News Genius Quotes of the Week, 05/17/2013
The week of May 17th, 2013 pits IRS scandals with phone hacking, Kanye West, stem cells, and David Beckham, leaving shocking news for every type of person. Though West’s ranting on stage is nothing new, the retirement of Manchester United’s legendary player beside a partial meltdown of the United States' bureaucracy is perhaps even more chaotic than the already tumultuous spring. Here are the News Genius Quotes of the Week for May 17th.
News Genius: We’ll never retire. Or be cloned. Maybe.
5 — “They used names like Tea Party or Patriots and they selected cases simply because the applications had those names in the title. That was wrong, that was absolutely incorrect, insensitive, and inappropriate — that’s not how we go about selecting cases for further review.”
Via Slate
The scandal of the week confirmed what many had suspected during the 2012 presidential election campaign: the IRS, particularly the Cincinnati office, pursued political groups outside of normal processes when considering each for 501c(4) tax status. While Lerner refers particularly to groups with “conservative,” “Tea Party,” or “patriot” in their name, the same extreme questioning was levied against liberal groups. While the issue is likely to lead to a number of resignations, misplaced Congressional hearings, and more gridlock, the defense of the IRS is inexcusable; sources note that the deputy commissioner knew of the issue as early as May 2012. Unfortunately for America, these kinds of struggles will inevitably delay action in Congress even more.
4 — “I have a very high confidence that versions of this technique will work very well; it’s something that the field has been waiting for”
Via Wikimedia Commons
While stem cells are one of the most promising medical therapy techniques in the modern era, their source is far more bleak: human embryos. This barrier has made the widespread adoption of stem cell research and therapy rather limited, hindering the progress of new information that the field needs. Thus, the recent success in cloning human stem cells is a major breakthrough for the study of future therapies, a controversy-free source that promises, when perfected, to eliminate federal restrictions, claims of “baby killing,” and similar obstacles to widespread adoption. Don’t expect a Star Wars “Attack of the Clones” type future, though — this research is a far cry from fully cloning a human being.
3 — “To this day, one of my proudest achievements is captaining my country.”
Via Telegraph UK
After one of the most prolific football careers in history, one of the legends has finally retired from the sport he helped define. David Beckham — striker, model, and short term champion of American soccer — has completed his last season with Manchester United. His career placed him in the role of the UK’s hero, sending him to every championship, tournament, and college poster imaginable. He even landed a role in the title of a movie, Bend it Like Beckham. While a host of talented players, such as Messi, Villa, and Rooney, will continue to thrill, the game will certainly miss its golden child for years to come. Let’s just hope this doesn’t turn into another Favre situation; after all, it’s better to burn out than to fade away.
2 — “I ain’t kissin' nobody’s motherfucking babies — I drop your baby and you sue me and shit.”
Via USA Today
Adding to an already prolific group of concert rants, Kanye West at a private May 15th show broke down his issues with “celebrity” and fame. While the topics — paparazzi, Saturday Night Live, and private life — were nothing new, the last line of the rant left everyone confused. Why are there babies? Is Kanye dropping an infant on purpose? The answer is more innocent: West is not a politician that picks babies from the crowd, kisses them, and poses for pictures. He is here to make music, not to show off (cough). He has no time for the camera, dropping the “baby” as soon as it gets passed to him, as he runs off to the studio. Yes, you should sue him for that. And call the police.
1 — “I am writing to object in the strongest possible terms to a massive and unprecedented intrusion by the Department of Justice into the newsgathering activities of The Associated Press.”
Via McClatchy DC
News broke this week of a long-term wiretapping case opened by the Department of Justice secretly, against the Associated Press. After the AP broke a story about the outing of a CIA agent in Turkey, the DOJ legally, but privately, acquired a warrant to tap 20 AP-associated lines, tracking the discussion of classified information related to the Turkey case and new developments. While the warrant, however corrupt, is completely legal under post-Patriot act lawmaking, the situation is entirely suspect. After revelations that the Federal Government has a hold on all digital communications surfaced last week, nothing is safe. Kids, here’s the new motto: never put it in writing or speech.
