Category: General

Did Apple Make the Right Decision Saying No to the FBI?

Apple

On the surface, Apple’s move to reject the FBI’s plea to unlock the phone of the San Bernardino murderer seems admirable. To install an entirely new operating system in an effort to unlock one phone would compromise the security of all existing customers by creating a “backdoor,” and inviting hackers, not just the FBI, into the mix. All personal information would be at risk and according to Apple, “the same engineers who built strong encryption into the iPhone to protect our users would, ironically, be ordered to weaken those protections and make our users less safe.” It would “be the equivalent of a master key, capable of opening hundreds of millions of locks — from restaurants and banks to stores and homes,” Apple said, and no reasonable person would find that acceptable. Essentially, it’s 1984, and Apple won’t fold. 

Apple’s decision is based largely on the potential for disaster, coupled with the government’s breach of privacy. How far would it extend, asks Apple. Could they then, “intercept your messages, access your health records or financial data, track your location, or even access your phone’s microphone or camera without your knowledge?” Apple’s decision is intensely interesting. If I were a sitting Justice on the Supreme Court, I’d be perplexed. As an attorney, I know a lot about setting precedents, and as someone neurotic by nature, I also know about taping the camera on my laptop for fear that someone is watching me. The truth of this is — there is not a right answer. This has to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, rather than using the All Writs Act of 1789 as a catch-all in any way the government seems fit. For example, what if the San Bernardino killer had a master plan akin to 9/11, and the only way to stop him is for Apple to do as the government asks. Would they still hold firm at the expense of innocent lives? I’m guessing no.

In this particular case, there does not seem to be a future threat, but we are not privy to those facts, and we might never be. In fact, it would be impossible to do a case-by-case analysis, because exposing that information in court would clearly compromise the mission at hand by revealing our plan and knowledge to the bad guys. My point? There’s no easy answer here, and as a society, it’s important to put our heads together in favor of a viable solution, rather than simply landing on a hard line.

Why Taylor Swift’s Grammy’s Speech Was Negative and Immature

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There are two things I know for sure. First, Taylor Swift is humorless. And second, Kanye West is a bloated bag of nuts. When combined, you get a can’t-miss car crash of insults on repeat. For those that missed the back-story, Kanye West inserted a song lyric that said he made “that bitch famous” in reference to Taylor Swift, and insisted that Swift blessed the barb before its release and “found it funny.” Swift countered that she found it misogynistic and objected to the idea that Kanye’s infamous on-stage take-down at the MTV Video Music Awards was responsible for her subsequent super-stardom. I need not state the obvious fact that Swift was already hugely successful. When Swift received the Grammy for Album of the Year last night, she used that moment to take a dig at Kanye West and disguised it in an uplifting bow, saying, “As the first woman to win album of the year at the Grammys twice, I want to say to all the young women out there: there are going to be people along the way who will try to undercut your success or take credit for your accomplishments or your fame. But if you just focus on the work and you don’t let those people sidetrack you, someday when you get where you’re going, you’ll look around and you’ll know it was you and the people who love you who put you there and that will be the greatest feeling in the world.”

The media is making this out to be some beautiful soliloquy of sweetness, rather than what it actually is. A DIG. Why waste even a millisecond of your great moment taking a hit at West, who doesn’t deserve a breath of your time? If the purpose was really to empower women, as she suggested, she could have clearly accomplished that without the negative zing. This is akin to a yoga-loving person that meditates with motivational quotes on her wall while insisting she’s super happy, only to cry each night in the corner of her room. (Too deep?).

I think Taylor Swift is great, and I have two of her albums. I like her. I like her style, and I’ve heard through numerous insiders that she treats everyone in her circle with the greatest respect. I’ve heard she’s kind, professional, and classy. But I’d encourage her to shrug insults off her back a little more often, especially when it comes from heavy-hitters. It just adds darkness to the light she’s trying to emanate, and it sends a bad message.

