Louisiana coast, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration spokesman Charlie Henry told reporters.
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal declared a state of emergency Thursday as authorities scrambled to mitigate its environmental effects.
By the CNN Wire Staff
April 29, 2010 9:38 p.m. EDT
(CNN) -- A 120-mile oil slick advanced to within a few miles of the mouth of the Mississippi River on Thursday as authorities scrambled to keep the spill from damaging wetlands along the Gulf of Mexico.
As of late Thursday morning, southeasterly winds had driven the slick to about three miles off the Louisiana coast, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration spokesman Charlie Henry told reporters.
Oil company BP, whose ruptured well is at the heart of the spill, and state and federal agencies have strung miles of floating booms around the leading edge of the shoreline in an effort to contain the spill, but authorities said it could begin affecting some areas of the coast by Thursday evening.
Efforts to shut down the well have failed so far, and more complicated plans may take weeks. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal on Thursday declared a state of emergency ahead of the oil slick's arrival, warning that it covered as much as 600 square miles of water.
President Obama is sending Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, Department of the Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson to Louisiana on Friday to inspect the effort to contain the oil slick, his administration announced Thursday.
Ten wildlife refuges in Mississippi and Louisiana are in the oil's likely path, with the Pass-a-Loutre Wildlife Management Area at the tip of the Mississippi River likely to be the first affected, Jindal announced.
CNN affiliate WWL: Fishermen offer boats to help
Wildlife conservation groups said Thursday the oil could be a disaster for coastal areas of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.
Nearly 175,000 feet (about 33 miles) of floating booms have been deployed, with about a half-million more feet being readied, federal officials said.
CNN affiliate WALA: Oil booms in Biloxi
Officials from a handful of federal agencies have recovered more than 18,000 barrels of an oil-water mix. They have deployed nearly 100,000 gallons of dispersant, which breaks up oil, as of Thursday evening, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
Roughly 1,200 personnel are responding to the oil spill, DHS said.
The latest forecast from NOAA showed the leading edges of the slick reaching the Mississippi and Alabama coasts over the weekend and stretching as far east as Pensacola, Florida, by Monday.
The Louisiana coastline is mostly marsh, and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries is worried that the lowlands will catch and hold oil when the water washes into them, spokesman Bo Boehringer said. The department is advising response teams on where to place the booms to protect wildlife. That includes brown pelicans, Louisiana's state bird, and migratory birds.
Oil spill could be disaster for wildlife
"For birds, the timing could not be worse; they are breeding, nesting and especially vulnerable in many of the places where the oil could come ashore," said Melanie Driscoll, director of bird conservation for the Louisiana Coastal Initiative.
"The efforts to stop the oil before it reaches shore are heroic, but may not be enough. We have to hope for the best but prepare for the worst, including a true catastrophe for birds," Driscoll said.
The oil well was ripped open by an April 20 explosion that sunk the drill rig Deepwater Horizon, leading to the presumed deaths of 11 missing men.
CNN affiliate KHOU: Survivor's wife shares chilling details
Wednesday night, the Coast Guard and NOAA raised their estimate of the amount of oil the damaged well was pouring into the Gulf to 210,000 gallons a day, or about 5,000 barrels.
An effort to burn off part of the oil slick on Wednesday destroyed about 100 barrels, said Doug Suttles, chief operating officer of BP. But the technique "clearly worked," and larger burns are planned when weather conditions make them possible.
Gulf Coast braces for an oily mess
"We believe we can now scale that up and burn between 500 and 1,000 barrels at a time," Suttles said.
The well is now leaking from three points, BP said. Under the 1990 oil pollution act, passed in the wake of the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska, the company is required to foot the bill for the cleanup.
In Washington, Obama pledged a robust response and said the military may be called on to assist. Obama told reporters he has been getting regular briefings from top officials in his administration. He said a thorough investigation of the spill is planned.
Florida senator calls for temporary drilling halt
"While BP is ultimately responsible for funding the cost of response and cleanup operations, my administration will continue to use every single available resource at our disposal -- including, potentially, the Department of Defense -- to address the incident," Obama said.
