Sounds Like a Barney Stinson Poster

Why Am I Not Surprised?

For more crazy headlines, click here!

We're Not Talking Bout the Drink Here...

Dubai 'sex-on-beach' couple escape jail term

• Story Highlights
• The couple, Michelle Palmer and Vincent Acors, faced three-month sentence
  
• The pair were arrested at a Dubai beach shortly after midnight on July 5
  
• They were charged with with illicit relations, public indecency, public intoxication
  
• Although a relatively moderate Gulf state, Dubai adheres to certain Islamic rules

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (CNN) -- A British couple convicted for having sex on a public beach in Dubai will not face jail after a judge suspended their prison sentences, their lawyer said Tuesday.

The couple, Michelle Palmer and Vincent Acors, had faced a three-month sentence, but they were freed on bail in October pending an appeal.

Hassan Mattar, one of their lawyers, said he was trying to get permission for Palmer -- who worked in Dubai -- to stay in the United Arab Emirates, and for Acors to travel back to Britain. Acors had been on a business trip to Dubai when he was arrested.

The United Arab Emirates, where Dubai is located, is home to thousands of expatriates and is among the most moderate Gulf states. Still, the oil-rich kingdom adheres to certain Islamic rules.

Palmer and Acors were arrested on a public beach shortly after midnight on July 5. Police charged them with illicit relations, public indecency, and public intoxication. A court found them guilty in October and fined them 1,000 dirhams ($367) for the charge of public indecency.

Both denied they had intercourse. And during the trial, Mattar argued that the public prosecutor failed to produce corroborative evidence against his clients on the first two charges, though he said both tested positive for liquor.

More than a million British visitors traveled to the UAE in 2006, and more than 100,000 British nationals live there, according to the British Foreign Office.

The country is in the midst of a building boom to position itself as one of the world's premier tourist destinations.

It is already home to the world's largest mall, the world's largest tower, and -- despite being in the Middle East -- the largest indoor snow park in the world.

Can Vince Act?

Jen weighs in: Yes he can act.

Is Adrian Grenier a Good Enough Actor to Play a Bad One?

by Touré
HBO’s Entourage just wrapped its best season yet, but the question remains: Can Adrian Grenier act at all?

At the premiere of Entourage's fifth season three months ago at Manhattan’s Ziegfeld Theater, I asked Adrian Grenier, who plays Vincent Chase, “Is Vince a good actor, or just an A-list face?”

The previous season, where we got to see more of Vince acting than ever, left me certain that he's a weak actor. For the vast majority of Entourage, Vince doesn’t do much acting, and in the brief moments when we see him working, the scenes are usually cringeworthy: that clunky, unintense final moment of Queens Boulevard, all those wooden scenes in Medellin, and that horrifyingly tin, passionless bit in Smokejumpers. When a director told Vince’s agent, “Your client is soulless,” I had to agree. The question of whether or not Vince can act shapes how we should feel about him: Should we root for Vince because he deserves success, or should we be cynical toward him simply because he won the genetic lottery?

Grenier’s like Vince: a guy who looks like a movie star, but isn’t. It’s a weird meta-trip watching a so-so actor play a so-so actor.

Grenier told me, “That’s a very good question. Because that’s what this season is about.”

And it was. After years of effortlessly gliding upward in Hollywood, this year Vince had to struggle and claw to get hired, stay hired, and get seen for auditions. People said openly he was a bad actor and that he was finished in Hollywood. That tension and striving and slipping toward an abyss made this Entourage’s best season yet.

But now that more was being demanded of Vince—he seemed trapped in career quicksand and practically had to get on his knees to stay in the industry—that meant much more was demanded of Adrian Grenier. I’m not sure he delivered.

In every episode this season Grenier was outacted by both Jeremy Piven and Kevin Dillon. Jason Patric showed up for one episode and blew him away. All three episodes starring Stellan Skarsgard as the tempestuous genius director Werner Vollstedt made Adrian look small. I think Grenier’s like Vince: a guy who looks like a movie star, but isn’t. It’s a weird meta-trip watching a so-so actor play a so-so actor.