New Podcast: R.A. the Rugged Man (#41)
This episode of Outside the Lines With Rap Genius, we bring you a great convo with R.A. the Rugged Man. Hot on the heels of the release of his new album, we talk to the underground legend about his open and honest lyrics, his rap idols, his friendships with Biggie and Norah Jones, and tons more.
To check out the podcast, you can listen and subscribe on iTunes, find us at liberated syndication, hear us on Facebook, or just listen below.
For more R.A., check out our annotated interview excerpts and his awesome Rap Genius verified account.
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News Genius Quotes of the Week, 05/10/2013
In yet another week of insanity and far-reaching events, News Genius is back to break down the Top 5 quotes of the week, spread across sports, science, law, and international affairs. In the week of May 10th, Charles Ramsey became an internet celebrity, President Obama had a historic meeting with President Park Geun-Hye and dissed North Korea, and Daniel Snyder of the Redskins served as a reminder of the worst in all of us. News never sleeps, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take the time to critique it.
News Genius: WE, TOO, CAN WRITE IT IN ALL CAPS.
5 — “Despite a remarkably intensive level of research…overall losses continue to be high and pose a serious threat”
That buzzing noise in the air isn’t from the bees: farmers, politicians, scientists, and people across the world are reeling from the recent spread of “Colony Collapse Disorder” (CCD). Due to a wide range of reasons, none conclusive, bees are dying in large numbers and greatly reducing the potential pollination vital to crop growth. Without “beez in the trap,” we cannot eat, making the finding of a solution to the disorder critical.
4 — “In short, the days when North Korea could create a crisis and elicit concessions — those days are over”
Until this year, the international community has always supported vocally opposing, yet supporting in practice, the aggressive, “threat for aid” foreign policy of North Korea, citing the need to maintain peace rather than ignite war. The result? A push past the line of threat, the creation of nuclear weapons, and armed missiles on the border of the DMZ. In a joint conference with South Korea’s new leader, President Park Guen-Hye, President Obama quite bluntly drew the line: North Korea will no longer benefit from threats. The policy may be the most sound, forcing the isolated country to return to six party nuclear talks and participate in diplomatic procedures to continue to feed itself.
3 — “We’ll never change the name, it’s that simple. NEVER — you can use caps”
Nothing like a dose of casual racism in 2013 to remind us all that people and ideas still persist which openly oppose basic decency. Playing on the dated term for Native Americans, “Redskins” remains one of the only institutional business names still relying on invalid racial slurs. While colleges, other NFL teams, and the world in general change such instances of long-past segregation, Mr. Snyder sits firmly on the wrong side of history. Support the team and its heart, but try not to humor bigotry.
2 — “There is no good reason to execute anyone without performing the testing that could definitively prove guilt or innocence”
Willie Manning, on death row since 1996, has been the center of an intense legal and public battle over the validity of forensic science in the processing of his double murder case. After being found guilty and sentenced to two separate death penalties, Manning and supporters challenged a single hair forensic analysis that ended up overextending science and breaching common practice. The Mississippi Innocence Project, a group in support of a full review of the case, successfully petitioned this week to stay Willie’s execution, an extraordinary event that is sure to set a precedent. N.W.A. was right: sometimes, the police actually are sus.
1 — “I’ve been here a year. You see where I’m coming from? I’ve BBQ’d with this dude! We eat ribs and what not — and listen to Salsa music!”
While the Amanda Berry story unfolded dramatically with the arrest of her three kidnappers and the release of several missing women, the brightest star of the day was none other than Charles Ramsey, a neighbor and future internet celebrity. After dropping a hilarious, if not so helpful, 911 call, Ramsey delivered one of the best interviews of the year. It takes a lot to make everyone smile in the middle of an extremely tense situation, but that ability is what makes Ramsey endearing. Plus, you never know when the guy you used to eat ribs with will turn around and lose it.
Skylar Grey x RG x Gigg "Final Warning" Verse Contest
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=b-Dp9f9D7VI#
We recently premiered verified artist Skylar Grey’s snippet for “Final Warning” with Skylar’s personal breakdown of the track’s lyrics. But But that was only the beginning, because now Skylar is looking to her fans to lay the track’s rap verse. If you think you’ve got bars that are dope enough to kill the competition, then submit your verse on Gigg.
But beware, the first entry comes from none other than RiFF RaFF himself and we’re warning you, it’s a lot to stand up to…