Napolitano declared the spill a crisis of "national significance" on Thursday. That's a move that Coast Guard Rear Adm. Mary Landry said allows the government to pour resources from across the country into the effort.
"If BP does not request these resources, I can and I will," Landry told reporters in New Orleans.
iReport: How is the oil spill affecting you?
Drilling a relief well -- a second well drilled up to a mile or two away that would enter the leaking well at an angle to help plug it -- will take months, NOAA said.
BP is attempting to deploy collection domes over the leak points to collect oil as it escapes, but getting that system in place could take weeks as well, Suttles said.
BP Group's CEO, Tony Hayward, has cast blame on rig operator Transocean Ltd. for the disaster.
iReport: BP tries to protect Alabama coast
Hayward told CNN that the well's blowout preventer -- which he called the "ultimate fail-safe mechanism" -- has failed to shut down the well as designed. Michael Saucier, the regional operations director for the Interior Department's Minerals Management Service, said federal inspectors will be checking test records for blowout preventers on every offshore rig in the aftermath of the disaster.
There has been no response from Transocean to BP's comments. The cause of the explosion remains under investigation, and at least one of the victims' families has filed a lawsuit against BP and Transocean, accusing BP specifically of negligence.
CNN's Barbara Starr contributed to this report.
Unanimated To The Max
.
If you want to go to sleep with Anderson Cooper and Dr Sanjay Gupta at the same time, this is your opportunity.
Anderson Cooper: Legalizing Marijuana
(05:30 min.)
From: TheJeremyob
Added: April 28, 2010
Description: [None -- none needed]
URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNgQq09bFAs
If you want to go to sleep with Anderson Cooper and Dr Sanjay Gupta at the same time, this is your opportunity.
(05:30 min.)
From: TheJeremyob
Added: April 28, 2010
Description: [None -- none needed]
URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNgQq09bFAs
Arizona, The Land Of The... Nothing
.
with 
&
Ariz. Immigration Law Nabs Illegal Swedes, Poles, Etc.
PHOENIX, Bigoted AZ. (CAP) (CNN) (P.E.T.E.R.)- Hello, reporting from bigoted Phoenix this is Anderson Cooper for Anderson Cooper 360º on CNN. A new law that requires police to question people about their immigration status if they suspect they are in the country illegally or if their shoes look illegal should help curb the flow of illegal Irish, Polish and Swedish immigrants through U.S. borders, especially the Mexican border and the Wisconsin airports, say supporters who, it is said, where previously living in an asylum for the extremely monomaniac.
Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, whose tough crackdowns have made him a hero in the anti-illegal immigration community, pointed out that the new law would not unfairly target Mexicans, as some of charged, but that their shoes could be removed permanently if suspected to have been made in a foreign country which has no trade with the United States.
"The law gives police authority to question anyone they think is here illegally, or if they hate them and want to get rid of them, and this is not only for people of Hispanic origin," he pointed out. "So if someone is very pale and blond, that might be cause to investigate as to whether they're here illegally from Sweden; or may be someone who could have stolen a Clairol hair dye from the local Walgreens, both of which are reasons for arrest."
"Or they might be an albino, in which case they might be here illegally from Albania," he pointed out. A crime punishable by letting the criminal spend two daily hours in the sun -- three if the day is overcast.
Besides skin shade and hair color, Arpaio said police will be trained to spot other characteristics that may denote whether someone might be in Arizona illegally. For instance:
- Funny accent, especially French accent;
- Sandals;
- A big hat like one of those the Mexican charritos wear;
- Eating croissants and/or strudel;
- Eating more that three tacos a day;
- Spearing pigeons and putting them into a pillowcase for possible later consumption;
- Saying "coffee" like "cawfee;
- Pronouncing "Tequila" and/or "Margarita" properly;
- And the above mentioned illegal shoes."
"The list goes on and on, which means we can arrest almost anybody walking the streets, paved or not of Arizona," Arpaio continued, "as a matter of fact, can I see your immigration papers, Anderson?"
I giggled thinking he was kidding, but when I saw him reaching for his gun I pulled out my press pass which says I am from New York.