Grenier’s a good physical actor. He moves languidly and fluidly, like a pleasantly cocky big star who's comfortable in his own body. He walks down the street very well, reminiscent of Travolta in Saturday Night Fever. But when he opens his mouth, it’s never riveting, and often it’s as stale as Vince was in Medellin. He makes me think of the old adage that it’s possible for a good actor to play a bad one, but not possible for a bad actor to play a good one. Indeed, how could it be possible for an actor to play someone above the level of his own talent? If the actor can't understand how to express a character's layers and depth, how could he play an actor who could?

Then the season finale changed everything, as season finales are wont to do. They gave us Grenier’s best moments of the entire show: the emotional scene in Vince’s mom’s house in Queens, after Gus Van Sant has told him he’s not right for his movie and he sees everything falling away, putting him almost back to where he was as a broke teenager. He’s calm, but you can see the fear and sadness building as he kind of mumbles. Then he explodes, yelling, “Fuck!” and throwing the phone against the wall—a delicious little eruption. Then he jumps immediately back to calm before going out in the street to forcefully indict his manager for screwing up his career and coolly firing him. Those were the most gripping moments Grenier has ever given us.

And then, in the final minutes when it appears Vince just might be evanescing away from Hollywood and sliding back into Queens, out of the blue Martin Scorsese shows up to tell us two things. First, that his name is pronounced Score-says-he (not Score-say-zee) and that Says-He thinks Vince is good enough to be Nick Carraway in his update of The Great Gatsby. I’m not going to argue with one of the gods of modern filmmaking. If Scorsese says Vince’s good, then I guess he is. But I doubt we’d ever see Adrian Grenier star in a Scorsese flick.

Touré is the host of BET’s The Black Carpet and the host of Treasure HD’s I’ll Try Anything Once. He is the author of Never Drank the Kool-Aid, Soul City, and The Portable Promised Land. He was a contributing editor at Rolling Stone, was CNN’s first pop culture correspondent, and was the host of MTV2's Spoke N Heard. His writing has appeared in The New Yorker and The New York Times.

Whack A Mouse

50 Reasons to Have Sex

Troy Asks Devon Answers...the new HIMYM

If you have a few extra seconds during the day, you have to watch a few of these. They really adhere to the Keep It Simple Stupid. But so addicting! I actually work with Troy, and yes we tease him! And if you are a closet fan...please forward!

House: The Complete Collection

Meh...

Nothing to get excited about: The indifferent 'meh' gains place in English dictionary

By JILL LAWLESS

Associated Press Writer

6:23 PM CST, November 16, 2008

LONDON (AP) _ At least someone is excited about "meh."

The expression of indifference or boredom has gained a place in the Collins English Dictionary after generating a surprising amount of enthusiasm among lexicographers.

Publisher HarperCollins announced Monday the word had been chosen from terms suggested by the public for inclusion in the dictionary's 30th anniversary edition, to be published next year.

The origins of "meh" are murky, but the term grew in popularity after being used in a 2001 episode of "The Simpsons" in which Homer suggests a day trip to his children Bart and Lisa.

"They both just reply 'meh' and keep watching TV," said Cormac McKeown, head of content at Collins Dictionaries.

The dictionary defines "meh" as an expression of indifference or boredom, or an adjective meaning mediocre or boring. Examples given by the dictionary include "the Canadian election was so meh."

The dictionary's compilers said the word originated in North America, spread through the Internet and was now entering British spoken English.

"This is a new interjection from the U.S. that seems to have inveigled its way into common speech over here," McKeown said. "Internet forums and e-mail are playing a big part in formalizing the spellings of vocal interjections like these. A couple of other examples would be 'hmm' and 'heh.'

"Meh" was selected by Collins after it asked people to submit words they use in conversation that are not in the dictionary. Other suggestions included jargonaut, a fan of jargon; frenemy, an enemy disguised as a friend; and huggles, a hybrid of hugs and snuggles.

Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

When a Man Loves a Woman

15 things every man should do for the woman he loves

Sweetly revealing gestures the man who deserves you should have made by now

January 1, 2008

By Jessica Baumgardner

1. Slow down in bed.

2. Speed up on the toilet.

3. Buy you tampons without feeling emasculated.

4. Log your size into his memory, because what’s more depressing than trying on a wrong-size gift?

5. Get over his jealousy of any sex toy that doesn’t require his participation.

6. Before he leaves on a trip, give you a sappy card that says how much he’ll miss you. (Extra credit: makes it himself.)

7. Send you a massive bouquet of flowers at work (ideally on a Monday, so you can flaunt it all week).

8. Cook you a meal that involves more ingredients than pasta and pasta sauce.

9. Afterward, clean up the dishes.

10. Memorize this mantra: If I’m going to be late, call. If I’m going to be late, call….

11. Ask you as many questions as he answers.

12. Look you directly in the eye during all greetings, requests, declarations of love and sex.

13. Toss out the blue-and-red tartan flannel bedding he got in college and replace it with something else (i.e., thread count over 200, no poly blends).

14. Stand outside in the rain with a radio or do whatever it takes to make up after he’s been a jerk.

15. Stop harping about threesomes and anal sex and be happy with the sweet deal he already has.

The most wonderful time of the year...

It's that time again. Now accepting nominations for National St. Hottie's Day 2008, which is officially observed the first weekend of December. Who is it going to be this year? For a little help, check out People's 2008 Sexiest Men Alive.

Past inductees and nominees:

Val Kilmer (current status still up for debate)
Christian Bale
Heath Ledger
Patrick Wilson
Angelina Jolie (care of Adam)
John Legend
and many more...

Power Up!

POSTED BY CORY DOCTOROW, NOVEMBER 17, 2008 8:52 AM | PERMALINK

Ready to be nostalgic for November 3? Super Obama World is a simple Flash-based Mario Bros clone that pits our hero against lipstick-wearing pigs and other campaign detritus. Reasonably fun, but overwhelmed with invasive ads. Super Obama World (viaTokyomango)

It's Never Too Early For A New Tropical Drink

Pineapple caipirinha

 Published by Laylita at 12:49 pm under Drinks, Fruit, South America

A caipirinha is a well known Brazilian cocktail made with sugar cane alcohol called cachaca - pronounced cachaza-, limes, crushed iced and sugar. It is a drink that is simple and delicious, however for reasons I will never understand a lot of bars and restaurants tend to mess it up, I’ve had crappy caipirinhas in a lot of places (from Ecuador to France), so I kind of gave up on them, until I had a real caipirinha on a beach in Brazil, that’s when I was shocked that I had missed out on something so easy to make and so good. I really don’t know how you could mess up making a caipirinha, a fresh lime are definitely crucial and so is making them with cachaca –though there are versions made with vodka and called caipiroskas- , but somehow all those drinks labeled caipirinhas that I had previously tasted were not even close to that strong and refreshing drink I had in Brazil. While the classic caipirinha is made just with cachaca, limes, sugar and ice, there a lot of fruity caipirinhas where you can add crushed berries, passion fruit, mango, pineapple, or any fruit you like. Back in April Keren of Frantic Foodie organized a dinner for local food bloggers at The Capital Grille, the dinner was amazing but my favorite part was an aperitif drink of vodka infused pineapple, it was perfect, taste of the pineapple was so fresh, and it inspired me to infused the cachaca with pineapple for a few days before I made the drinks. Cachaca is not as smooth as vodka so you still have that distinct cachaca taste plus the flavor of the pineapple. Ideally the pineapple and cachaza should be left to infuse a few days, but you can also do it the same day if you need to. I also add freshly crushed pineapple to the drink; I like to make each drink individually in a cocktail shaker, however for a large party it is easier to make them in a pitcher, just make sure that the limes and sugar are muddled well before adding the cachaca, crushed pineapple and crushed ice.

