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Rocknation

Rocknation's Journal
Rocknation's Journal
April 29, 2014

Uproar over Beyonce's Time magazine cover: 'Why is she in her underwear?'

Costume declared inappropriate for one of 'World's 100 most influential people'

...(W)hen Time's 100 Most Influential issue hit newsstands...Queen Bey on the cover, it started an online storm. Twitter was buzzing with angry comments. "Couldn't Beyoncé have worn clothes for her cover?" says one..."I absolutely LOVE Beyonce but that outfit is SO Miley Cyrus," is one fan's response...

"Thigh-high boots, corsets, the teeniest of short shorts may be Beyoncé's look du jour, but do they really have a place on Time magazine's cover?" wrote blogger Brogan Driscoll on the Huffington Post. "Bey says Time magazine's recognition is important 'because it's not about fashion or beauty or music; it's about the influence I've had on culture.' So why does she have to come half-dressed?"

[center][/center]

The other cover stars are Robert Redford, the NBA's first openly gay athlete Jason Collins, and General Motors CEO Mary Barra -- all of whom are fully clothed.

[center][/center]


Well, why SHOULDN'T Beyonce "come half dressed?" Coming half dressed is the way she BECAME "influential!"

It's not Beyonce's fault that the other "cover stars" attained their influence WITHOUT taking off their clothes. Nobody complains about how she's dressed when she's doing precisely what MADE her so "influential." It's her talk of "influencing culture" that's completely off the wall -- she's just the latest to rake in the benefits of the thirty-year old influence that Madonna and MTV have had on culture!


rocktivity
April 24, 2014

Chris Christie: A Self Portrait

[center][font size="+1"]A Gibson Dunn Crutcher Production
Directed by: Chris "Governor Soprano" Christie
Screenplay by: Rudy Mastro
Technical Adviser: DU-er Laxman, (Christie Crime Digest)
Financed by The Taxpayers of New Jersey[/font]
[/center]

Who is the real New Jersey Governor Chris Christie? From the Bridge(t)-Gate summary memos (beginning on page 163):

A man with a mind like a steel trap?

...(H)e believed he spent more time with Mayor Zimmer than most other Mayors in the State. Governor Christie noted that Mayor Zimmer was one of a few mayors he met with alone in his office about Sandy aid...He recently saw a photograph of himself and a Rockefeller Group executive at a DayTop Village charity event last year. He had not recalled seeing the executive at that large gathering, but realized that he must have, given the photograph.

...(T)he Governor recalls singing a song with the Lt. Governor after dinner...the Governor recalled going to the kitchen for a snack—he recalled having raspberries—and running into the Lt. Governor in the kitchen and briefly saying hello.

The Governor said he did not know (Chip) Michaels well, but he is familiar with Michaels’ family. They were reacquainted in the past few years because their children played hockey. The Governor recently saw Michaels at the hockey rink, where they discussed their children and hockey, including his son’s recent injury.

Mrs. Christie was by the Governor’s side throughout the 9/11 Memorial Event, including the period before the event began...the Governor recalled that Mrs. Christie asked to use a bathroom...there was no bathroom in the (Port Authority) trailer. A female Port Authority Police Department officer, who was possibly Baroni’s driver, then took Mrs. Christie to the bathroom...

Usually, the Governor would have to go to Stepien’s office if he wanted to speak with Stepien. As of April 2013, Stepien would need an appointment to meet with the Governor because he was no longer a State employee.

At some point, someone, possibly Deb Gramiccioni, told the Governor that Baroni wanted to bring in Wildstein and pay him over $200,000 a year, which she said was too high. The Governor agreed and said that Wildstein’s appointment was acceptable as long as he was not paid too much.

The Governor had two reactions to the article: (1) it was typical of Foye to write and then leak an email, rather than directly discussing the issue; and (2) the Governor wanted to know what happened.

The Governor listened to part of Foye’s testimony and the other Port Authority professionals while he ate lunch.

...(T)he Governor walked into O’Dowd’s office while Drewniak was there...Drewniak was talking about having dinner with Wildstein, which the Governor found surprising because he did not think that Drewniak and Wildstein were such good friends that they would have dinner together.

The Governor also recalled getting a call from Stepien on December 14, 2013, while the Governor was on his way to a doctor’s appointment...


Or a man with a mind like a stainless steel sieve?

The Governor was not aware, and had no recollection of ever knowing, that Mayor Zimmer took any position adverse to the Rockefeller Group project.

The Governor...now knows that Wolff & Samson represented the Rockefeller Group, although he was not aware of that at the time of the allegations at issue.

The Governor had no memory of meeting Mayor Sokolich. The Governor knew Mayor Sokolich’s name because of the accusations that Mayor Sokolich made.

While the (lane) realignment was in effect, Governor Christie did not recall being aware of the lane realignment or the traffic caused by the lane realignment.

...Baroni and Wildstein, along with others, were present for most of the time (during the 9/11 memorial ceremony). The Governor has no specific recollection of conversations with them, other than light banter.

Asked whether anyone raised the subject of traffic in Fort Lee prior to or at this event, the Governor responded that he had no such recollection...

The Governor had no specific recollection of the September 17, 2013, and October 1, 2013 Wall Street Journal (“WSJ”) articles...The Governor had two reactions to the article: (1) it was typical of Foye to write and then leak an email, rather than directly discussing the issue; and (2) the Governor wanted to know what happened.

Asked about...Wildstein’s and Baroni’s resignations, the Governor recalled telling McKenna to ask for Wildstein’s resignation, and telling O’Dowd and McKenna to ask for Baroni’s resignation, although the Governor did not recall when this was.

...(T)he Governor recalled someone (though he does not recollect who), relaying that Wildstein had said something along the lines of, “I’m not stupid; I got this cleared by the Front Office.”

On the morning of December 12, 2013, there was a breakfast...(with) union leaders, which Stepien attended. The Governor had no specific recollection of that event...


As tough as nails?

During the December 13, 2013 senior staff meeting, the Governor walked in, slammed the door, and stood the whole time...He delivered this message loudly and made eye contact with everyone.

The next day, the Governor went to Trenton...He then held the press conference, while exhausted, answering all questions. Only after coming back did he realize that the press conference lasted nearly two hours.


Or as tender as rose petals?

...When the meeting started, the Governor recalled being nervous...He got emotional, and with tears in his eyes, asked if anyone else had anything else to do with the lane realignment, because he could not get sandbagged again....

The Governor recalled that O’Dowd had reported that Kelly was crying when she had said that she had nothing to do with the lane realignment...The Governor was not surprised that someone, particularly an individual like Kelly, might be nervous or upset in this situation...


So many facets, so little time! Stay tuned...


rocktivity

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Hometown: New Jersey
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