Rocknation
Rocknation's JournalIt's the Thirteenth Annual Rocktivity/DU "You Call This NEWS?" Awards!
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Thank you, and welcome -- welcome to puberty! It's astounding to think that some of you have children who haven't been around as long as these awards have! And I would be remiss in not mentioning that once again, we are on the threshold of Hillary's second attempt to become president.
I'm so happy that we're not weathering the acrimony DU went through eight years ago that this year's ceremony is dedicated to all the Democratic Party Presidential candidates. Needless to say, I'm even happier that the GOP clown car has only turbocharged its rhetoric. But it puts the national media in the difficult position of having to choose which candidate's campaign advertising income to endorse. Maybe that's why we're entering our thirteenth year of DU-ers finding stories that are either a little too obvious, outdated, inconvenient, or a combination thereof to come across as actual news. So once again, let's salute the DU original posters and commenters who weren't afraid to call a spade a shovel!
Newbies in particular are invited to survey the archives:
[div style="text-align:center"]PREVIOUS AWARD WINNERS
2003 - Bush's Ancestor's Bank Seized (Grandad - Germany/Nazi)
2004 - Cheney May Help or Hinder Bush's Chances
[div style="text-align:center"]PREVIOUS AWARD CEREMONIES
2005 - U.S. Army Report: Military Lost Dominance In Iraq After Invasion
2006 - Iraq On Brink Of Becoming A Failed State
2007 - Iraqis Blame U.S. Invasion For Discord
2008 - Bush sees no recession coming
2009 - Bottled water sales dry up - Industry Asks 'Why?'
2010 - Former Head of FEMA says Bush Administration Downplayed Severity of Hurricane Katrina
2011 - Wal-Mart: Our Shoppers Are "Running Out Of Money"
2012 - CIA Docs Confirm: Cheney Is A Liar!
2013 - It's official: Pope has not abolished sin, says Vatican
2014 - (State) Trooper wants job back because raping that girl was just a "moral mistake"
[div class="excerpt" style="text-align:center;border: 2px #000000 ridge"]THIRTEENTH ANNUAL ROCKTIVITY DU/LBN "YOU CALL THIS NEWS?" AWARD WINNERS
Having explained the rules, we begin, of course, with an exception to them. The following could not be officially nominated because I started the thread. Nonetheless, I felt that its real-life Onion-ness simply could not go unrecognized. Besides, the recipient, while not an official DU-er to my knowledge, was in a band that rocked liberal causes long before it was fashionable:
[div style="text-align:center"]EXCEPTIONAL SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE Bassist Apologizes For Inspiring LIMP BIZKIT
Media Source: Blabbermouth.net
Best Comments: by Rage Against The Machine bassist Tim Commerford
"I do apologize for LIMP BIZKIT. I really do. I feel really bad that we inspired such bullshit. They're gone, though. That's the beautiful thing. There's only one left, and that's RAGE, and as far as I'm concerned, we're the only one that matters."
Commerford...climbed a 20-foot backdrop onstage as Limp Bizkit came up to accept the Best Rock Video award (in) 2000...(He) spent a night in jail...(but) added that if he could do it again he would have "ripped that thing to the ground and shredded it."
[div style="text-align:center"]DIS-HONORABLE MENTION
Woman's hand severely injured after she reaches into cage to pet tiger
Media Source: Omaha World Herald
Original Poster: Omaha Steve
Best Comments (Other Than Mine):
"Bet she won't do that again..."
-- VanillaRhapsody
"Why? She's got another hand, after all."
-- Petronius
[div style="text-align:center"]HONORABLE MENTION:
THE "TO FIGURE THIS OUT, YOU HAD TO DO A FREAKING STUDY?" CATEGORY
New study: Democrats far better than Republicans at grammar
Media Source: San Francisco Chronicle
Original Poster: Newsjock
Best Comment (Other Than Mine): "At spelling too -- let's not forget Mr. Moran."
-- Sanity Claws
[div style="text-align:center"]HONORABLE MENTION:
THE "YOU FORGOT THE 'NOT FROM THE ONION' DISCLAIMER" CATEGORY
Nicky Minaj Upset That Museum Visitors Disrespect Her Wax Figure