Ingredients:

Infused cachaca

1 bottle of cachaca

1 whole pineapple, peeled* and sliced

Pineapple caipirinha - quantities are for 1 drink

2 oz pineapple infused cachaca

1/2 lime, cut in small chunks

2 tbs freshly crushed pineapple

1 tbs sugar

Crushed iced

Preparation:

1. To make the pineapple infused cachaca place the pineapple slices in a large container, pour the cachaca over the pineapple slices, close tightly and let it rest in a dark cool place for a few days – but no longer than a week.
2. Use a muddler to crush and mix the limes and sugar in a cocktail shaker.
3. Add the cachaca, crushed pineapple and ice, mix well and serve immediately.

 

 

 

 

* Pineapple peels can be used to make chicha de piña

We're The Dancers...

Justin Timberlake & Beyonce - Parodie "Single Ladies" SNL
by Rock_You_Justin

If Only Life Were That Easy...

Man tries to pay bill with spider drawing

Friday, November 14, 2008

By ninemsn staff

Below is the complete email conversation that Adelaide man David Thorne claims he had with a utility company chasing payment of an overdue bill.

From: Jane Gilles
Date: Wednesday 8 Oct 2008 12.19pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Overdue account

Dear David, 
Our records indicate that your account is overdue by the amount of $233.95. If you have already made this payment please contact us within the next 7 days to confirm payment has been applied to your account and is no longer outstanding.

Yours sincerely, Jane Gilles

From: David Thorne
Date: Wednesday 8 Oct 2008 12.37pm
To: Jane Gilles
Subject: Re: Overdue account

Dear Jane, 
I do not have any money so am sending you this drawing I did of a spider instead. I value the drawing at $233.95 so trust that this settles the matter.

Regards, David.

 

From: Jane Gilles
Date: Thursday 9 Oct 2008 10.07am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Overdue account

Dear David, 
Thankyou for contacting us. Unfortunately we are unable to accept drawings as payment and your account remains in arrears of $233.95. Please contact us within the next 7 days to confirm payment has been applied to your account and is no longer outstanding.

Yours sincerely, Jane Gilles

From: David Thorne
Date: Thursday 9 Oct 2008 10.32am
To: Jane Gilles
Subject: Re: Overdue account

Dear Jane, 
Can I have my drawing of a spider back then please.

Regards, David.

From: Jane Gilles
Date: Thursday 9 Oct 2008 11.42am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Overdue account

Dear David, 
You emailed the drawing to me. Do you want me to email it back to you?

Yours sincerely, Jane Gilles

From: David Thorne
Date: Thursday 9 Oct 2008 11.56am
To: Jane Gilles
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Overdue account

Dear Jane,

Yes please.

Regards, David.

From: Jane Gilles
Date: Thursday 9 Oct 2008 12.14pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Overdue account

Attached

 

From: David Thorne
Date: Friday 10 Oct 2008 09.22am
To: Jane Gilles
Subject: Whose spider is that?

Dear Jane, Are you sure this drawing of a spider is the one I sent you? This spider only has seven legs and I do not feel I would have made such an elementary mistake when I drew it.

Regards, David.

From: Jane Gilles
Date: Friday 10 Oct 2008 11.03am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Whose spider is that?

Dear David, Yes it is the same drawing. I copied and pasted it from the email you sent me on the 8th. David your account is still overdue by the amount of $233.95. Please make this payment as soon as possible.

Yours sincerely, Jane Gilles

From: David Thorne
Date: Friday 10 Oct 2008 11.05am
To: Jane Gilles
Subject: Automated Out of Office Response

Thankyou for contacting me. I am currently away on leave, traveling through time and will be returning last week.

Regards, David.

From: David Thorne
Date: Friday 10 Oct 2008 11.08am
To: Jane Gilles
Subject: Re: Re: Whose spider is that?

