‘PARALLEL CONSTRUCTION’

U.S. Authorities Illegally Using Secret Domestic Spying To Target Citizens For Arrest

By Elizabeth Coady

ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER FRIGHTENING REVELATION about America’s rule-of-law being shat upon.

News of the latest violation comes from Reuters which reveals that the National Security Agency is funneling information from “intelligence intercepts, wiretaps, informants and a massive database of telephone records” to DEA agents who channel the information to local authorities to launch criminal cases against Americans.

In addition, the DEA agents are helping to creating “false” investigative trails to hide the original source of the information, according to the report. The practice, known as “parallel construction,” “is being used against ordinary American citizens and not foreigners targeted as terrorists.

REVERSING ROLES

Real Housewives Of Orange County: Tupperware Insults & Plastic Weddings

By Karen Malmquist

LOVE — AND NAME-CALLING — ARE IN THE AIR AS The Real Housewives of Orange County prepare to wrap up their eighth (!) season. On the latest episode, Gretchen gets progressive by proposing to Slade, Slade cries, and Vicki rounds up some penguins.

Vicki, with so much time on her hands now, has finally finished redecorating her house. All hints of Donn have disappeared, and she declares this a cause for celebration. Alexis and Lydia, who are over at the house to admire the work Vicki did are informed of her upcoming “Winter Wonderland” party. Although it’s obviously inspired by the ladies’ trip to Canada, the penguins that will be in attendance aren’t exactly geographically accurate. Don’t let PETA here about this.

HUGGING IT OUT

Real Housewives Of New Jersey: Truce

By Karen Malmquist

SOMEWHERE DEEP INSIDE THE BRAVO OFFICES, the network exec who forced us all to deal with a two episode-long commercial for LA Shrinks is giving himself a huge bonus after seeing everyone finally get along on Real Housewives of New Jersey.

On the latest episode, Dr. V gathers Teresa, her brother Joe, and Melissa on the couch in Lake George, and they’re being forced to pour their hearts out to each other. Teresa cries and squeals as she explains to her brother that she doesn’t just want to fix things with him —she needs to fix things with Melissa.

Melissa, wiping the impatience off her face, says she’s willing to meet Teresa halfway. Teresa starts crying again, and her voice goes up about eight octaves as she tells Melissa that, “I love you. I’m serious.” There’s no way of telling when Dr. V shows emotion, but based on her lip-pursing and slow, thoughtful nodding, she’s very pleased with the work she’s done… and the check she’s getting out of this.

CRIME & PUNISHMENT

Illinois Psych Prof Outed As Teen Triple Murderer

HERE’S A HORRIFYING FLASHBACK AIMED AT simultaneously propelling two careers forward while destroying a third.

Ann Marie Gardner and Cathy Payne are reporters working for the Georgetown Gazette, a small paper in Texas who revisited the notorious murders of three members of the Wolcott family killed inside their Texas home 46 years ago. Hours after the crime, 15-year-old James Wolcott confessed that he had shot his father, mother and sister with a gun that he then hid in his attic.

The murders horrified the community of 5,000 residents. Wolcott had sniffed glue shortly before shooting his family. Later, he complained to a psychiatrist that his mother chewed too loudly and that his sister had a bad accent.

LOLLAPALOOZA

Lollapalooza Streamed Live Here

OKAY, NOT HERE HERE, BUT through the magic of digital communications, you can catch some of your favorite acts performing at Lollapalooza 2013 without trampling through the muck and mayhem and masses of people. And don’t get me wrong because that’s all that’s good too if you’ve scored tickets to Chicago’s prime music orgasmia.

ROUND UP!

Friday Mood Music & A Roundup Of Must-Read Stories

GOOD FRI-AWW DAY, FOLKS! It’s almost lunchtime, which means production for the week is gearing down. Collect that pay stub and head out to lunch, but not before listening to Robin Thicke jammin’ with Jimmy Fallon and The Roots on Blurred Lines. It just barely beats out Fallon’s Chef Dominique Ansel’s Wednesday night cooking demonstration of his much-applauded “cronuts”. Consider the song audio confection: a sweet midday pick-me-up that’ll make you skip your way out to lunch.

There’s lots of interesting news today — but there’s only one of me, so I’m going to link to a few intriguing stories that caught my attention while traveling the internets. Check them out.

CNN EXCLUSIVE

CNN: “CIA Engaging in “Unprecedented Polygraphing” In Attempt To Silence Benghazi Operatives”

A SOURCE TELLS CNN ”You have no idea the amount of pressure being brought to bear on anyone with knowledge of this operation.”

‘I REALLY WANT TO SEE YOU’

Tabloid Claims It Has Sexy Audiotape Monica Lewinsky Made For Bill Clinton

BECAUSE NO NOTORIOUS SCANDAL EVER TRULY DIES, just in time for the 2016 presidential race, The National Enquirer resuscitates the Monica Lewinsky-Bill Clinton scandal.

The tabloid claims its editors have gotten their sticky hands on an audio recording of Monica Lewinsky using sexy talk on Bill Clinton. The former White House intern allegedly can be head offering to get naked for the notorious ladies’ man and concocting a movie date night with “boxed dinners.”

“You can’t refuse me because I’m too cute and adorable and soon I won’t be here anymore to pop over,” Lewinsky reportedly teased Clinton.

NSFW

Look At These Gawkers Taking Pictures Of Naked People Getting Painted

WHAT ARE THE PHOTOGRAPHERS SNAPPING SO INTENTLY? Just a couple of naked people getting painted by artist Andy Golub before an audience.

‘REDUCED TO CULTURAL STEREOTYPE’

What Happens When Woody Allen Meets The Wolverine

AT LAST WE LEARN WHY THE WOLVERINE’S EVOLVED FROM “immortal traveler …struggling to learn who he is”: He’s the Jewish anti anti-hero, creating a real schism in his super hero personality.

Or so he is as envisioned by the “Woody Allen” imposters at @OfficialComedy, who dub themselves “YouTube’s ultimate destination for all things funny.” Here Wolverine’s a clumsy schlump who has trouble managing his, uh, super power while wooing Rogue.