Tabloid Gossip: Your Week of Links

Ariana Grande dumped her manager. Idolator

LeAnn Rimes’ ex-husband wrote a book. ICYDK

Ciara sued her ex-boyfriend. NYDN

Are Hailey Baldwin and Justin Bieber in love? Just Jared

Jordin Sparks and her boyfriend broke up. E! Online

Hugh Hefner’s son doesn’t agree with Playboy’s creative direction. The Frisky

Katherine McPhee’s divorce is finalized. TMZ

Liz Hurley’s ex-fiance felt she was too close to Hugh Grant. People

Former Bachelor Sean Lowe and his wife have some serious issues. RTW

Rose McGowan filed for divorce. HUFFPO

Kanye West and Taylor Swift are fighting again. Billboard

Scott Disick is off the wagon again. The Hollywood Gossip

Eva Longoria’s ex-husband is expecting another baby. CM

Laverne Cox has a new boyfriend. Wet Paint

Gwyneth Paltrow says Chris Martin is like her brother. ICYDK

Ashley Graham made history on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Time

Kanye West is $53 Million in debt?!!! Us Magazine

‘Teen Mom’ star Maci Bookout is expecting baby #2. Mtv

Liberty Ross and Jimmy Iovine got married. Just Jared

Tyler Henry Disgustingly Uses Robin Williams to Promote His Terrible Show

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I’ve heard of using celebrities to promote sub-par television shows in need of a jolt, but using a dead celebrity to do your dirty work? Now that’s just plain disgusting. In the video below you’ll see creepy man-child Tyler Henry do a “reading” with Margaret Cho in which Robin Williams “comes through.”. Tyler also had Brittany Murphy come through for Jamie Pressly in a previous episode.

Let’s assume for argument’s sake that those who have passed on would in fact make contact with their living loved ones to send a message via a medium. Don’t you think Robin Williams would do that for his family and children, and not Margaret Cho? And what about Brittany Murphy? You’re telling me she will reach out beyond the grave to Pressly, with whom she had zero contact with in the years leading up to her death? To say I’m outraged by this format is a complete understatement. Plus, the kid isn’t even good at this. Watch below after the jump.
Continue reading “Tyler Henry Disgustingly Uses Robin Williams to Promote His Terrible Show”

OK GO at Zero Gravity for New Video — WATCH NOW

Are OK GO’s music videos a tool to promote their songs, or are their songs a tool to promote their videos? It’s a meta question for a band that carved their own captivating lane in the music video game, and their newest endeavor for Upside Down & Inside Out, is everthing and nothing you’d expect. Thanks to S7 Airlines zero-g plane, they ditched gravity in favor of some seriously engaging stunts and cool choreography. As for the splattered paint inside the plane, I’m guessing the mutually beneficial promotion paid for cleanup costs.

OK Go – Upside Down & Inside OutHello, Dear Ones. Please enjoy our new video for “Upside Down & Inside Out”. A million thanks to S7 Airlines. #GravitysJustAHabit

Posted by OK Go on Thursday, February 11, 2016

Larry David’s Laughs Through SNL Rehearsal: “Can a Bitch Get a Doughnut?”

For a guy who once quit his writing job at Saturday Night Live only to return the next day and pretend as if it didn’t happen, it must be sweet redemption to rule the stage on his return. He’s Larry David after all, and his notorious irritability is beautifully complimented by his childlike glee. Watch below to see David flub his lines with laughter during the SNL dress rehearsal, in a very funny sketch that got slightly overshadowed by the brilliant ‘Bern Your Enthusiasm.’ Click the second video to see the more polished, live version.

How is Hillary Clinton Losing?! — Here’s My Advice

  
How does a self-proclaimed socialist in his seventies with no prior following beat a woman who has basically been handed the primary on a silver platter? Bernie Sanders won 55 percent of the female vote in New Hampshire and beat Hillary Clinton 84 percent to 14 percent among Democrats aged 17 to 29. Translation? Young people voted for the old guy and women passed on making history. And Clinton’s “feminist” cohorts aren’t helping, with Gloria Steinem and Madeleine Albright basically resorting to bullying tactics. Albright sent Hillary’s non-supporters to “hell” and Steinem ironically took an anti-woman stance, accusing young girls of backing Bernie because they want to “go where the boys are,” as if they can’t think past a school-girl crush. So what’s the issue? To quote the Chief Strategist for Barack Obama’s unprecedented presidential campaigns, “When the exact same problems crop up in separate campaigns, with different staff, at what point do the principals say, “Hey, maybe it’s US?”

The primary and sole issue with Hillary Clinton is that she’s inauthentic, and given the plethora of scandals that surround her campaign, only an outstanding orator (like Bill Clinton) could craft a response. But Hillary is the opposite. The American people will forgive just about anything if they feel you’re working in our best interest and you own your errors, but she simply took too long to respond to the email scandal, and her initial brush-off was a bad move. It makes her look entitled. Why does she get to skirt the annoying rules for reading emails and no one else does? And if you don’t think that’s a big deal, then what other rules will you also avoid? Furthermore, if every single thing you say seems canned and rehearsed, I can’t help you. In the history of seeing Hillary speak, I’ve seen one authentic moment, and that’s when she was attacked at the Benghazi hearing. She was in the hot seat, and she was sick, and she had no other choice but to be real. I’ve posted that video below, to remind the public of her authentic self.