Media Source: EntertainmentOnline.com
Original Poster: Liberal_in_LA
Best Comment(Other Than Mine): "I'm laughing my...ass off here."
-- Cali
[div style="text-align:center"]HONORABLE MENTION:
When it Comes to Choosing a Partner, Women and Men Value Different Qualities
Media Source: KUT.org
Original Poster: TexasTowelie
Best Comments (Other Than Mine):
"That's probably accurate, but a lot of Liberal people prefer -- how shall I put this? -- someone somewhat intelligent to talk to when the sex is done for the night."
-- BlueJazz
"As long as he worships me for the goddess I am, that is all the intelligence he needs -- and is permitted to display."
-- Nuclear Unicorn
"I wouldn't have it any other way, my dear. Perhaps I should have said 'After my beating.'"
-- BlueJazz
[div style="text-align:center"]THIRD RUNNER UP
C.I.A. Funds Found Their Way Into Qaeda Coffers
Media Source: New York Times
Original Poster: Geek tragedy
Best Comment (Other Than Mine): "The CIA has never seen Islamic nutcases it didn't love."
-- Wolf Frankula
[div style="text-align:center"]SECOND RUNNER UP
Some blacks feel fatigued after barrage of racial incidents
Media Source: Associated Press
Original Poster: Surya Gayatri
Best Comments (Other Than Mine): "Coloreds, Negroes, Blacks, (and) African Americans have always felt under seige."
-- Iliyah
[div style="text-align:center"]FIRST RUNNER UP
Planned Parenthood shootings increasingly seem politically motivated
Media Source: Denver Post
Original Poster: Deminks
Best Comment (Other Than Mine): "He was a loner who lived with a woman (I thought loners lived alone), was a hate radio fan (per his pamphlets and conversation), and was shooting people in/from Planned Parenthood. Whatever could his motive be?"
-- Valerief
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ROCKTIVITY/DU "YOU CALL THIS NEWS?" AWARDS:



Media Source: RawStory.com
Original Poster: Kpete
Best Comment (Other Than Mine): "Reverse the rules: If one of these turd maggots say anything remotely intelligent, chug a quart of vodka."
-- Olddots
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Congrats to the winners and thanks for coming to the guests! This year, unclaimed clothing from the after party will be donated to Nicki Minaj, and a room has been reserved Blue Jazz and Nuclear Unicorn. The bar bill will go to pharma greedster Martin Shrkeli...Oh, I beg your pardon, I read my cue card incorrectly!
The bar bill for the afterparty is actually going to Miss Universe pageant host Steve Harvey. Shrkeli WAS going to get it, but his arrest for securities fraud and firings as CEO of two pharmaceutical companies have suddenly rendered him quite broke. So we created a job for him instead -- in case you've been wondering why the busboy looks kind of familiar!

rocktivity
These cover songs are SO good
I had no idea that they WERE cover songs!
Okay, that's enough -- otherwise we'll end up with a thread with so many great videos it won't load -- like this one, LOL!

rocktivity
Joe Cocker had an epic knack for cover songs
The Letter
Delta Lady
Darling Be Home Soon:
Cry Me A River:
With A Little Help From My Friends:

rocktivity
When JUSTIN BIEBER can call you a fuckup
You. Have. Fucked. Up.
GossipCop:
...After Miss Philippines was rightfully crowned as the winner (and) the host repeatedly apologized for the flub...(s)ocial media...became flooded with memes and gifs poking fun at the situation...One such meme played off (Justin) Biebers hit song 'Sorry', which features the line, Is it too late now to say sorry?
...As it circulated on Twitter and Instagram, Bieber...re-posted it on his own Instagram page. The singer wrote in the caption, Its so sad but this is too funny had to post no disrespect. The post has since amassed more than 1.2 million likes.
No, he meant no disrespect, just enough worldwide ridicule and publicity to push Sorry into the #1 hit single slot, resulting in saying goodbye to Adele's Hello. At least somebody might come out of this a big winner...

