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2009 VMA's: Scenes of Fun & Douchebaggery

Let's be straight here. MTV isn't exactly what it used to be, but I'm still a sucker for events like last night's VMA's, especially when I'm promised an MJ tribute featuring Janet and performances from the likes of my favorite power couple (next to Ben & Zooey), Jay-Z & Beyonce.  Below you'll find just a few of my thoughts from the night - feel free to leave yours in the comments.

1. Lady Gaga - Can someone PLEASE explain to me her appeal?  And no, the "omg you guyZ, she's so edgy, didn't you see the fake blood??!!!!" reason will not fly.  Her nightmare-inducing face needs to not exist ASAP.

2. Michael Jackson Tribute - Very poignant, but did anyone else notice the "Smooth Criminal" invisible wire fail? One of these things is not like the other...

3. Oh, Kanye...The douchiness knows no bounds IN CAPITAL LETTERS Y'ALL. At least we got a sweet mash-up vid out of it already.

4. I'm calling it now. Buzz Aldrin should totally host next year. Sorry, Russell, his list-reading skills brought more lolz than your entire presence on stage this year.

5. And finally, you guys! "New Moon" is going to be AWESOME. I already have my midnight screening tickets for November. WHAT.

What'd you guys think of the night?  Leave your thoughts in the comments and check out some of the performances from the night after the jump.

Politics: Torture Debate

As most of people know, there has been lots of debate about torture in the news lately.  I’d like to hear what FILTER readers think about the whole mess!  It seems that there are so many arguments both supporting and opposing sides.

-Should the US and its allies be engaging in torture?  

-Should we prosecute those who ordered/okayed torture and give them the same treatment as those ‘bad apples’ who we later found out  were ‘just following orders’?  

-Should we as a society give war crimes “a pass” as suggested by some politicians and pundits in the media?  

-Should Obama continue to block the photos that are due for release this month?  

Please share your thoughts in the comment section!

 

Facebook Application Wins & Fails

Here's the deal - I love Facebook. I love stalking out old high school acquaintances. I love seeing status updates that read "OMGLOST" every Thursday morning or offer priceless Jurassic Park quotes (okay, that's just me). I even love when much older family members express concern at family functions over my levels of sass, sarcasm and singledom after friending me.

With that said, I hate, hate, hate invitations to useless and annoying applications. No, I do not want to virtually throw a cupcake at you. No, I do not want to plant a flower in your virtual garden! And NO, I certainly do not feel the need to engage in virtual Duck, Duck, Goose! SERIOUSLY, PEOPLE, STOP IT.

I have had enough with these epic fails giving Facebook Applications a bad name. Here are my personal top 3 application wins that DID make the cut for my social networking elitist profile:

1. FILTER Magazine's Top 5 Songs of the Week. Helping good music prevail one profile at a time. Obviously.

2. LOLcats. I prefer cats illiterate and sassy.

3. Addicted to Arrested Development. Feeling down on your day? Get some pearls of wisdom from the Bluth clan. Buster and G.O.B. have me LOLing constantly.

Leave the most ridiculous Facebook App wins & fails you've encountered in the comments.

*This post is dedicated to the memory of Scrabulous. RIP.

Stop Messing With Those Lights! Christian Bale Is Coming!

We all learned a valuable lesson this week. Never, ever adjust the lights while Christian Bale is filming a scene, because the man takes his roles very seriously. Even a Terminator movie directed by the mono-monkiered McG, the man who brought you Charlies Angels – Full Throttle. As Bale’s profanity-laden tirade was released, people were initially horrified, but fortunately, we have the intarwebs to dunk this man’s frustrated outburst into a giant vat of silly and come out with the following mash-ups. Of course, all clips are NSFW, unless you work as a Director Of Photography on an upcoming robot movie – this kind of language seems to be pretty acceptable there.

The Christian Bale Dance Remix:

Christian Bale Vs. Bill O’Reilly:

Make your own outburst with the Christian Bale soundboard!

And if you’ve decided that working with Christian is not for you, best pick up one of these shirts.

If there are any other great mash ups, link ‘em in the comments.

Politics: Did Obama Bomb Pakistan??...and Other News

According to today's reports, the US is suspected of launching two missile attacks earlier today in areas of north western Pakistan killing 18 people.  It is not known whether or not the dead were Taliban, Al Qaeda, or even people with hostile feelings/intents towards the US.  Obama's press secretary Robert Gibbs is choosing to remain mum on the issue saying, "I'm not going to discuss that matter".  Regardless of intent, if the US has in fact launched this attack, it wouldn't be much of a departure from Bush's policy of 'shoot first, ask questions later'.  

Also in today's news, we have learned that President Obama has signed the order to close Guantanamo Bay Prison....in a year.  This decision has already garnered him some criticism amongst some of his biggest supporters many who believe the prison should be closed right away and without delay.  Basically, there are 240 people who are being held there.  Some have been locked away for many years without charges or evidence against them to substantiate their captivity. 

President Obama has also ordered the closing of secret CIA prisons. This actually raises a few questions.  How do we Americans know ALL the prisons will be shut down if they're "secret"?  Will the locations of these prisons be revealed publicly?  

On the subject of torture, President Obama signed an order restricting US personnel to interrogation methods provided in the Army Field Manual. What about rendition flights?  Will those stop too?  How about outsourcing torture to countries like Syria and Egypt like Bill Clinton did?  Will we ever know who is being held by the CIA and why?  

Does President Obama know of ALL the 'secret prisons' and torture practices around the world enough to make sure his orders have been followed thoroughly?  Doubtful.  From John F. Kennedy's experience with the Bay of Pigs to Ronald Reagan's experience with Iran-Contra, we've witnessed the CIA appearing to be operating in a world outside the full knowledge of the president.  This is also called 'plausible deniability' meaning that the president is purposely kept in the dark and able to deny knowledge and responsibility for possible illegal actions. However, the extent of a president's knowledge on certain events cannot be fully verified.  

Politics: Obama to Undo Bush Executive Orders

 

"Change" is apparently coming...soon.  Shortly after Inauguration Day next Tuesday, Barack Obama plans to reverse some of George W. Bush's most controversial executive orders.  Although, not all of these will happen immediately, many insiders believe the following will be taken care of ASAP.  

-  Torture of terror suspects will supposedly end.  

-  Guantanamo Bay Prison will be shut down.

-  Presidential Signing Statements will be limited.

-  Secrecy privileges of Vice Presidents and family members of past Presidents will be revoked.

I'm more or less an "I'll believe it when I see it" type, but am optimistic that if Obama follows through, it will help put things on the right track and restore the rule of law in the US.  Wouldn't it be nice if we all could have an Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind experience and simply wipe the past 8 years from memory?