The Daily What

The Daily What

Lunchtime Links

Posted: 09 May 2012 12:30 PM PDT

Lunchtime Links

Today on The Daily What Geek: A real-life hovercraft can be yours for only $190,000

Elsewhere on the Internets:

  • Worrisome: SNL‘s Will Farrell promos
  • Found: Gun parts, by the TSA, in a Mickey Mouse stuffed animal
  • Questioned: Whether too-small airplane seats are unsafe for obese Americans
  • Transgender: Tom Gabel, the frontman for punk rock band Against Me!
  • Needed: $3 million, to capture Joseph Kony
  • Created: A Facebook game in honor of Teacher Appreciation Week

Lunchtime Leisure: Wolfenstein 3D
Lunchtime List: 10 Things You Might Not Know About Maurice Sendak

[image: reddit]

Breaking News of the Day: Obama Backs Gay Marriage [UPDATED]

Posted: 09 May 2012 12:00 PM PDT

President Obama has publicly announced his support for gay marriage in an interview today with Robin Roberts.

I have to tell you that over the course of several years as I have talked to friends and family and neighbors when I think about members of my own staff who are in incredibly committed monogamous relationships, same-sex relationships, who are raising kids together, when I think about those soldiers or airmen or Marines or sailors who are out there fighting on my behalf and yet feel constrained, even now that “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” is gone, because they are not able to commit themselves in a marriage, at a certain point I’ve just concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same sex couples should be able to get married.

Obama, who is the first U.S. president to openly back gay marriage, had come under fire this week for remaining mum on the subject after Joe Biden and Arne Duncan publicly declared their support. The president’s announcement comes a day after North Carolina voted in favor of a constitutional amendment that bans marriage equality.

Obama’s interview will appear on ABC’s Good Morning America on Thursday. Excerpts will air tonight on ABC’s World News with Diane Sawyer.

[abc]


Tagged: Breaking News, gay marriage, Obama

Grown Man Advice of the Day

Posted: 09 May 2012 11:36 AM PDT


Don Draper Jon Hamm recently sat for an “Ask A Grown Man” interview, a RookieMag feature in which teen girls ask the questions. As such, we learn in this video about Hamm’s wardrobe preferences; how he feels about making out vs. going all the way; and farting.

Don’t miss Paul Rudd’s interview.

[uproxx]


Tagged: grown man advice, Jon Hamm

MCA Tribute of the Day

Posted: 09 May 2012 11:21 AM PDT

- MCA Tribute of the Day


It was only a matter of time before Brooklyn paid homage to Adam Yauch of the Beastie Boys, whose “No Sleep Til Brooklyn” anthem was given the nod by an Internet commenter shortly after Yauch’s death Friday: “MCA can finally sleep, having arrived in Brooklyn.”

[death+taxes]


Tagged: adam yauch, MCA Tribute

This Is Also All Kinds Of Wrong of the Day

Posted: 09 May 2012 10:31 AM PDT


A preliminary hearing in the 2011 beating death of a homeless schizophrenic man in Fullerton, California, has ended, and a decision could come today on whether there is enough evidence for the two police officers charged in the incident to stand trial.

Officer Manuel Anthony Ramos and Cpl. Jay Cicinelli encountered Kelly Thomas near the Fullerton Transportation Center on July 5. The officers engaged with Thomas, whom they suspected of car theft. Ramos is accused of telling Thomas, “Now, see my fists? They are getting ready to f— you up,” before chasing him, hitting him with his baton, punching him in the ribs and sitting on top of him to restrain him. Cicinelli allegedly kneed Thomas twice in the head and used his Taser on him four times.

Previously unreleased surveillance video of the horrific beating surfaced at the hearing this week. Thomas can be heard on the video calling for his father and telling officers, by then a group of them, that he cannot breathe.

Thomas died five days after the beating. Dr. Aruna Singhania, the pathologist who performed the autopsy on Thomas’ body, testified in the hearing that Thomas died due to bleeding from his broken nose and other facial injuries. The blood filled his lungs and oxygen deprivation left him brain dead.

