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Dick Clark dead at 82

TMZ is reporting that  Dick Clark — famed TV producer, and “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” host — died from a massive heart attack this morning.

He was 82.

Details surrounding his death are unclear, but Clark had suffered a significant stroke in 2004 — forcing him to retire from his hosting gig at “New Years’ Rockin’ Eve,” which he created in 1972.

Ryan Seacrest took over in 2006. Dick has co-hosted the show ever since.

Before suffering a stroke, Clark told Larry King he suffered from Type 2 diabetes.

Clark has been married 3 times — and has 3 children from his first two marriages. He is survived by his current wife Kari Wigton.

So many of us grew up with American Bandstand.  I was never a huge fan of the show but I’d catch it every now and then.

But late New Year’s Eves were where I spent the bulk of my time with Dick Clark.  As  kid, I was allowed to stay up and watch the ball drop in NYC.  And as an adult, I’ve never cared for New Year’s Eve parties.  So many crazy or drunk folks out.  So I’d always much rather stay in, watch the show, kiss Michael and go to bed.  I have missed “the world’s oldest teenager” the past several years.

May he rest well.

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Ted Nugent to be interviewed by Secret Service

Ted Nugent has gotten himself into a bit of a pickle and now the Secret Service are asking to sit down and discuss his comments made last week.

At last weekend’s National Rifle Association convention, Nugent referred to what he called Obama’s “evil, America-hating administration” and urged NRA members to “to ride into that battlefield and chop their heads off in November.”

Nugent now says he never inferred any violence.

Umm… ride into battle and “chop their heads off” sounds pretty violent.

Why GOP supporters have to use such violent imagery I’ll never know. As we all remember Sarah Palin caught flak last year when she used violent imagery and “cross-hairs” in terms of “targeting” elected Democrats, one of whom was Congresswoman Gabby Giffords who was subsequently shot in the head.

Kids – stop with the violent language. If you want to win in the fall, just say “let’s go out there and win this election.” Much better for all.

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OUT Magazine lays off entire editorial staff

The editorial staff of the influential gay lifestyle magazine Out is being laid off with one month’s severance as of Friday, according to Capital New York.

According to Out editor-in-chief Aaron Hicklin, it’s more complicated than that.

Hicklin said he has formed a new company called Grand Editorial that will function as an editorial contractor for Here Media, who owns Out Magazine.

Hicklin told Capital there will be no reduction in the frequency of the magazine or other major changes to the content.

“This was not a cost-cutting measure,” he said.

He said he’d been hatching plans to launch Grand for awhile. Having spent six years running Out, he informed Here that he was forming a new venture, a custom-content shop that would work on projects like producing magazines for corporate clients, he said.

Apparently, the re-hired editors will have more flexibility in their work and work load, however no full-time salaries or benefits. They will be contracted freelancers.

Read more at Capital New York.

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Judge recuses herself in George Zimmerman case

BREAKING: Judge recuses herself from George Zimmerman trial, citing conflict.

The defense team for George Zimmerman requested Monday that Seminole Circuit Judge Jessica Recksiedler, who was assigned to Zimmerman’s case, be removed after she revealed that her husband works with a CNN legal analyst.

Judge Recksiedler said in her decision that while the findings on each basis were “legally insufficient” for disqualification, “the cumulative effect of the events and the totality of the circumstances provides a legally sufficient basis for this court to grant the motion to disqualify,” a statement from the court said.

New judge is Kenneth M. Lester.

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The Hunger Games star Josh Hutcherson to be youngest GLAAD Vanguard Award recipient

The Hunger Games star Josh Hutcherson will be presented with the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation’s Vanguard Award in Los Angeles on April 21, making him the youngest recipient of that award in the organization’s history.

GLAAD’s Vanguard Award is annually presented to media professionals who, through their work, have increased the visibility and understanding of the LGBT community.   The 19-year-old Hutcherson, who came to the LGBT community’s attention playing the son of two lesbian mothers in last year’s The Kids Are All Right, co-founded the Straight But Not Narrow (SBNN) campaign with his close friend, actor Avan Jogia.

“As the youngest person to ever receive the Vanguard Award, Josh Hutcherson represents a new generation of equality advocates who know that no one should be denied vital legal protections or face discrimination because of who they are,” GLAAD’s Mike Thompson says in a statement. “Through his work in trailblazing films like The Kids Are All Right, as well as his leadership in projects like the Straight But Not Narrow campaign, Josh is helping countless Americans understand the importance of equality.”

The award will be given at the 23rd annual GLAAD Media Awards ceremony.

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Rick Santorum may – or may not – endorse Mitt Romney in next couple of months

I notice the former campaign staffer for Rick Santorum says Mitt Romney and Santorum will meet in the next month or so, and will discuss an endorsement but nothing’s guaranteed.

Should be quite the cocktail hour:

“Hey, remember that time you outspent me 10-1 in  – what state was that?”
“Ah,… good times….”

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Nick Jonas to release EP of “How To Succeed…”

Producers of the Broadway production of “How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying” said Tuesday a five-song EP will be released May 8 featuring the voice of the youngest of the three Jonas Brothers, Nick Jonas.

Jonas is currently playing J. Pierrepont Finch, having taken over the part from Darren Criss of Fox’s hit show “Glee,” who briefly assumed the role from Daniel Radcliffe.

Jonas, who is committed to playing the song-and-dance part until at least July 1, has recorded “Brotherhood of Man” and “I Believe In You” among the five songs.

Daniel Radcliffe also recorded his own cast album.

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WA: Pastor receives standing ovation for not joining anti-gay signature drive

The Rev. Tim Clark received a standing ovation Sunday from the congregation at Seattle’s Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church when he announced that the parish would not gather signatures for a referendum to repeal same-sex marriage.

“I am happy to report that Our Lady of the Lake parishoners have been overwhelmingly and, thus far, unanimously supportive of the decision I made NOT to gather signatures in support of this Referendum,” Clark wrote in response to an e-mail.

“The standing ovation experienced during one of the Masses says less about me and much more about the health of this parish. I only wished the archbishop could have experienced the sustained applause — the ‘sensus fidelium’ — of the people. He needs to listen to this ‘voice.’ That is my prayer.”

Rev. Clark has said that faith should not be politicized:

“What troubles me is the message this whole approach sends which I find discriminatory and insensitive. To follow through with his wishes would be hurtful, divisive and a countersign to what we are trying to foster in this Catholic community in Wedgwood.

“I deeply believe, and say this with boldness, that this approach is not in the mind of Christ.”

Archbishop Sartain left the decision whether or not to gather signatures to the discretion of pastoral leaders.
(source)

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Hardball: Even in the Great Depression we built America

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As I’ve mentioned before, I watch Hardball on MSNBC every day. I think Chris Matthews is fair and clear. Especially in this argument.

Chris is always arguing for good construction and manufacturing jobs – the same kind of jobs that built America during the boom of the 1950s. And I agree. Jobs that need to be done for infrastructure anyway.

The 1950s were good days for America in terms of growth and opportunity. (By the way, the top income tax rate in the late 1950s was 91% versus 35% today. And America grew at an exponential rate in the 1950s and 1960s.)

Things that make you go “hmm…”