"That only means you live in New York," said Arpaio. "I hate New Yorkers."
Obviously my press pass was not enough for Arpaio and my interview turned into a chaotic struggle to reach the American Embassy in Phoenix -- yes, they had to open an embassy last week to take care of all the "mistaken" arrests.
Arpaio noted, however, that since the law doesn't technically make it illegal for New Yorkers to be in Arizona, officers would just "give them a hard time."
While the new law has drawn protests around the state and the country, it has some high-profile supporters, such as Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, who signed the bill last week. Brewer said she doesn't like the term "racial profiling," preferring instead to describe the newly proscribed methods as "pro-American policing," or PAP, or the most popular term GROTUU, "getting rid of the unwanted uglies."
"Just look around - these people could be from anywhere," said Gov. Brewer, gesturing to the angry crowds gathered in protest around the Arizona Capitol. "There are a lot of very swarthy people there, and I think police need the freedom to question them as to the origen of their shoes."
When pointed out that the people could just be tanned as a result of living in Arizona, Brewer responded, "Can I see your papers, please?"
Oh no, not again, I thought. "But I am pale, as pale as a newt' I told her.
To which she replied, "Knowing that you were coming to Arizona, you could have spent a week or two in a dark room."
I called Arpaio and prayed that he be willing to attest about my citizenship. With a face of disgust, as I expected, Arpaio barely nodded to Gov. Brewer and she clicked the handcuffs back on her belt.
I let out a breath of relief.
Former CNN host Lou Dobbs has also thrown his support behind the measure, noting that it may finally slow the spread of leprosy brought into America by illegal Mexican immigrants. "One in three Americans now has leprosy caught from a Mexican illegal," said Dobbs. "I swear I did not just make that up off the top of my head. And by the way, I already got vaccinated against it."
I was going to mention that there is no vaccine for leprosy, but decided against it and kept my interview shorter.
Dobbs also said he'd be happy to help law enforcement in Arizona carry out its new duties, displaying the Streetwise 800k Rechargeable Stun Baton he recently purchased for his new show, Lou Dobbs Brown Alert!.
"Can you believe anybody can walk in off the street and buy one of these for $38.95?" asked Dobbs. "Despite everything, this is still a great country."
Sheriff Arpaio, meanwhile, said his men are eager to put the new law into practice, and insists that they will only question people who they have reason to believe are illegal Mexicans, South Americans, Germans, Swedes, Australians, British or anybody else who doesn't look like a good, old-fashioned American; or whose shoes look foreign.
"I'll never understand why these people don't just stay in their own countries," he added, to what I asked why Arpaio's relatives had immigrated to the U.S. from Italy. Arpaio responded by shocking this reporter with a stun baton. Now I know what Rick Sanchez went through. Sorry Rick, I'll never make fun of you again... at least not about the stun baton.
Some of the items you should not bring to Arizona:
Ariz. Immigration Law Nabs Illegal Swedes, Poles, Etc.
PHOENIX, Bigoted AZ. (CAP) (CNN) (P.E.T.E.R.)- Hello, reporting from bigoted Phoenix this is Anderson Cooper for Anderson Cooper 360º on CNN. A new law that requires police to question people about their immigration status if they suspect they are in the country illegally or if their shoes look illegal should help curb the flow of illegal Irish, Polish and Swedish immigrants through U.S. borders, especially the Mexican border and the Wisconsin airports, say supporters who, it is said, where previously living in an asylum for the extremely monomaniac.
Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, whose tough crackdowns have made him a hero in the anti-illegal immigration community, pointed out that the new law would not unfairly target Mexicans, as some of charged, but that their shoes could be removed permanently if suspected to have been made in a foreign country which has no trade with the United States.
"The law gives police authority to question anyone they think is here illegally, or if they hate them and want to get rid of them, and this is not only for people of Hispanic origin," he pointed out. "So if someone is very pale and blond, that might be cause to investigate as to whether they're here illegally from Sweden; or may be someone who could have stolen a Clairol hair dye from the local Walgreens, both of which are reasons for arrest.""Or they might be an albino, in which case they might be here illegally from Albania," he pointed out. A crime punishable by letting the criminal spend two daily hours in the sun -- three if the day is overcast.
