Dear Miley, please STFU!

Miley Cyrus needs to stop talking. She is irritating, as is her weird mouth.

"It scares me," she tells PARADE magazine. "It feels contrived on so many levels. Unless you're wearing a cowboy hat and cowboy boots and singing and whining about your girlfriend or boyfriend leaving you it's not going to sell. I think that's why my dad finally got out of it. You have to wear those cowboy boots and be sweet as pie. It makes me nervous, the politics of it all."

Miley recently recorded three versions -- including a country take -- of a song called 'Nothing to Lose,' with former Poison frontman Bret Michaels.

The 17-year-old did have some flattering things to say about her godmother, Country Music Hall of Famer Dolly Parton: "She is the nicest person in the world. She's so easy to talk to. She's awesome. I love her. She always tells me just to do what I love and if I'm not having fun it's not working. I don't know how old she is at this point but every time she is on the stage she is smiling from ear to ear."

How old is she, 15? She acts like she's 12.

Sure, I enjoy the new theme song to The Last Song movie, and can rock out to a little Party in the USA occassionally, but as someone who crossed over with "The Climb" as with some of her other songs- I wouldn't shit on Country Music quite so boldly.

Oh, and then throw in some stupid anecdote about your godmother, Dolly, who is always smiling. So she's a dumb-ass, smiley country singer, who's found success singing about men leaving her, is that it?

Why not change the contrived country music you see? Write something other than your boyfriend dumping you. Miley could always ask Brad Paisley, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Martina McBride and Garth Brooks to help you. Because lyrics like "The Britney Song was on" ain't gonna be remembered as "touching" anytime past 2010, friend.

And for now, she should shut up.

Watch those lips!

Or you might be arrested.

Meeting at Bob's Easy Diner, a seaside restaurant in Dubai, 25-year-old Charlotte Adams greeted 24-year-old Ayman Najafi with what the couple describes as a harmless exchange of cheek kisses.

"We kissed each other on the cheek as a greeting, nothing more," Najafi said at a court hearing on Sunday.

Sitting at a nearby table, however, were an Emirati woman's two daughters, who told their mother that the couple had kissed on the lips. The mother called the police, and Adams and Najafi were arrested on charges of public indecency and drinking alcohol.

"My daughter told me that the accused were kissing on the mouth. Then I spotted them doing so myself. I also saw them touching each other, and they were seated two to three meters away from our table. A number of customers witnessed the scene as well," the Emirati woman who filed the complaint testified in a court appearance Sunday.

OMG! Kissing AND touching?

Well, it's one thing to be flaunting about with public displays of affection that people may scoff at because they're uptight and don't like it. It's another to act indecently. And entirely another thing to offend cultural norms in foreign countries. But should this Brit and her boyfriend have asked about etiquette?

Who knew love was a crime?!

Maybe he should have known, being based in Dubai. On second thought, perhaps Frommers should include a kissing guide?

Kleefisch suggests...nothing new

Rebecca Kleefisch, the former TV newswoman-turned-political candidate, says Wisconsin should follow the lead of other states by creating a hotline so public employees and concerned citizens can report abuse and fraud in state government.

The lieutenant governor wannabe is suggesting the phone number be called a state "waste line."

"Government is too porky and needs to watch its waste line," Kleefisch says in a YouTube.com announcement of the proposal, which she also discussed on her Facebook page. "Just like we had those crime tip lines (on TV news), we can easily implement a budget waste line here in the state of Wisconsin."

There's just one problem with the idea.

In 2008, Wisconsin lawmakers set up just such a hotline so anybody could call with tips regarding fraud, abuse or mismanagement in state government.

Among those voting for the proposal both in committee and on the legislative floor:

Rep. Joel Kleefisch, the Oconomowoc Republican and Rebecca's husband.

She clearly didn't do her research, or doesn't have the right explanation to differentiate her proposal from what's already being done.

Here's the thing: I don't think Lt. Gov. IS marketing like she's raving about. It's cutting spending, yes. It's weeding out waste, sure. But it's by slashing the budget, not a "tip line."

If you can't do something with that position, it shouldn't exist. Kudos, Rep. Brett Davis, for stating the obvious.

In the meantime, voters are looking for substantive, NEW, fresh ideas from the candidates from the Lt. Gov. GOP Primary.

"Pretty conservative" Kleefisch is already behind.

Jobless in WI

This is not a good number, folks:

Wisconsin lost more than 71,000 non-farm jobs from December to January, according to a new release from the state Department of Workforce Development. DWD says that's less than the typical loss of 80,000 jobs over that timespan.

The state's unadjusted jobless rate for January was 9.6 percent, up from 8.3 percent in December.

Yikes.

Sorry James Cameron

But Avatar just wasn't blue-cool enough!