rocktivity
Goody -- that means we can add destroying evidence to his charges
of obstruction and abuse of power!
Christie's been screaming that there's no proof which connects him to Bridge(t)-Gate. Well, exactly how does he know that -- because HE couldn't find any, or because he's systematically destroyed it? Are we to believe that Christie has once again been victimized by rouge underlings -- that Gibson Dunn destroyed those documents just to pass the time, and WITHOUT his official knowledge or consent? Is Gibson Dunn point man Rudy Mastro willing to "run interference" for Christie all the way into a jail cell?
As for Wildstein running interference, why did he accept a plea deal instead of joining Kelly and Baroni in going to trial -- especially if he's innocent? He was in a perfect position to say, "I get immunity, you get my evidence, the evidence gets you Christie." But he traded immunity for a lighter sentence -- why? If he didn't have anything of value for Paul Fishman and His Fabulous Feds, why offer him ANY kind of deal? Could it be that the Feds don't NEED Wildstein, Kelly or Baroni to get to Christie? I think Wildstein blinked because he got a counteroffer he couldn't refuse:
"Sure, anything that you, Kelly or Baroni can give us on Christie would help us do a better job of nailing him on Bridge(t)-Gate. But we've got him dead bang on his attempts to cover it up, plus on his relationship with David Samson -- THAT is why we have no immunity deals in stock. It's no skin off our backs if you, Kelly and Baroni take the ENTIRE fall for Bridge(t)-Gate -- as far as we're concerned, it's only a matter of how much jail time each of you ends up with.
"So...do we get your evidence in exchange for a lighter sentence, or do you join your esteemed colleagues in trying your luck with a jury? Ask yourself how lucky you feel about getting acquitted -- punk!"

rocktivity
Fogle's Defense Trifecta
TMZ 11/13:...Fogle is asking for 5 years, saying although it was "inexcusable" he had sex with minors, "these individuals were far older (aged 16 and 17) than many victims of this same crime..."
...(T)he bulk of the photos and videos in his possession were from a thumb drive that (was given to) him, and he notes he never requested it...
TMZ 11/19:
...(The) judge just sentenced...Fogle...to 15.6 years in prison...after his attorneys tried to blame weight loss for his "mild pedophilia..."
Jared Fogle's attorneys...had a sexual behavior expert testify that Fogle had compulsive eating disorder -- but...once he lost the pounds he developed compulsive hypersexuality disorder...
"Mild" pedopohilia -- is that anything like being "a little bit" pregnant?


rocktivity
You're A Scumbag, Charlie Sheen
Oh wait -- can you be considered a scumbag if you're not in the habit of using one?
From the Today Show website: The Interview with Matt Lauer
Excerpts from an open letter Charlie wrote and Lauder read:
The personal disbelief, karmic confusion, shame and anger lead to a temporary yet abysmal descent into profound substance abuse and fathomless drinking. It was a suicide run. Problem was, I'd forgotten that I'm too tough for such a cowardly departure. Yet, despite this loathsome and horrific odyssey, I was vigilant with my anti-viral program. My medical team could only shake their heads as each and every blood test returned levels revealing a state of remission. Even though I might have been trying to kill myself, one thing was radically evident: the disease was not.
Talk about being your own worst enemy: You decide to go out in a blaze of glory, but having access to the best medical care money can buy, you also decide to try saving yourself. Or was the suicide run your backup plan?
It's admirable that you remember always remembering to inform your partners of your condition despite being so abysmally descended and dazed. And I suppose it's admirable that you found a way to mix safe sex with your substance-fueled pursuit of debauchery with strangers (some of whom you hired). Unfortunately for you, some of your unsavory, insipid, disreputable companions have come forth begging to differ with your contention. But if you always supplied them with the truth about your status and with condoms, why did you agree to pay them? And more to the point, why did you trust such bottom-dwelling lowlifes to care about your keeping your confidence -- because they're IN it for money rather than love?
If the scales of justice are operational, they will have you serving California's six-month maximum for every person you didn't inform or use condoms with -- consecutively. A defense strategy made up of celebrity justice, "family guy" guilt tripping, the hint of big community service payments, and prostitutes screaming rape because their checks bounced might get you off the hook. But in the meantime, please keep in mind that:
As of now, there is no such thing as being HIV free
There are only two HIV statuses: HIV positive and HIV negative
If your HIV levels are so low they're undetectable, you are HIV positive
Even if your HIV levels are so low they're undetectable, you must continue with your HIV medication and treatments
If you are HIV positive, you MUST inform ALL your sexual partners even if you're paying them. It's a legality as well as a civility.
An undetectable level of HIV is like a mild case of pregnancy.

