Tag Archives: Controversy

McDonald’s Database Hacked!

Reports were out yesterday that McDonald's customer details were exposed following a database hack. The leak gave hackers access to customer information … http://bit.ly/dGE9Dx added by: itgrunts

Fox News Bureau Chief Told Staff To Cast Doubt On Climate Change

Fox News D.C. Bureau Chief Bill Sammon e-mailed staffers last December to instruct them not to assert that the “planet has warmed (or cooled)” without “IMMEDIATELY pointing out that such theories are based upon data that critics have called into question.” Sammon's e-mail, obtained by Media Matters, came less than 15 minutes after Fox correspondent Wendell Goler reported on-air that the World Meteorological Organization at the U.N. said 2000-2009 was “on track to be the warmest [decade] on record.” The missive was sent three weeks after the so-called “Climategate” scandal broke and in the middle of the Copenhagen climate summit. The Fox News bureau chief wrote to his staff that it was “not our place as journalists to assert such notions as facts, especially as this debate intensifies.” Climate change isn't the only topic where Sammon has told staffers to tip their coverage toward conservatives: he also instructed staffers to echo GOP talking points in the health care debate by using the term “government option” instead of “public option.” Sammons defended the wording, told the Daily Beast that “public option” is a “vague, bland, undescriptive phrase,” while “government option” is “simply an accurate, fair, objective term.” Read the full e-mail below. From: Sammon, Bill To: 169 -SPECIAL REPORT; 036 -FOX.WHU; 054 -FNSunday; 030 -Root (FoxNews.Com); 050 -Senior Producers; 051 -Producers; 069 -Politics; 005 -Washington Cc: Clemente, Michael; Stack, John; Wallace, Jay; Smith, Sean Sent: Tue Dec 08 12:49:51 2009 Subject: Given the controversy over the veracity of climate change data… …we should refrain from asserting that the planet has warmed (or cooled) in any given period without IMMEDIATELY pointing out that such theories are based upon data that critics have called into question. It is not our place as journalists to assert such notions as facts, especially as this debate intensifies. added by: TimALoftis

Judith Miller Smacks Down Alan Colmes For Saying 9/11 Shouldn’t Be Commemorated

Alan Colmes on the ninth anniversary of 9/11 said America shouldn’t commemorate these attacks every year, and was nicely smacked down by Judith Miller for his smarmy efforts. Discussing the anniversary coverage on “Fox News Watch,” Colmes said, “Every 9/11 it’s become like a national day of remembrance, which I understand from an emotional standpoint, but I wonder if it’s such a good idea that every year we make such a big deal on the media of it being 9/11.”   Miller shot back, “The reason you do it is to remember why we have the counter-terrorism policies we have…We need to be reminded why we’re doing this.”   Colmes pathetically replied, “9/11 should not be revered as some kind of national almost holiday.” “It’s not revered. It’s commemorated,” said Miller (video follows with transcript and commentary):  ALAN COLMES: The set up to your question I have an issue with which is that the media actually does focus on 9/11. Every 9/11 it’s become like a national day of remembrance, which I understand from an emotional standpoint, but I wonder if it’s such a good idea that every year we make such a big deal on the media of it being 9/11. The terrorists, those who would like to attack us, and those who already have attacked us, must go, “See, they’re commemorating us again.” I’m not sure that this contingent every single year on 9/11 is such a good idea. JUDITH MILLER: I think it’s a really difficult call, but I don’t see how this country cannot do it, and wait until next year, wait until the tenth. But we must remember. The reason you do it is to remember why we have the counter-terrorism policies we have. Remember why we’re spending the money… COLMES: That’s not something just for 9/11, though. I think we need to remember that all the time. MILLER: We have ADD as a nation. We need to be reminded why we’re doing this. COLMES: 9/11 should not be revered as some kind of national almost holiday… MILLER: It’s not revered. It’s commemorated. COLMES: …because the terrorists I’m sure are saying, “Look, they are remembering what we did.” Although I loved Miller’s smack down, it would have been nice to see someone challenge Colmes further concerning his pathetic position. After all, he certainly isn’t opposed to 9/11 commemorations out of concern that terrorists enjoy them. Instead, like so many liberal media members, Colmes wishes America would totally forget 9/11 so we can leave Iraq, leave Afghanistan, and stop concerning ourselves with the war on terrorism. To people like Colmes, any reference to 9/11 or terrorism undermines their dovish view of foreign policy and national security.   Beyond this, what likely most bothered Colmes about this year’s commemorations was that they increased the resolve of folks opposed to the building of the Ground Zero mosque.  Liberal media members across the fruited plain must be hating these commemorations occurring in the middle of the controversy surrounding this Islamic center, for they might increase the likelihood this project will be cancelled.  For folks like Colmes, that would represent a terrible defeat. 

