Top 10 Manly Movie Deaths

Let's face it...I've never had the urge to view "The Unbearable Lightness Of Being" on July 4th weekend. It's the weekend for manly movies featuring dudes blowing up bad guys and dying noble deaths.

In that spirit, All Top Movies offers up the "Top 10 Manly Movie Deaths." And, yes, "Goose" from "Top Gun" checks in at number five. Or, checks out, if you will.

The BeeGees can SAVE YOUR LIFE

From CNN, a story of a woman who performed chest compressions on her husband after he suffered cardiac arrest, saving his life. She hadn't ever taken a CPR class, but she remembered seeing a public-service announcement that instructed people to do chest compressions to the tune of the BeeGees' song "Stayin' Alive." She kept it up for 15 minutes...which is a long time to have that song in your head.

Apparently, chest compressions alone, without mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, may keep a person alive long enough for emergency responders to intervene and save their life.

Doctors also suggest chest compressions to the tune of "Another One Bites the Dust."

Your choice.

Helen Thomas Gets Peeved At The Obama Administration

Veteran AP reporter Helen Thomas has made well-known her contempt for some previous Republican presidents. So Thomas is raising eyebrows today by expressing anger over how she perceives that the Obama Administration is trying to control the press.

You can't help but be intrigued by a story that features the theme "not even NIXON did this...."

Update: It is desperation time for some in the news biz, as the Washington Post has been attempting to sell access to administration officials, members of Congress, and their own reporters and editors.

So much better than another Cosmo quiz!

Via Jezebel, a link to a new women's history magazine, sadly titled "HerStoria." The title may be awful, but the concept is great for history and genealogy nerds like me. Here's how the magazine is described on its website:

HerStoria magazine explores the past to discover how the other half lived, telling the story of ordinary – and extraordinary – women. We’ll bring you opinions about the fairer sex from across the centuries, and investigate the ways in which women responded and lived their lives.

I'm listening to Jane Dunn's Elizabeth and Mary: Cousins, Rivals, Queens on audiobook right now (for the second time) and am coming close to the moment when Elizabeth of England finally authorizes the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots. It's riveting. I'll be checking out the "HerStoria" website to see what kind of features they share and who their contributors are as the magazine gets up and running.

Coleman vs. Franken: Is It Over Yet?

The Minnesota Supreme Court has ordered that Al Franken be declared the winner in the US Senate race between Franken and Norm Coleman.

But the court stopped short of ordering Governor Tim Pawlenty to sign Franken's election certificate. And Coleman may ask for federal intervention. And no one is commenting.

News Flash: Enemies Of Sarah Palin Are STILL Her Enemies

A Vanity Fair reporter interviews people who hate Sarah Palin and finds that...well...they STILL hate Sarah Palin. And, if their opinion isn't enough, the reporter is happy to create his own narrative.

Time To Raise The Taxes

Roger Altman, formerly of the Clinton Administration, predicts slow economic recovery. Spending by American household totals 70% of GDP and spending has slowed dramatically because consumers are paying down their debts.

So our problem is debt and Americans are addressing that problem. What will the government do? Raise taxes, of course--taking the dollars from families needed to retire their debts. Altman says it's just a matter of finding clever ways to grab more of our money.

Amma, the Hugging Saint, comes to Iowa

Amma, nicknamed "the hugging saint," will be in Coralville, Iowa, this week, sharing hugs with hundreds of Iowans.

I've been fascinated by Amma ever since I first heard about her. I have met people whose touch or embrace seems to convey more than just momentary attention or affection, but instead a deep acceptance and transfer of energy. I wonder if hugging Amma is like that for everyone?

I hope so--we could all use a little more unconditional love. I like this quote, attributed to Amma: "Only when human beings are able to perceive and acknowledge the Self in each other can there be real peace."

Billy Mays, R.I.P.

I've often told folks that I thought Billy Mays had one of the best jobs ever. High-energy pitch guy for products? I'd love to do it! But the key to Billy Mays was that all his energy was sincere. I consider myself an upbeat person--but I am pretty sure I'd have trouble reaching that high level of enthusiasm. Then I'd have to maintain it!

Billy Mays died mysteriously in his sleep over the weekend and I wondered how Discovery Channel would handle airing the remaining episodes of his reality show "Pitchmen." They've announced that they will air all nine shows back-to-back beginning this Wednesday morning.

Update: It appears to be heart disease.

US Supreme Court Overturns A Decision Endorsed By Sotomayor

The US Supreme Court has ruled 5-4 that white firefighters in New Haven, Connecticut were unfairly denied promotions based on their race. The city scrapped the results of a promotional exam because it resulted in the promotion of more white firefighters than minority firefighters.

The ruling reversed a decision that Supreme Court nominee Sonya Sotomayor endorsed as an appeals court judge.

Here is a key point made in the ruling:

The ruling could alter employment practices nationwide and make it harder to prove discrimination when there is no evidence it was intentional. (bold type added by me).

All politics aside, Republicans now have a legitimate question to ask Sotomayor: all things being equal, does she favor unbiased treatment of ALL races?

The key theme of future discussions of race is whether we believe that the playing field must be tilted repeatedly toward minorities because white people frequently practice intentional discrimination.

Or are we willing to understand that discrimination exists in isolated incidents rather than exists as a general rule of our society?

Update: The public again demonstrates common sense: a CNN poll reports that a majority of respondents believe the white firefighters were treated unfairly.