But "Hurt Locker" was anything but a sure thing. In a historical context, its win is surprising. After all, it is the lowest-grossing best picture winner of all time; it was never on more than 535 screens; and it beat the highest-grossing movie in modern history, one that has been playing on thousands of screens for nearly three months. In the era of blockbusters, "Locker" cost a mere $11 million to make compared with the more than $230 million cost of "Avatar."

To earn its gold, "Hurt Locker" had to break what producer Greg Shapiro called "The Iraq War Curse," referring to all the movies touching on that conflict that had failed to find an audience. It had to weather attacks in the media and from some in the military who questioned the realism of how it portrayed the bomb-removal unit. The film also drew censure for the illicit campaign methods of one of its producers, the first to be banned from attending the Academy Awards. And it had to win with backing from Summit Entertainment, a relatively new and small distributor that had never before won an Oscar.

There also is the parallel question of whether "Avatar" and distributor Fox contributed to their own demise in the best-picture race. The sci-fi epic had been critically acclaimed, far more widely seen and was widely heralded for its breakthrough technology. And it boasted the deep-pocket backing of a major Hollywood studio. Could it be explained as the ultimate example of the split personality in Hollywood, where movie choices are mostly driven by the need to make large amounts of money but where the people behind the camera still want to be seen as making art? And was it hurt by attacks from the political right on the movie's plot, which was seen as a dig on America's Iraq incursion?

Yes yes, all very interesting as the article goes on.

I haven't seen it so I cannot share an opinion on The Hurt Locker, however....

it basically boils down to James Cameron's ex-wife mopping the Oscar floor with him. And, she's still prettier than his current wife, former Titanic actress who looks incredibly old now...

Why, if you have that much money, can your wife not take a monthly trip to the salon for some hair coloring services? James - please.

Athiests call the Bible smut

I'm a week late on this, but apparently athiest students at the University of Texas San Antonio think the Bible is "smut."

A college atheist group is offering students pornography in exchange for Bibles.

Atheist Agenda calls the exchange "Smut for Smut," prompting prayers and protests from Christian students at the University of Texas San Antonio campus.

Student Monica Cornado says it's offensive to compare pornography to "the Word of God."

University officials say the atheist group has the right to conduct the swap.

The definition of smut, per Webby:

1.a particle of soot; sooty matter.
2.a black or dirty mark; smudge.
3.indecent language or publications; obscenity.

Why not just toss bibles down a chimney?

This is absolutely nonsensical to me. Smearing a holy book in this way is not even witty. It's a sad attempt at calling attention to your non-belief.

What's the point, anyway, kids?

The video shows some posters too - I bet they're art majors.

MAD tv - Bon Qui Qui at King Burger

I will CUT you

Dinosaurs never saw it coming...

A giant asteroid smashing into Earth is the only plausible explanation for the extinction of the dinosaurs, a global scientific team said on Thursday, hoping to settle a row that has divided experts for decades.

A panel of 41 scientists from across the world reviewed 20 years' worth of research to try to confirm the cause of the so-called Cretaceous-Tertiary (KT) extinction, which created a "hellish environment" around 65 million years ago and wiped out more than half of all species on the planet.

Scientific opinion was split over whether the extinction was caused by an asteroid or by volcanic activity in the Deccan Traps in what is now India, where there were a series of super volcanic eruptions that lasted around 1.5 million years.

So the asteroid is the ONLY plausible explanation. There is not one other?!

and only 41 people were at the discussion...41!! that's smaller than a football team!

but then another possible explanation is volcanic activity.

This is just bad journalism. Which one is it, folks?

Geological records show the event that triggered the dinosaurs' demise rapidly destroyed marine and land ecosystems, they said, and the asteroid hit "is the only plausible explanation for this."

Well I don't think it's safe to land on just one "plausible" explanation.

Plausible: having an appearance of truth or reason; seemingly worthy of approval or acceptance; credible; believable

appear... seeming... believable... all have a degree of subjectivity.

And in the case of dinosaurs and science/evolution claims and the history of the Earth- so much of which is really unknown to us, I don't think there should ever be one explanation. It's unhealthy and it discourages creative theories and future research.

Besides, what if God just decided to put them all to sleep and bury them beneath us one day? Maybe he got tired of Sue stomping around and was ready to hang out with Adam.

If you're a believer, that's plausible too.

Crown Ryan

What young up-and-coming GOP legislator in Washington doesn't wish he were Paul Ryan right now?

Rep. Paul Ryan of Janesville has put forth a far more sweeping proposal, and he's drawn national attention and considerable praise from conservatives for it.

"You do not look upon the likes of Ryan very often," said Bob Moffit, a health policy analyst at the Heritage Foundation, a policy research organization in Washington, D.C.

The man is untouchable!! All the articles around healthcare show Congressman Ryan at the front of the GOP pack, leading the opposition to a government takeover. I'm actually waiting for the political cartoons to show him in Badger Red army garb storming the Capitol with a bayonet pierced through the bazillion-page bill!