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Judith Miller Smacks Down Alan Colmes For Saying 9/11 Shouldn’t Be Commemorated

M. Night Shyamalan Says ‘Last Airbender’ Was ‘Enhanced’ By 3-D

Director tried to use much-maligned post-production 3-D subtly By Kara Warner, with reporting by Josh Horowitz M. Night Shyamalan Photo: Brian Jacks/ MTV News As movie studios and filmmakers rushed to capitalize on the 3-D wave, there have been plenty of successes (“Avatar,” “Toy Story 3,” “How to Train Your Dragon”) and a few flops — particularly when the post-production conversion is applied (“Clash of the Titans,” “The Last Airbender”). When MTV News caught up with “The Last Airbender” director M. Night Shyamalan to discuss his involvement in this week’s “Devil,” we asked for his thoughts on the controversy surrounding the new practice of post-production 3-D. “I knew as soon as we were deciding to do the conversion that we were going to get that [criticism] because it has a stigma to it,” Shyamalan said of the flack critics and fans heaped on “Airbender.” “I definitely do everything very minimal — the sound, the movement of the camera — and when I was doing the 3-D, I decided to do it really gently and just enhance the shot,” he explained. “If we went shot-for-shot and I showed it to you, it was just enhanced. ‘Wow, I can see the depth. Wow, it does feel more grand. Wow, it does feel more beautiful. I’m more into it.’ ” Shyamalan said his goal was to use 3-D subtly, but the format is perhaps too new to be used in that manner, versus the in-your-face, arm-reaching-into-the-audience 3-D of years past. “That’s not my aesthetic,” he said. The director said he loved the film’s 3-D team, which was very protective of the film and staying true to the artistry of it. “We would talk through the philosophy of each shot a little bit,” he said. Shyamalan said the conversion process was a complete learning experience for him. “I enjoyed learning about it a great deal,” he said. “This whole movie was about me learning things I didn’t know, and I’m glad I learned about it.” Check out everything we’ve got on “The Last Airbender.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com . Related Videos MTV Rough Cut: ‘Devil’ Related Photos ‘The Last Airbender’

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M. Night Shyamalan Says ‘Last Airbender’ Was ‘Enhanced’ By 3-D

Does Medal of Honor Deserve to be Banned by the U.S. Military?

So the U.S. military has officially banned sales of the newest Medal of Honor game on military bases globally. Even Britain’s Defense Secretary requested that UK game retailers ban the game. Why, you may ask? Well, the game allows players to take on the role of the Taliban, but only during multiplayer. It’s not like the “No Russian” level from Modern Warfare 2, where you’re gunning down civilians in an airport. I would definitely understand if you play as the Taliban in single player and are killing U.S. and Coalition forces, but in this case, you’re not. I ask this: “What is the real reason why people are angered over having the Taliban as a playable option?” As history shows, there have been many games allowing players to take on the roles of some not so popular factions. I believe a major cause of the controversy is from it being time-sensitive related. What I mean by that is that there hasn’t been time for the dust to settle on the constant war against the Taliban. With that said, is it more acceptable to play as a German in a World War II game than as a Taliban in a modern combat game because the war is still ongoing? http://nerdreactor.com/2010/09/07/does-medal-of-honor-deserve-to-be-banned-by-th… added by: NerdReactorTV