rocktivity
Undetectable does NOT equal asymptomatic
and it certainly doesn't equal cured.
It's just how some viruses work, and it depends on what kind of immune system you have. In most people, the HPV virus dies out; in some men over 40, it turns into cancer. Anyone who has had chicken pox is capable of getting shingles, but only one percent of Americans over 60 do (a vaccination at age 50 is highly recommended). And how soon we forget the Ebola virus.
What matters here is that you can pass on HIV even if you're not showing symptoms yourself -- and that is NOT front page news. The reason why it spread so quickly forty years ago is that nobody knew they were passing it on. Once it was figured out, the gay community was able to go about putting on the brakes.
In the absence of a cure, there is no such thing as HIV free. The only thing I'm confused about is whether Charlie is acting out of inexcusable ignorance or his trademark arrogance.
rocktivity
That's what was said about Hillary's Tuzla story.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x5220049And that business about Bobby Kennedy's assassination.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6108152
And it's not her first 9/11 gaffe.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x5269112
And lest I appear to be partisan, I was also offended when Chris Christie did it:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=7060162
Absolutely con-fabulous, sweetie darling!

rocktivity
And they're complaining?
Grand Pabbie...advises the family that it might be best if Elsa doesn't use her powers around Anna...(He) alters Anna's memories...(and) warns Elsa that her powers will grow, and although they are beautiful, they will be a great risk to her if she cannot learn to control them...Her father cautions her to wear gloves to keep her icy magic in check, and to conceal her feelings, because strong emotions seem to cause her powers to manifest in unexpected ways.
(Thirteen years later)...Elsa (is) nervous during (her) coronation ceremony...The bishop has to remind her to remove her gloves before she takes up her golden orb and scepter...(T)he...orb starts to frost...(She) puts her gloves back on...Unable to contain her emotions, Elsa...caus(es) a barrier of sharp icicles to suddenly appear around her...Elsa flees with Anna in hot pursuit.
...Elsa has found her way to a high precipice...many miles from civilization. It is here she realizes that far away from what she was taught, being on her own, she can begin to control her powers (Let it Go). She constructs an elaborate ice palace, changes her confining wardrobe into a shimmering dress, and vows to stay in seclusion, where she feels she can be herself and harm no one else.
Say what? The American Taliban and the Illumi-Nutties should be praising this song -- it celebrates the "dangers" of realizing your potential if you're female. If Elsa has to exile herself in order to avoid causing any further physical or emotional harm, what has she REALLY accomplished? What Elsa ends up learning (from her heterosexual sister and her three male compatriots) is that what she thinks is indpendence and self-determination is just another form of subjugation -- straight out of the Religious Misogynist's playbook!
Warning: This video also contains a striptease and flash of lower leg:
rocktivity

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Gender: FemaleHometown: New Jersey
Home country: USA
Member since: 2001
Number of posts: 44,922