He is articulate, well-informed, extremely intelligent, and not bad to look at. ;-)

From where I sit in Wisconsin, he's our #1 out in D.C. Congressman Ryan is the guy that comes home to walk the Janesville LaborFest parade with his kids and a gaggle of local support in one of Wisconsin's largest union towns, and receives a roaring crowd. Then he hops a plane back to Washington to fight for his constituents, literally.

The headlines read "Paul Ryan Could SAVE America," "The Congressman and Calculator," "Paul Ryan v. The President," and on and on. A recent article talks about the Democrats "reconciling" and conspiring to come back at only him!!

Ryan's entire proposal, which includes privatizing part of Social Security, is aimed at reducing the long-term fiscal challenge of funding the Medicare and Social Security programs.

"Ryan actually stands alone in the Congress as the only person who has actually come to grips with the true dimension of the problem," Moffit said.

He is their foe.

For a guy to be so smart on economic issues, to crunch the numbers with absolute determination to unveil the current health care bill of everything wrong (wearing the "geek glasses," no less), and to do so with class and ease as he sits in a healhcare rountable prove the makings of a President.

He would likely slap my fingers typing this, as his "kids are too young and his ego's not that big," but what about... dare I say... 2016?

Congressman Ryan, your three gorgeous babies will be well into Middle School if not the early years of High school in 6 years, am I right? If I'm wrong, we'll simply brush over that fact with "kids grow up so fast these days" and "they're from Wisconsin, so you know they'll be humble and well-adjusted in the White House."

That's the other tail on the donkey. Paul Ryan is simply too main-stream America. He's not power hungry, or we would have seen him run for Senate already, maybe Governor? (the GOP base has been begging him for years.) But he likes his perch.

And as leader of the anti-universal health care movement, I think he does too. And anyone in his office is going to strap themselves with ducktape to their computer chairs for as long as they can, so as not to lose a ride on the Paul Ryan Wagon.

His Roadmap for America may not be perfect. What legislation is? And while Republicans may not be rushing to defend him just yet, he doesn't need much help with the media- and the entire state of Wisconsin- lifting him up.

"Nass yo circus"

Representative Nass, you wanna talk about a circus?

Nass, R-Whitewater, did not attend today's hearing, instead sending the committee overseeing the expulsion resolution a memo on Tuesday dismissing some of Wood's defenses against being expelled.

Hubler, D-Rice Lake, and Rep. Tony Staskunas, D-West Allis, expressed their disappointment that Nass chose not to show up for the hearing, saying they wanted to ask him questions about his expulsion resolution.

Nass aide Mike Mikalsen attended today's hearing and said afterward that Nass did not show up because of what he called a "circus atmosphere" in which Wood was allowed to cross examine anyone who chose to testify in favor of the expulsion resolution. Assembly rules grant anyone targeted in an expulsion resolution that opportunity, treating the hearing somewhat like a trial.

Let's break it down. Wood makes a mistake.(We all do, Representative Lives in a Glass House).

Nass publicly chastises him.

Nass calls for his expulsion.

Nass #FAILs to show up for the hearing HE called for.

Hypocrisy!

Do better, Representative Nass. You are certainly not above the circus show that you called for. In fact, I'd go so far to say you're the monkey's uncle in the middle of the ring.

People make mistakes. Do I think what Rep. Wood did was wrong and most importantly, that he is in need of help? Absolutely.

But what Mr. Nass did in avoiding the hearing was equally unflattering to his own character. If you're going to point fingers, judge, and move for expulsion - do so with cajones! Show up to the trial you called for and stand behind your beliefs and your accusations.

Rep. Nass skulked off in the name of "the high road" which is complete B.S.

Perhaps we should call for his removal as a spineless jellyfish.

the Goth look

What is it about the goth look that is appealing to young people?

Rather than stare at the young passerby who walked with unnaturally blackened hair with a pink swatch in it, dark black eyeliner resembling that of a hussie in Vegas, those ear-extending earrings, and a spike thru his chin, I start to have some questions...

Rather than judge and write this kid off as a thug punk with some likely problems at home who is trying to find himself in a midst of pot-smoke filled rooms and dog collars, I'm more concerned for his future.

Why is he dressed like this?
What does this aspiring college student desire for his life?
When does one grow out of this phase?
What is the appeal of man make-up? Did he just wake up one morning and think, "I'll get tons of women if I look like Marilyn Manson." Though Marilyn did manage a few seemingly normal ladies of his own. Well, normal until they started dating him.

Does one think he will get a job looking like this? Be taken seriously?

I guess I'm just baffled. And I needed to babble.

Tip for this kid: Invest in the vampire look. Just soften your goth, lose the pink hair and the eye liner, and stay out of the sun. Vampires are in, kid.