Piers Morgan Weighs In On ‘X-Factor’ Auto-Tune Controversy At Emmys

‘Complete baloney,’ Morgan says of voice altering being used on talent shows he judges. By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Jim Cantiello Piers Morgan at the 2010 Emmy Awards Photo: Jeff Kravitz/ Getty Images Last week, as rumors began to circulate that Simon Cowell’s British talent competition “X-Factor” used Auto-Tune to alter contestants’ voices, Piers Morgan, who is a judge on both “America’s Got Talent” and “Britain’s Got Talent,” weighed in on the employment of the vocal-altering device on reality singing competitions, insisting they had never been used on his own programs. Morgan also addressed murmurings that Susan Boyle, who competed on “Britain’s Got Talent” last year, had also been Auto-Tuned to improve her vocals. “You’ve heard Susan [Boyle] sing live here. Sounds the same. Complete baloney,” he told MTV News on the red carpet at the “Entertainment Tonight” Emmy afterparty. “They also said we’re apparently scripted with our lines as judges. News to me. It would have made life a lot easier if someone had told me what to say!” The bottom line, as explained by Morgan, is that people are making a big deal out of nothing. “I think it’s all been massively exaggerated,” he explained. “I think everyone should calm down a bit. Susan sings better actually live than she does in the auditions anywhere. That’s what all the fuss is about anyway. I wouldn’t worry. It’s an entertainment show.” According to reports last week, after Cowell heard about the allegations, he ordered an immediate ban on Auto-Tune use in future shows, while insisting to friends that he was shocked by the claims and plans to launch an investigation. But an unnamed staffer on his show said, “It was an open secret on the show that Auto-Tune was used to both make contestants slightly more on-key or off-key. On some occasions it was used to such extremes that while the contestant may have sounded like they were hitting the right note, the backing band had gone right out of tune. … It has been used for a long time on the show, both for the auditions and the live shows.” What do you think of the controversy surrounding the use of Auto-Tune in TV talent competitions? Sound off in the comments! Related Photos 2010 Emmy Awards After-Parties 2010 Emmys Red Carpet Fashions

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Piers Morgan Weighs In On ‘X-Factor’ Auto-Tune Controversy At Emmys

Dean: ‘Lost Souls’ Follow ‘Racist Hate-Monger’ Beck

Howard Dean pulled off the rare twin-trashing this morning, dumping on both Glenn Beck and the people who respond to his message.  He began by calling Beck crazy , saying he has “a few things the matter with him up here, up in the head there.” Later, he compounded the calumny, calling Beck a “racist” and a “hate-monger.”  So who were the hundreds of thousands of people who attended the rally and the millions more who watch and listen to Beck?  Why, according to Dean, they’re “lost souls.” New York Times columnist Charles Blow had set the vitriolic tone during the show’s first hour, accusing Beck of “hiding behind a cross” and participating in a “rhetorical assassination” of Pres. Obama. HOWARD DEAN: You know, I think, it was kind of a Tea Party type of event. You know, 300,000 people is a lot of people to have on the Washington Mall, but in terms of who, how many people vote, it’s not a very big crowd.  I don’t know what, I think that Glenn Beck has got a few things the matter with him, up here, up in the head there.  So I just don’t know what to make of it.  I mean, it’s a lot of people. JOE SCARBOROUGH: So, I didn’t know. He’s a doctor.  You’re a psychiatrist. And later . . . DEAN: What I see is, these folks are kind of, and I don’t mean this in a mean kind of way, but they’re a little like lost souls in the sense that they really do, they’re at sea, the country’s changed a lot, they don’t, they’re in the middle of a horrible economic downturn which has probably affected a lot of them personally. So they follow this guy who is like Father Coughlin from the 1930s.  He’s a racist, he’s a hate-monger. And here was Blow earlier . . . WILLIE GEIST: You had a column Saturday about Mr. Beck’s rally on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on the anniversary of the I Have A Dream speech.  You said it incensed you, you called Beck the anti-King.  Just lay out your criticism of Glenn Beck. CHARLES BLOW: Well Beck is an incredibly divisive figure, and no amount of him wrapping himself in the flag and hiding behind a cross is going to scrub his history of the things he has said and done.  And he is part of what I see as a rhetorical assassination of a good man. Wonder when Charles ripped the Dissent is Patriotic sticker off his bumper?

