200 Feared Dead in Brazil Mudslide

Filed at 9:56 a.m. ET

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) -- At least 200 people were buried and feared dead under the latest landslide to hit a slum in Rio de Janeiro's metropolitan area, authorities said Thursday.

If confirmed, the deaths would raise the toll sharply from the 153 people already known to have died this week in slides triggered by record rains.

NYT

Sarah Palin at Campaign Rally for Michelle Bachmann

Once you get past looking at her helmet of hair, have a look at the woman behind her left shoulder. It's not 100% clear, but the expression on her face looks seriously pained. Like she's being held hostage by some crazies.

Palin and Bachmann: Between them their collective IQs barely reach room temperature.

Mike Lynche Survives, Siobhan Does Too

OK, so I blew it on my AI elimination guess this week. Siobhan must have the nerd gurl following because her singing is really the pits.

Mike, who can actually sing and perform, ended up at the bottom of the draw, but was then saved by the judges, thus prolonging our collective agony for yet another round of cuts.

Personally, I think Mike has a very fine voice and may arguably be the most polished and dynamic performer of the remaining crew, but he's obviously not hitting the right notes with the voting public. At least this week.

It's perhaps fitting that Dancing with the Stars finally beat AI in the ratings, no doubt boosted by the Gosselin bump. And speaking of Gosselin, her performance to Lady Gaga's song was quite possibly the world's worst display of dancing seen since the legendary Elaine dance on Seinfeld. The important difference, of course, being Elaine was doing comedy and Kate was not.

Anyway, next week I'm sure we'll see more boring singing on AI made even all the more unpleasant by the useless commentary from the insipid four they call the judges.

Man arrested for Pelosi threats called "angry"

Gregory Lee Giusti, 48, made at least four dozen harassing and threatening phone calls to Pelosi's homes in St. Helena and Washington as well as her husband's San Francisco office, authorities said.

I'd be angry too if I had to wear my mom's eyeglasses.

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American Idol: Siobhan Magnus Destroys The Universe

Although the judges may have found her version of Across the Universe to be good, the screeching left my ears bleeding and cats in heat outside my door. It's time to put this girl -- and me -- out of her misery and remove her from contention.

While her screeching may be on par with last year's screecher -- Adam Lambert -- her singing is pretty awful.

I'm guessing the judges were either distracted by her glitter lips or thinking about the stupid money they're making for hosting this (no) talent contest.

Also, could the judges be any more annoying? Especially Cowell. Their worthless and repetitive commentary is tedious and boring. Enough!

The Fat Man Cometh: Christie Eats Every NJ School Lunch

[NYT]

Public schools in Montclair, N.J., would lay off as many as 70 teachers, including reading and math specialists, and would no longer offer French and Spanish classes in its elementary grades.


Westfield would not be able to buy library books or replace aging computers, and a popular middle-school tradition — the fall play — could disappear.


Cresskill could see class sizes climb to 35 students in middle and high schools, it may charge students a fee to play high school sports, and it could eliminate middle-school athletic teams.

This is how the GOP values education and children.