Ramos is charged with second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter in Thomas’ death, and Cicinelli is charged with involuntary manslaughter and excessive force. Both have been released on bail, and both have pleaded not guilty.

(Heads up — video is graphic and Not Safe For Work. Altercation begins at 15:20. A shorter version can be found here.)

[nbcla]


Tagged: homeless man beating, kelly thomas, this is also all kinds of wrong

No Doubt Reunion of the Day

Posted: 09 May 2012 10:15 AM PDT


After a 10-year hiatus, Gwen Stefani has reunited with bandmates Tony Kanal, Adrian Young, and Tom Dumont to record No Doubt’s sixth studio album, due September 25. Even better, the band has launched a series of behind-the-scenes webisodes that kick off with the recording of the track “Push & Shove,” a No Doubt collaboration with producers Major Lazer and Jamaican artist Busy Signal.

The as-yet-untitled album will also include a “party-reggae blast track” called “Steady Down,” and a “ska-pop tune” track called “One More Summer.”

[nodoubt]


Tagged: no doubt reunion

Smart Kitties of the Day

Posted: 09 May 2012 09:25 AM PDT

- Smart Kitties of the Day


Academic Kate Miltner recently received her Master’s Degree from the London School of Economics for her 98-page dissertation on the appeal of LOLcats, in which she argues that they ultimately enrich society and make us smarter. Here’s the Cliff’s Notes version:

Miltner breaks down LOLcats fans into three groups:

  • “Cheezfrenz” are LOLcats diehards and predominantly female. They are involved in I Can Has Cheezburger because it is “a place to be safe and kind” for people who “want to be nice, want to be happy, want to give support, want to smile.” Cheezfrenz know and connect through the correct use of LOLspeak (the grammar and spelling of LOLcats).
  • MemeGeeks, as Miltner calls them, make LOLcats that refer to more obscure memes, and are predominantly male. They play around with LOLcats on Reddit and Tumblr.
  • Casual Users are evenly split between males and females. They use email and Facebook to share LOLcats with friends and family as a way of staying in touch during the workday.

Ultimately, Miltner concludes that regardless of the type of user, “when it came to LOLcats, sharing and creating were often different means to the same end: making meaningful connections with others.”

[thanks, ben! atlantic]


Tagged: dissertation, lolcats, smart kitties

This Is All Kinds Of Wrong of the Day

Posted: 09 May 2012 08:56 AM PDT


Another day, another appalling undercover investigation from the Humane Society of the United States: The animal advocacy group has released evidence — and video footage — of pig abuse at a factory farm that allegedly is a supplier to Tyson Foods.

Video shot in April at the Wyoming Premium Farms facility in Wheatland shows workers kicking living piglets like soccer balls; swinging sick piglets in circles by their hind legs; striking mother pigs with their fists; and repeatedly and forcefully kicking them as they resisted leaving their young.

A Tyson Foods spokesman denies the company buys directly from the farm:

Tyson Foods does not buy any of the hogs raised on this farm for our pork processing plants. … A company that we own has purchased hogs from the farm. We will not purchase from this farm until we’ve had a chance to investigate.

(Heads up — video contains graphic images of animal abuse.)

[bi]


Tagged: factory farm, hsus, This Is All Kinds Of Wrong, undercover investigation

Wedding Dance of the Day

Posted: 09 May 2012 08:40 AM PDT


Ryan and Frankie van Horn kick off their wedding reception with a perfectly classy — and perfectly sassy — swing dance performance to Benny Goodman’s “Sing Sing Sing.”

[vimeo]


Tagged: swing dance, wedding dance

Kickass Parent of the Day

Posted: 09 May 2012 08:26 AM PDT

- Badass Parent of the Day


From Redditor Dittidot:

My son is away at college now, but for 13 years we were faithful to the “first day of school” pic. What a great guy you are…if you read this chum, I love you!

(Click to embiggen.)

[biotv]


Tagged: first day of school, Kickass Parent