To imply that as a woman, I should blindly support another woman is ridiculous. I’d love to see Hillary win. I think she’s capable. But she needs to ditch any attempt at a sense of humor or relaxed demeanor. That’s not who she is. Show your knowledge, show the impatience we saw at the Benghazi hearing, show your prickly, unpolished self. That’s what people want to see. There is no Arsenio saxophone moment for her, and that’s okay.

Steve Harvey Has The Funniest Game Show Moment in History

It’s impossible to decipher whether the family featured on Steve Harvey’s ‘Family Feud’ is laughing with him or simply too dense to understand the severity of their stupidity. Perhaps they performed poorly under pressure and their brains shut down? Watch below to see one of the funniest game show moments of all time, and then weep for this family who given every opportunity in history, still managed to base their answer on vocal inflection rather than the actual word. If you aren’t a fan of Steve Harvey, you will be now.

Oh mother… | Family Feud

Steve called this jaw dropping moment from Family Feud “The greatest television that won’t be seen.” Is it the worst answer ever? Judge for yourself… Episode airs Feb 23! Go to FamilyFeud.com to check your local listings. #FamilyFeud #FeudHighlight #SteveHarvey

Posted by Family Feud on Monday, February 8, 2016

UPDATE: The featured family gave an explanation for their odd antics. Watch below.

The Super Bowl Halftime Show — My Thoughts

It would be wildly unfair to compare Coldplay to Beyonce and Bruno Mars. First, Chris Martin is in an actual band and writes his own music (that’s a hit at Beyonce, not Mars, since Mars does in fact co-write his songs). Second, his songs have longstanding impact, and the guy doesn’t dance. Why? Because he doesn’t need to. Anyone who has attended a Coldplay concert is well aware of Martin’s live-performance skills, and in fact — I became a fan only AFTER seeing them live for the first time via my friend’s extra ticket. Having said all that, it’s the Super Bowl, and if you can’t dance, you better call upon people who can. Stay in your lane, and go to others for the glitter. And who better to bring it than Beyonce? Only Queen Bey  can use the Super Bowl as a venue to debut a new song, executing insane choreography, great costumes, and dominating more than just the stage itself. Bruno Mars also deserves accolades, but even the Uptown Funkmaster himself couldn’t hold his own in the Beyonce dance-off, using his turn to simply tilt his head and flutter across the stage with his arms behind his back. Seriously Bruno, you couldn’t push yourself just a tad harder with the choreography? It might not be Chris Martin’s lane, but it’s certainly yours. But Bruno also brought it, and just about anyone would look lesser next to our eternal Single Lady. Watch below to see one of the best halftime shows I’ve seen in some time, and then enjoy some very funny tweets at Chris Martin’s expense. It might be mean spirited, but something tells me Martin can take a good joke.

Why Amber Rose’s Ass-Play Dig at Kanye Was Homophobic

When Amber Rose indicated Kanye West might prefer ass-play in the bedroom, I was bothered, but my objection was more about the childish exposure of his personal preferences rather than the latent homophobia on hand (pun intended). When Kanye West denied it, I also felt uneasy. First, what’s wrong with ass-play? To each his own. And second, why dignify the “dig” with a public declaration.
It wasn’t until Andy Cohen came forward and expressed moderate outrage at the idea that a penchant for ass-play makes one perverse, that I began to think outside the box (pun also intended). It was then brought to my attention by a certain music insider that Kanye West is in fact the worst person to be involved in this exchange, given that he’s actually an LGBT advocate. Ever wonder why you don’t hear the word “faggot” in hip -hop songs anymore? Well . . . we have Kanye to thank. During an interview with MTV ten years ago, West called upon the hip-hop community to cut out its anti-gay antics, saying hip-hop “has always been about “speaking your mind and about breaking down barriers, but everyone in hip-hop discriminates against gay people.” He was one of the first to speak out, and its use has drastically declined since.

So what happens when the man who advocates for equal rights is exposed as someone who also enjoys some digital delights? Perhaps he should have just remained quiet, closed his bedroom doors and continued to do what he likes, but the far better move would be to unite with Andy Cohen and call out the comment for what it is — homophobic.