Besides skin shade and hair color, Arpaio said police will be trained to spot other characteristics that may denote whether someone might be in Arizona illegally. For instance:
- Funny accent, especially French accent;
- Sandals;
- A big hat like one of those the Mexican charritos wear;
- Eating croissants and/or strudel;
- Eating more that three tacos a day;
- Spearing pigeons and putting them into a pillowcase for possible later consumption;
- Saying "coffee" like "cawfee;
- Pronouncing "Tequila" and/or "Margarita" properly;
- And the above mentioned illegal shoes."
"The list goes on and on, which means we can arrest almost anybody walking the streets, paved or not of Arizona," Arpaio continued, "as a matter of fact, can I see your immigration papers, Anderson?"
I giggled thinking he was kidding, but when I saw him reaching for his gun I pulled out my press pass which says I am from New York.
"That only means you live in New York," said Arpaio. "I hate New Yorkers."
Obviously my press pass was not enough for Arpaio and my interview turned into a chaotic struggle to reach the American Embassy in Phoenix -- yes, they had to open an embassy last week to take care of all the "mistaken" arrests.
Arpaio noted, however, that since the law doesn't technically make it illegal for New Yorkers to be in Arizona, officers would just "give them a hard time."
While the new law has drawn protests around the state and the country, it has some high-profile supporters, such as Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, who signed the bill last week. Brewer said she doesn't like the term "racial profiling," preferring instead to describe the newly proscribed methods as "pro-American policing," or PAP, or the most popular term GROTUU, "getting rid of the unwanted uglies.""Just look around - these people could be from anywhere," said Gov. Brewer, gesturing to the angry crowds gathered in protest around the Arizona Capitol. "There are a lot of very swarthy people there, and I think police need the freedom to question them as to the origen of their shoes."
When pointed out that the people could just be tanned as a result of living in Arizona, Brewer responded, "Can I see your papers, please?"
Oh no, not again, I thought. "But I am pale, as pale as a newt' I told her.
To which she replied, "Knowing that you were coming to Arizona, you could have spent a week or two in a dark room."
I called Arpaio and prayed that he be willing to attest about my citizenship. With a face of disgust, as I expected, Arpaio barely nodded to Gov. Brewer and she clicked the handcuffs back on her belt.
I let out a breath of relief.
Former CNN host Lou Dobbs has also thrown his support behind the measure, noting that it may finally slow the spread of leprosy brought into America by illegal Mexican immigrants. "One in three Americans now has leprosy caught from a Mexican illegal," said Dobbs. "I swear I did not just make that up off the top of my head. And by the way, I already got vaccinated against it."
I was going to mention that there is no vaccine for leprosy, but decided against it and kept my interview shorter.
Dobbs also said he'd be happy to help law enforcement in Arizona carry out its new duties, displaying the Streetwise 800k Rechargeable Stun Baton he recently purchased for his new show, Lou Dobbs Brown Alert!.
"Can you believe anybody can walk in off the street and buy one of these for $38.95?" asked Dobbs. "Despite everything, this is still a great country."
Sheriff Arpaio, meanwhile, said his men are eager to put the new law into practice, and insists that they will only question people who they have reason to believe are illegal Mexicans, South Americans, Germans, Swedes, Australians, British or anybody else who doesn't look like a good, old-fashioned American; or whose shoes look foreign.
"I'll never understand why these people don't just stay in their own countries," he added, to what I asked why Arpaio's relatives had immigrated to the U.S. from Italy. Arpaio responded by shocking this reporter with a stun baton. Now I know what Rick Sanchez went through. Sorry Rick, I'll never make fun of you again... at least not about the stun baton.
Shakira in Phoenix
.
April 29, 2010
Shakira in Arizona to protest new immigration law
Posted: 12:28 PM
Add a comment [to the AC 360º blog]
CNN
Editor's Note: Grammy Award winner, singer, songwriter and philanthropist Shakira is heading to Phoenix , Arizona, to lend a voice in the immigration debate. Tonight she talks to Dr. Sanjay Gupta about what she hopes to accomplish. Watch “AC360,” tonight at 10 ET on CNN.
