In a taped messaged to Betty White, who today turns 90, President Barack Obama wrote a note saying, “Dear Betty, You look so fantastic and full of energy, I can't believe you're 90 years old. In fact, I don't believe it. That's why I'm writing to ask if you will be willing to produce a copy of your long-form birth certificate. Thanks. Happy Birthday, no matter how old you are.” Video here.

Read More

EMI Records has filed a lawsuit against the Irish state for not fulfilling its obligations under European law to block online piracy. Despite major record labels in Ireland (Warner, Universal, Sony and EMI) being harmed by Ireland’s lack of “blocking, diverting or interrupting of Internet communications,” which breaches copyright law, Ireland never implemented any piracy blocking provisions and last year member of the High Court Justice Peter Charleton acknowledged this.

“It is not surprising that the legislative response laid down in our country in the Copyright and Related Rights Act 2000, at a time when this problem was not perceived to be as threatening to the creative and retail economy as it has become in 2010, has made no proper provision for the blocking, diverting or interrupting of internet communications intent on breaching copyright,” Justice Charleton’s judgment began.

“Establishing a causal link between Irish law and filesharing will be difficult, particularly given the evidence from elsewhere that blocking is ineffective,” said TJ McIntyre, lawyer at the University College Dublin. And while site-blocking is a last resort for the record labels, the link between the breach of the State’s obligations and the labels’ losses could prove to be problematic.

Read More

A recent study shows that only 78 percent of men in the UK change their undies every morning, while 95 percent of women put on a fresh pair. The study also found that women are more than twice as likely to do their laundry while living alone, and of men who are a part of a domestic relationship, only 19 percent do their own laundry. Richard Caines, senior consumer analyst at Mintel, says “There is a distinct whiff of laziness among men in the UK today when it comes to underwear.”

Read More

Jay-Z is now the spokesman for Duracell Powermat, the joint venture whose inception came in September of 2011 thanks to Procter and Gamble, Duracell and Powermat Technologies. “I believe in the future of wireless energy and I believe that Duracell Powermat is the company to bring on the revolution,” said Hova. “I’m partnering with Duracell Powermat because they’re providing the solutions for the future.”

Read More

It was announced today that Actor/Director/Humanitarean/Total Heartthrob Jeff Spicoli Sean Penn is receiving the 2012 Joel Siegel Award at the 17th Annual Critics Choice Movie Awards on Jan. 12 for the relief work he has done in Haiti. This will be only the fifth Joel Siegel Award given by the BFCA, and dedicated “to those who understand, as Joel did, that the greatest value of celebrity is as an enhanced platform to do good works for others."

Read More

It turns out that an alleged old Radiohead demo called “Putting Ketchup in the Fridge” is actually called “Sit Still” and not by Radiohead at all. It’s by Toronto bakery owner Christopher Stopa. “As nice as it is, because I like Radiohead, and on some technical level it means I sang [the song] well, I don’t really want to be known as the person that was mistaken [for] Radiohead,” Stopa said in an interview with the Torontoist. You can stream the single and read the full story here.

Read More

Kanzi the bonobo knows how to say around 500 words via a keyboard, start a fire with matches and make his own food. He has a leg up on the modern 12-year-old.

Read More

With the holidays right around the corner, this weekend promises plenty of twinkling lights, Christmas songs and the one gift the three wise men forgot: booze.

Read More

Santa Claus is coming to town a little early this year. SantaCon kicks off at noon Saturday, when Santas of all sorts will gather on Fountain Square, then disperse around the city, singing, passing out candy and bringing holiday cheer to area bars and restaurants. To participate, email santa@cincinnatisantacon.com and follow @CincySantacon on Twitter to find them around town.

Read More

There's usually so much happening the weekend before Halloween that the problem isn't finding something to do, it's narrowing your options down! Here are some fun, spooky, booze-filled and/or kid-friendly suggestions. It's the Halloweekend, baby I'm about to have me some fun.

Tonight is Final Friday in OTR, so check out gallery openings/shows at Aisle, YES, Static Age and 1305. Might as well Pimp That Pumpkin while you're in the neighborhood! If you're feeling nostalgic while in OTR, definitely check out the Final Friday OTR Skate at the OTR Rec Center. $3 gets you a skate rental, lessons from the Cincinnati Rollergirls, music by DJ Apryl Reign and Diamonn Gurr, horror film screenings, games and more. Go here to get all the details, and be sure to wear skate-friendly attire!

Perhaps you had a little more glam in mind for your Friday evening? Head over to Northside's Mayday for Ziggyween 2011, where you'll witness a live, full recreation of David Bowie’s The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. Also appearing are Scandinavian Leather and the original Gypsy Hut staff, dressed as the Mayday staff. That's more than you can shake a delicious, gourmet, pretzel-encased hot dog at (which, by the way, are $2 all night). Check out maydaynorthside.com for details.

Read More