Hello, I am back and have read through your emails and accept that despite missing a leg, that drawing of a spider may indeed be the one I sent you. I realise with hindsight that it is possible you rejected the drawing of a spider due to this obvious limb ommission but did not point it out in an effort to avoid hurting my feelings. As such, I am sending you a revised drawing with the correct number of legs as full payment for any amount outstanding. I trust this will bring the matter to a conclusion.

Regards, David.

 

From: Jane Gilles
Date: Monday 13 Oct 2008 2.51pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Whose spider is that?

Dear David, As I have stated, we do not accept drawings in lei of money for accounts outstanding. We accept cheque, bank cheque, money order or cash. Please make a payment this week to avoid incurring any additional fees.

Yours sincerely, Jane Gilles

From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 13 Oct 2008 3.17pm
To: Jane Gilles
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Whose spider is that?

I understand and will definately make a payment this week if I remember. As you have not accepted my second drawing as payment, please return the drawing to me as soon as possible. It was silly of me to assume I could provide you with something of completely no value whatsoever, waste your time and then attach such a large amount to it.

Regards, David.

From: Jane Gilles
Date: Tuesday 14 Oct 2008 11.18am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Whose spider is that?

Attached

 

Sounds Like Our Kind of Thief...

Fine wine and hugs turn robber into party guest

It's a good thing it wasn't cheap plonk. The last guests at the barbecue in the Capitol Hill neighbourhood of Washington were savouring the remains of a very fine bottle of Chateau Malescot St Exupery when a robber appeared in their midst, and held a gun to the head of a teenage girl.

"He said: 'Everyone give me your money or I am going to start shooting. I am very serious about this'," Michael Rabdau, the girl's father, told the Guardian.

By that point in the evening only close friends were still left in the garden of the home, 13 city blocks from the great white dome of the US Capitol. Nobody saw the intruder slip in through the gate, which the homeowner had left ajar while he took his dog for a walk.

"He was like a shark. No one saw him coming," Mr Rabdau said.

The intruder, who had a hood pulled over his face, first levelled his gun at the head of Mr Rabdau's daughter, Khyber, 14, and demanded money.

When she said she had none, he moved towards the other guests, handgun drawn. In the following minutes, the terrified party guests tried to calm the robber.

After what seemed an eternity, another guest offered the robber a sip of the bordeaux they were drinking. "He tasted the wine, and said: 'Damn, that's really good wine.' And it really was," Mr Rabdau said. The guests offered him a glass, and then the entire bottle. The would-be robber helped then himself to a piece of camembert.

He put the gun away, and told the guests: "I think I must have come to the wrong house," and told them he was sorry. He asked for a hug, and each of the guests gave him a squeeze.

The robber then asked for a group hug, and the party guests formed a circle to embrace him. The robber then poured himself a full glass of wine and let himself out.

By the time the stunned party guests summoned the courage to go indoors and telephone the police, the robber was long gone. But nothing had been stolen, and nobody had been hurt.

• guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media Limited 2008

Aggressive Journalism

Yesterday, Senator Barbara Mikulski announced her proposal to carve out about 2 billion from the stimulus package part II for the auto industry essentially giving new car buyers a tax break to stimulate demand again. Now getting a senator to talk to you on the phone is hard work for a small newsroom, luckily for us she was making this announcement right up the street. No surprise, but I was running late to the press conference. After dumping the news van (explorer) off on some poor maintenance man across the street we dove in on the scene. Reporters everywhere and the senator dipping into a car all of two feet away from me. Well unlike those fancy cable teevee reporters, we have a handy cam and a short mic leash.....and no shame. I had that mic so close to the poor woman's face, you'd think she was made of chocolate. You would have thought we were breaking Watergate the way we jumped into the story, meanwhile the lackadaisical press core jotted notes and causally changed tapes. Anywho - it got our mic flag on two local channels this am. Watch and see! Our mic flag now officially has gotten more camera time than Street Talk's Jen Richer! Harrumph!