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Dean: ‘Lost Souls’ Follow ‘Racist Hate-Monger’ Beck

John Cusack Wants ‘Satanic Death Cult Center at Fox News HQ’

Want a tutorial in the hypocrisy, vitriol and deep unhappiness of the American left? You don’t need to subject yourself to MSNBC, or wade through the muck of Daily Kos. Actor John Cusack’s Twitter feed is a clearing house for liberal memes and nasty rhetoric. Here’s his peaceful entry from Aug. 29 [All spelling from original Tweets, but Cusack admits: “I type with I phone fast and loose with no spellcheck.”]: Johncusack: I AM FOR A SATANIC DEATH CULT CENTER AT FOX NEWS HQ AND OUTSIDE THE OFFICES ORDICK ARMEYAND NEWT GINGRICH-and all the GOP WELFARE FREAKS Presumably, this is a reference to the controversy over the Ground Zero Mosque. And “all the GOP WELFARE FREAKS” seems to follow on this theme: Johncusack: taht’s the gop philospy.. gourge the stae while claiming to be rugged individuaist who live by the free market – biggest joke there is.. Johncusack: think of our the us treasury as the last frontier to be stripped mined if only pesky gov itelf wasn’t in the way. Johncusack: privatized gains- socialized loses– complete hippcorites But elsewhere, Cusack said Glenn Beck (at his “Restoring Honor” rally) was “unifying whites -class war of blame and fear” and said Beck was starting a “class war to capitallize on economy they destroyed” – a strange accusation from a man that claims the GOP wants to gut the treasury. And what liberal rant would be complete without the leftist’s two favorite pejorative? Back’s tactics, he wrote were “strraigjt fr tfriendly racist playbiook.” A minute later, Cusack added, “Sorry frendly fascist playbook.” Elsewhere, he wrote: “[Charles] krathhammers a joke son please do me a fav and dont watch.” He called another Tweeter a “flag sucking halfwit,” presumably for the sin of patriotism. Strong words from a man who also Tweeted about having “to weed out all the little trolls who can’t bare it when someone has an opinion they dont like.” He “blocked as many haters as i could a i still can’t get below 200 thou,” but confessed, “i guess someone turned off the automatic hate spewing machine.. i kind of miss them.” Whew! Glad some of the hate’s gone from Twitter. Cusack, who, according to OpenSecrets.org gave $1,000 to Vice President Biden’s 2008 presidential campaign, has a long history of using strident partisan rhetoric. He called the Bush administration ” criminally incompetent robber barons ,” and “the neo-con/White House Iraq Group lunatics,” and demanded that Attorney General Eric Holder imprison the guilty Bush officials . He also did an anti-McCain ad for the far-left group MoveOn.org

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John Cusack Wants ‘Satanic Death Cult Center at Fox News HQ’

Ron Paul on Ground Zero Mosque Demagogy

A very good debate happened on MSNBC last night regarding the utter non-issue of the Ground Zero mosque controversy. Like him or not, Ron Paul exposes the neoconservative motives behind the vitriol against this mosque. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZ6Hzf0x1vk&feature=player_embedded# ! “Is the controversy over building a mosque near ground zero a grand distraction or a grand opportunity? Or is it, once again, grandiose demagoguery?” “It has been said, “Nero fiddled while Rome burned.” Are we not overly preoccupied with this controversy, now being used in various ways by grandstanding politicians? It looks to me like the politicians are “fiddling while the economy burns.”” The statement continues here: http://www.ronpaul.com/2010-08-20/ron-paul-sunshine-patriots-stop-your-demagogy-… added by: ScottyT

CNN Compares Ground Zero Protestors to Nazi Sympathizers