Two popular singers are in Arizona on Thursday to voice their opposition to the state's tough new immigration law.
Grammy Award-winning Colombian singer Shakira will meet with Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon at City Hall in the evening. Gordon has called the law unconstitutional and has said he may sue on behalf of the city to stop the law from taking effect.
Legendary singer-songwriter Linda Ronstadt will attend a rally that organizers say will draw thousands. Ronstadt grew up in a Mexican-American family in Tucson.
April 29, 2010
Shakira in Arizona to protest new immigration law
Posted: 12:28 PM
Add a comment [to the AC 360º blog]
CNN
Editor's Note: Grammy Award winner, singer, songwriter and philanthropist Shakira is heading to Phoenix , Arizona, to lend a voice in the immigration debate. Tonight she talks to Dr. Sanjay Gupta about what she hopes to accomplish. Watch “AC360,” tonight at 10 ET on CNN.
Two popular singers are in Arizona on Thursday to voice their opposition to the state's tough new immigration law.Grammy Award-winning Colombian singer Shakira will meet with Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon at City Hall in the evening. Gordon has called the law unconstitutional and has said he may sue on behalf of the city to stop the law from taking effect.
Legendary singer-songwriter Linda Ronstadt will attend a rally that organizers say will draw thousands. Ronstadt grew up in a Mexican-American family in Tucson.
Garbage In...
.
... Don't try this at home, kids. Not without the supervision of the Fire Department and the Department of Sanitation.
April 29, 2010
Video: Making gas from garbage
Posted: 10:22 AM
Add a comment [to the AC 360º blog]
Ben Wedeman
CNN Sr. International Correspondent
... Don't try this at home, kids. Not without the supervision of the Fire Department and the Department of Sanitation.
April 29, 2010
Video: Making gas from garbage
Posted: 10:22 AM
Add a comment [to the AC 360º blog]
Ben Wedeman
CNN Sr. International Correspondent
Cute Buffalo
.
Is Anderson Cooper the Next Norman Mailer?
John Buffalo Mailer
Actor & Writer
Oliver Stone is our culture's best at combining storytelling with social awareness, says John Buffalo Mailer. But others also carry his father's torch.
April 23, 2010 | In Arts & Culture
Question: Who is carrying on your father's legacy?
John Buffalo Mailer: There’s several people out there who I feel are doing their part in that way. I would say the only one person I know of who kind of combines the elements that my father brought to the table in terms of affecting the public discourse would be Oliver Stone. His combination of academic brilliance and real life experience and just understanding people I think is what makes him such a great storyteller, but also he cares. He is interested. He meets somebody and he listens to them. He has some questions. He wants to know what they’re about. And as a result I think his worldview is much more complex and whole and most of the other… I don’t know if we even have a category of public intellectual anymore, but he would be in that category. He would be out there. The reason… One of the things that sets him apart though is he is commercial. He is mainstream. He makes big movies and he is one of the last guys that can make big movies that actually have something to say, that you know challenge the audience in a way while entertaining them.
But there's, you know, there's a lot of people out there who are doing it. I don’t know if it’s possible for anyone to really have that level of a voice anymore because our media is so diluted and parsed out. You know people kind of go for the news and information that they want as opposed to picking up a paper and seeing what catches their eye. It’s a very stark difference and you know it’s there is a few stories that end up going wide and everybody hears about them, but they’re usually salacious celebrity stuff that is not about substance or it’s the latest disaster and it’s kind of covered in a way that is just trying to get eyeballs on the screen. It’s not, you know. I mean I think that Anderson Cooper does a great job of staying with stories and pushing them. New Orleans he really… He was there and he pushed it past the point where his producers were saying, “Listen, you've got to stop because people are tuning out now. We’re on to another disaster.” You know, what do you worry about? Haiti? Chile? Turkey? What? You know, where do you put your attention and your focus? So for one person to really be able to cover all that ground would be tough. Also I think that, you know, you have experts in fields who spend their life studying one thing. When an event goes on like that chances are they’re going to want that specific expert who has done it to be on the show talking about it, not a writer or an artist of any sort, which I think is a mistake because you know we don’t have… I mean we have them, but there is certainly not you know in strong force public philosophers anymore. The only way you’re going to get that kind of metaphorical larger take on what is actually happening and what it means to us and what it’s going to mean in a few years is to talk to people whose job it is to take life and turn it into stories and create it and frame it. So it’s a tough role to fill. I think that one of the things that my dad was grappling with towards the end was how that shift had happened now and he would go on a book tour and do his shows and it would be you know fulfilling and good, but he wouldn’t have the same impact that he used to and it wasn’t because people were less interested. It’s just because people are distracted by the million different sources of entertainment and information in front of them at any given time.