Diva is a Female Version of a.....

You're the Dubya to My Condi...

Seven signs you have a work spouse

A work spouse is a co-worker of the opposite sex with whom you have a close platonic relationship. In many ways, these relationships can mirror a real marriage.

According to a 2007 survey from Vault.com, a career information Web site, 23 percent of workers reported that they had a work spouse.

Do you have a work spouse?

Here are seven clear signs you might have a work spouse:

1. You depend on a particular co-worker for office supplies, snacks and aspirin.

2. There are inside jokes that you and a specific co-worker share.

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3. You can be bluntly honest with this person about his or her appearance, hygiene or hair (and vice versa). You're comfortable enough to point out that the other's hair is sticking up -- or that someone's fly is down.

4. When something eventful happens at work, this co-worker is the first person you seek out for a de-briefing.

5. At breakfast, lunch and coffee breaks, your closest co-worker knows what to order for you and how you like your coffee (and vice versa).

6. You and your co-worker can finish each other's sentences.

7. Someone in your office knows almost as much about your personal life as your best friend or real-life spouse does.

Pluses and minuses of a work-spouse relationship

There are great benefits to having a close relationship with a co-worker. Among the benefits of a work spouse:

• You have a friend who provides emotional support at work during challenging times. During times of stress at home or at work, you have a built-in support system.

• Work spouses often complement each other in terms of skills, abilities and their approaches to work. The two of you can make a very productive team.

• Having a trustworthy co-conspirator for those occasional workplace escapades (and juicy gossip) can be beneficial, and often acts as a way to release work-related stress.

The possible pitfalls of a work spouse may include:

• The relationship between you and your "spouse" might be misinterpreted by other co-workers as a clique. If others feel excluded, it may be a catalyst for personal or professional disagreements.

• If the relationship goes sour, it can have a negative impact on you, your "ex" and your team as a whole.

• If your real spouse becomes aware of their counterpart, it can create issues in your real-life marriage.

Managing the work spouse relationship

Here are some tips on how best to keep everyone, including your work spouse, happy on the job:

Keep the lines of communication open. Make sure that other co-workers are not feeling shut out by the perception that you and your work spouse are an exclusive clique of two. If you are working on a project together that also involves the team, be sure to reach out to everyone for feedback and suggestions.

Avoid crossing boundaries. It's great to have a support system and a close confidante, but be sure to set boundaries for how much to share with your office mate. More importantly, honor those boundaries. If the relationship becomes antagonistic or is too close for comfort, let your work spouse know you need a little space.

Lighten the mood. If your life at home and at work is filled with complications, bringing a co-worker into the middle of those issues may not be beneficial for you. You should aim to keep the mood light and happy with your work spouse. You'll look forward to enjoying gossip, taking breaks and being able to relax with a friend without any concerns or complications.

Will.i.am: It's A New Day

Chez Copa Votes

This important election season, chez copa did what they do best, participated.

Thank You Captain Obvious

I could have told you Rep. Rahm Emanuel would be Chief of Staff... this is no big shocker to Chez Copa, CNN.

Emanuel pick gets mixed reaction

• Story Highlights
• Rep. Rahm Emanuel has a reputation as a tough political infighter
  
• Boehner leader calls Emanuel an "ironic choice" for Obama
  
• Reid's communications adviser says Rahm is a "brilliant strategic thinker"
  
• Political analyst Gergen says they're "setting up a good cop/bad cop routine"
  

(CNN) -- President-elect Barack Obama's first major appointment received mixed reaction from Democrats and Republicans.

Rep. Rahm Emanuel on Thursday accepted Obama's offer to be White House chief of staff.

The Office of the Chief of Staff oversees and coordinates activities and communication among various departments of the administration. It is considered one of the top positions in Washington.

Some party leaders hailed Obama's pick, but others expressed concern that Emanuel would widen Washington's partisan divide. Watch what Emanuel says about being considered for the job

Jim Manley, the senior communications adviser for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, said Emanuel is "an excellent choice."

