Oxfam pulls a Komen, ScarJo steps down as “Ambassador”

Scarlett Johansson, the actress, model, singer and political activist, has served as a Global Ambassador for Oxfam International since 2007. In her role as an Oxfam ambassador, she raised funds, promoted awareness about global poverty, and traveled to India, Sri Lanka and Kenya to highlight the impact of traumatic disasters and chronic poverty.

Earlier this month, Johansson signed on as the first global brand ambassador of SodaStream International Ltd., an Israeli company that operates in the West Bank.

When the inevitable anti-Israel backlash began, Johansson stood firm, saying she was a “supporter of economic cooperation and social interaction between a democratic Israel and Palestine.” Good for her.

Oxfam, it turns out, has a strong policy on Israel: they oppose all trade from Israeli settlements, saying they are illegal and deny Palestinian rights. Oxfam declared that it was “considering the implications of her new statement and what it means for Ms. Johansson’s role as an Oxfam global ambassador.”

ScarJo responded that she has “respectfully decided to end her ambassador role with Oxfam after eight years . . . She and Oxfam have a fundamental difference of opinion in regards to the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement. She is very proud of her accomplishments and fundraising efforts during her tenure with Oxfam.”

I used to think that Oxfam was a politically neutral charity, just like I used to think that Susan G. Komen for the Cure was. I was so naive.

Scarlett Johansson Stepping Down As Oxfam Ambassador days after Super Bowl ad pulled  – NY Daily News.

Rich asshole Godwins in WSJ

Tom Perkins, a founder of venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, has vomited forth in the Wall Street Journal about “the parallels of fascist Nazi Germany to its war on its ‘one percent,’ namely its Jews, to the progressive war on the American one percent, namely the ‘rich.'”

Progressive Kristallnacht Coming? — Letters to the Editor – WSJ.com.

Apple Wants To Use Your Heart Rate And Facial Expressions To Figure Out What Mood You’re In and Deliver More Relevant Advertising

“[Apple’s] patent application, No. 13/556023, describes system that would determine a sort of baseline mood for a given user by collecting and analyzing a mixture of physical, behavioral, and contextual data. The system would then compare this baseline to the data it collects from a user as the ad is about to be served to figure out what mood the user is in and subsequently, which ad the system should send to him or her.”

That’s sure to improve my user experience.

Apple Wants To Use Your Heart Rate And Facial Expressions To Figure Out What Mood You’re In – Houston Chronicle.

Why are the police seeking another search warrant — this time for Justin Bieber’s cell phone?

Apparently I’m the only person on the Internets who thinks this whole Justin Bieber thing is weird and probably unconstitutional.

The guy is accused of throwing eggs at his neighbor’s house and the police show up with a felony search warrant, eleven vehicles, and a battering ram.

I doubt that the LA County Sheriff sends that much muscle to the average murder scene.

Apparently the cops haven’t found any evidence (of what?) yet, so they are now seeking a warrant for The Bieb’s cellphone.

I’m no Bieber fan, but something about this stinks.

Police Seeking Another Search Warrant For Justin Bieber’s Phone | Disney Dreaming.

Dame Edna Everage — nominated for Biteme Person of the Year (for 2003)

In 2003, Barry Humphries’ character, Dame Edna, made some snarky remarks about Spanish which raised a huge stir, including a denunciation by actress Selma Hayek.

When Dame Edna was questioned about the controversy on the eve of her 2003 Australian tour, she retorted that Hayek’s denunciation was due to “professional jealousy”, and that Hayek was envious because the role of painter Frida Kahlo (for which Hayek received an Oscar nomination) had originally been offered to Edna.

via Dame Edna Everage – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Does Jesus belong in football?

Ernest Jones, the director of player engagement (and what the hell is THAT?) at the University of Connecticut, thinks so: “We’re going to make sure [the players] understand that Jesus Christ should be in the center of our huddle, that that’s something that is important.”

University of Connecticut President Susan Herbst disagrees: “Our employees cannot appear to endorse or advocate for a particular religion or spiritual philosophy as part of their work at the university, or in their interactions with our students.”

Todd Starnes of Fox News has weighed in: “[I]t seems to me that the administration of the University of Connecticut disrespects people of faith – specifically followers of Christ.”

So Starnes is an idiot. Big deal. But what makes his column truly appalling is this doozy:

I’m reminded of an old Southern Gospel song:

Dropkick me, Jesus, through the goal posts of life.

Yup, Starnes thinks that Paul Craft’s composition is an old Southern Gospel song.

Wotta jerk.

UConn rebukes coach, says Jesus doesn’t belong in football | Fox News.

Chris Christie Scandal Is An ‘Impeachable Offense’ If He Knew, Dem Lawmaker Leading Probe Says

So many people are gloating over the supposed death knell of Christie’s presidential ambitions that it’s hard to keep count. The problem is, if a Republican WERE to win the next presidential election, wouldn’t you prefer Christie over Marco Rubio, Paul Ryan, Bobby Jindal, Rand Paul, or Darrell Issa?

Chris Christie Scandal Is An ‘Impeachable Offense’ If He Knew, Dem Lawmaker Leading Probe Says.

Natasha Leggero could be next BiteMe Person of the Year

When comedian Natasha Leggero made a crack about Pearl Harbor vets not being able to chew their food, there was an outpouring of criticism.

In response, she said “I don’t think the amazing courage of American veterans and specifically those who survived Pearl Harbor is in any way diminished by a comedian making a joke about dentures on television. . . . Do we really believe that the people who fought and defended our freedom against Nazis and the Axis powers will find a joke about SpaghettiO’s too much to bear?”

Good for her.

Comedian Natasha Leggero responds to controversy over World War II veteran joke: ‘I’m not sorry’  – NY Daily News.