Is Anderson Cooper the Next Norman Mailer?
John Buffalo Mailer
Actor & Writer
Oliver Stone is our culture's best at combining storytelling with social awareness, says John Buffalo Mailer. But others also carry his father's torch.April 23, 2010 | In Arts & Culture
Question: Who is carrying on your father's legacy?
John Buffalo Mailer: There’s several people out there who I feel are doing their part in that way. I would say the only one person I know of who kind of combines the elements that my father brought to the table in terms of affecting the public discourse would be Oliver Stone. His combination of academic brilliance and real life experience and just understanding people I think is what makes him such a great storyteller, but also he cares. He is interested. He meets somebody and he listens to them. He has some questions. He wants to know what they’re about. And as a result I think his worldview is much more complex and whole and most of the other… I don’t know if we even have a category of public intellectual anymore, but he would be in that category. He would be out there. The reason… One of the things that sets him apart though is he is commercial. He is mainstream. He makes big movies and he is one of the last guys that can make big movies that actually have something to say, that you know challenge the audience in a way while entertaining them.
But there's, you know, there's a lot of people out there who are doing it. I don’t know if it’s possible for anyone to really have that level of a voice anymore because our media is so diluted and parsed out. You know people kind of go for the news and information that they want as opposed to picking up a paper and seeing what catches their eye. It’s a very stark difference and you know it’s there is a few stories that end up going wide and everybody hears about them, but they’re usually salacious celebrity stuff that is not about substance or it’s the latest disaster and it’s kind of covered in a way that is just trying to get eyeballs on the screen. It’s not, you know. I mean I think that Anderson Cooper does a great job of staying with stories and pushing them. New Orleans he really… He was there and he pushed it past the point where his producers were saying, “Listen, you've got to stop because people are tuning out now. We’re on to another disaster.” You know, what do you worry about? Haiti? Chile? Turkey? What? You know, where do you put your attention and your focus? So for one person to really be able to cover all that ground would be tough. Also I think that, you know, you have experts in fields who spend their life studying one thing. When an event goes on like that chances are they’re going to want that specific expert who has done it to be on the show talking about it, not a writer or an artist of any sort, which I think is a mistake because you know we don’t have… I mean we have them, but there is certainly not you know in strong force public philosophers anymore. The only way you’re going to get that kind of metaphorical larger take on what is actually happening and what it means to us and what it’s going to mean in a few years is to talk to people whose job it is to take life and turn it into stories and create it and frame it. So it’s a tough role to fill. I think that one of the things that my dad was grappling with towards the end was how that shift had happened now and he would go on a book tour and do his shows and it would be you know fulfilling and good, but he wouldn’t have the same impact that he used to and it wasn’t because people were less interested. It’s just because people are distracted by the million different sources of entertainment and information in front of them at any given time.
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Wednesday, April 28, 2010
22 Days to May 20
.
This illustration is taken from La vie de Mahomet, by M. Prideaux, published in 1699. It shows Mohammed holding a sword and a crescent while trampling on a globe, a cross, and the Ten Commandments.
(Hat tip: Andy B.)
The cartoon above is the creation and responsibility of Peter,
Anderson Cooper had absolutely nothing to do with it.
(Hat tip: Andy B.)
Anderson Cooper had absolutely nothing to do with it.
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