Miss Lane And Mister Mendte

A friend in Europe writes in with news of the BBC’s coverage of Larry Mendte Sentencing Day, America’s greatest new holiday. She writes:

This was listed in the “other top stories” section of bbcnews.com, right along side “IMF approves aid to Pakistan” and “Obama pledges jolt to economy.” Definitely in the same news league…

Definitely! News of Larry Mendte’s house arrest sent the stock market tumbling. Or soaring, whatever it did yesterday. And the way the story is worded (e.g., “Miss Lane”) is so proper and British; it’s adorable.

A former US TV news presenter who hacked into a rival’s e-mail and leaked gossip to the press has been sentenced to six months under house arrest.

Larry Mendte, 51, was also handed 250 hours of community service and a $5,000 (£3,300) fine. He was sacked in June. [...]

Mendte apologised to Miss Lane, who was present for the sentencing. She provided a confidential statement which was given to the court but made no public comment.

You know what I’d really like to see? That confidential statement. Now if only there were some way to get Alycia Lane’s password and read her confidential communication. Hmm…

US TV anchor convicted of hacking [BBC]

Everyone Knows The Four-Eyed Duck Is Extinct

KYW 1060 has a little bit on the BBC, who had a team of people in Philadelphia covering the election.

John Ostapkovich speaks with the Beeb’s chief political correspondent, John Pienaar, who tells them of his one problem while covering our fair country’s political process:

Pienaar says, in sampling public opinion in Philadelphia, that one of the biggest chores was finding Republicans who, in his words, were as “rare as a hen with teeth or a four-eyed duck.”

You’re telling us, Johnny.

European Journalist Covers US Elections from Philadelphia [KYW 1060]

Quickies: Temple of the dog and cat

• While I’m not as big of a fan of them as I am of puppies, kittens are pretty boffo too. But sometimes they can be used for evil. Or at least to reinforce gender stereotyping, or something. Readers are angry at Step Inside Design’s December/January issue, which had a kitten-filled cover to represent the “Women of Design.” The response: “But we honestly believe you can change connotations by re-appropriating them (especially with humor). That’s why it’s OK for Spike Lee to make a movie about minstrel shows but it would not be OK if Woody Allen did. Mel Brooks can get away for Springtime for Hitler, but Prussian Blue can’t … context is everything.” This is what as known as the “re-appropriating stereotypes cop out.” [Folio Magazine]

• In honor of the Chinese New Year — the year of the dog — here’s a list of the top 100 pop culture dogs ever. Krypto, Superman’s dog, lands at #19. I’m feverishly working on a Top 100 Puppies Ever list. [Retrocrush]

• Somebody at the BBC totally effed up and somehow the BBC spent some time filming in Bristol, Bucks County, as opposed to the version of that town across the pond. (Okay, they’re actually following around Iraq War vet and Democrat Patrick Murphy — who’s also running for Congress — which means give the liberal bloggers five minutes to start going nutso over this television appearance.) [Bucks County Courier Times]

• I want to live in this guy’s world, because I bet the mind-altering drugs are fantastic: “[The Washington Post has] decided to use their pages to mount a political campaign against progressive bloggers, who they’ve apparently decided are their sworn enemy. It’s absolutely paranoid and ridiculous.” [MyDD]

• Yes, if you’ve stepped outside today, Philadelphia is channeling 1849 London with all this fog. [Philadelphia Weather]