"Rahm knows the Hill, and he knows the White House. He is a brilliant strategic thinker and someone who knows how to get things done."

Manley said allegations that Emanuel is a true partisan are "ridiculous."

"Rahm understands politics is the art of compromise. He's got a deeply held set of views, but he also understands to get things done you have to compromise," he said.

But House Minority Leader John Boehner questioned Obama's selection.

"This is an ironic choice for a president-elect who has promised to change Washington, make politics more civil and govern from the center," he said in a statement.

A senior Democratic congressional aide also shook his head at the notion of Emanuel becoming the gatekeeper for Obama. The aide said that Emanuel's abrasive approach is "off-putting" and that his style runs counter to Obama's promise of a post-partisan administration.

"It contradicts what is his stated style goal of governance," the aide said.

In his statement accepting the position, Emanuel directly addressed Republicans who might have concerns with his appointment.

"We often disagree, but I respect their motives. Now is a time for unity, and Mr. President-elect, I will do everything in my power to help you stitch together the frayed fabric of our politics and help summon Americans of both parties to unite in common purpose," he said.

Emanuel, who has a reputation as a tough political infighter, is credited with helping Democrats take control of the House in 2006.

The Chicago politician was elected to the House in 2002 and is the fourth highest-ranking member of the chamber's Democratic leadership. He worked on President Clinton's first presidential campaign and served as a White House adviser to Clinton. Watch more on Rahm Emanuel »

Emanuel choked up as he said how glad he is his parents are alive to see him become chief of staff for the first African-American president.

Democratic Sen. Chris Dodd said he thinks Emanuel is a "great choice."

"I know that he and Barack Obama have a very good relationship going back a long time. So it touches all of the critical elements, it seems to me, in beginning that kind of transition we'd like to have. So I think it's a great choice, and I think the president-elect will be well-served with Rahm Emanuel," he said.

Republican Lindsey Graham sided with Dodd and called Emanuel a "wise choice."

"Rahm knows Capitol Hill and has great political skills. He can be a tough partisan but also understands the need to work together. He is well-suited for the position of White House chief of staff," the South Carolina senator said.

Graham said he and Emanuel worked together during the presidential debate negotiations, and "when we hit a rough spot, he always looked for a path forward."

Rep. John Larson, vice chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, said he looked forward to working with Emanuel.

"I would first like to congratulate my colleague and friend Rahm Emanuel on his new position in the Obama administration. I know the Obama administration will be well-served by his skills and acumen. I look forward to working with him on the president's agenda for the country," he said in a statement.

David Gergen, a CNN senior political analyst who has worked in five administrations, said the contrasting styles between Obama and Emanuel could help the new president get things done in Washington.

"They are obviously setting up a good cop/bad cop routine in the White House. ... Barack Obama can be the good guy," Gergen said.

At a news conference Friday, Obama is expected to take questions and talk about his first steps as president-elect.

Puppy Webcam

As my first post ever, I would like to direct all of you to the following live puppy webcam. These guys are too cute. This is how I make it through my work day.

http://cdn1.ustream.tv/swf/4/viewer.45.swf?cid=317016

Sometimes they take the webcam off air, but check back because it is well worth watching.

Just Sayin

Slots at the Greenbrier

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. (AP) - The Greenbrier, West Virginia's world-famous luxury resort, will hire a consultant to evaluate the prospect of casino-style gambling, now that county voters have approved it.
In a letter sent to all employees Wednesday, resort President Andrew Fogarty said the analysis will look at the potential impact of adding gambling to the resort's other attractions.
On Tuesday, voters in Greenbrier County narrowly approved a referendum giving the resort the option of adding gambling. A similar measure was defeated in 2000.
This year, the referendum was promoted by unions representing about 1,200 workers at the resort who see gambling as a way to boost revenues and help protect jobs and benefits.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

THIS JUST IN...

Chez Copa calls the election. Congratulations President-Elect Barack Obama!

Les MisBaracks!