Mid Day Distraction

Thursday Linkage

Watch your step today, those fools are everywhere.

First iPad reviews appear, mostly thumbs up

10 stories that could be April Fools... but aren't

Blessed is the Blackberry: How Barack Obama worships with prayers sent to his trusty phone

Native-born Californians regain majority status

Washington Post: Administration seeks to change pay incentives at major firms
When the Obama administration imposed restrictions on executive pay last year at some of the largest companies the government had bailed out, officials said they were aiming to set a new standard for compensation across corporate America that would discourage risky business practices. But as firms begin to disclose last year's bonuses ahead of annual shareholder meetings, it is becoming clear that companies across a wide range of industries are paying executives in ways that officials worry will not discourage the kind of excessive short-term risk-taking that led to the financial crisis.

Revenge of the carp: Fish hunted by woman armed with bow and arrow leaps out of the water to smack her in the face

1 in 4 elderly need care decisions made for them

Will Jimmy Hoffa mystery be buried with Giants Stadium demolition?

Together forever: Heartbroken otters who were best friends die within hours of each other

New York Times: When Military Moves a War, There Are No Shortcuts In trying to speed 30,000 reinforcements into Afghanistan while reducing American forces in Iraq by 50,000, American commanders are orchestrating one of the largest movements of troops and matériel since World War II. Military officials say that transporting so many people and billions of dollars’ worth of equipment, weapons, housing, fuel and food in and out of both countries between now and an August deadline is as critical and difficult as what is occurring on the battlefield.

Ann Coulter falls for fake Obama NASCAR story

By GottaLaff

In case you haven't heard about this yet:

In her April 1 column, Ann Coulter fell for a fake April Fools' Day article by Car and Driver magazine that claimed that President Obama has ordered General Motors and Chrysler to cease their participation in NASCAR because it is an "unnecessary expenditure." Coulter wrote, "If Obama can tell GM and Chrysler that their participation in NASCAR is an 'unnecessary expenditure,' isn't having public schools force students to follow Muslim rituals, recite Islamic prayers and plan 'jihads' also an 'unnecessary expenditure'?" Car and Driver originally posted an April 1 story online -- since removed -- with the headline, "Obama Orders Chevrolet and Dodge Out Of NASCAR," and the text, "With their racing budgets deemed 'unnecessary expenditures,' GM and Chrysler are ordered to cease racing operations at the end of the season." However, Car and Driver later clarified that the story was an April Fools' Day joke, then removed the story from its website.

In an April 1 USA Today article, Larry Marshak reported that "Car and Driver later pulled the fake story (which estimated savings of $250 million between the manufacturers) and apologized for 'going too far' while noting the magazine 'has a proud tradition of irreverent editorial and we amplify that each year with our April Fool's Day joke.'

You can read the rest here. Looks like the original April fool, The Madam's Apple, was pwnd. And Car and Driver apologized, something you'll never see The Madam's Apple do.

H/t: Babzter

!yaD slooF lirpA yppaH

By GottaLaff

Until I get caught up, this post will have to suffice.

May you not be punk'd in any way that would completely and utterly embarrass you today.

In my case, humiliation is a daily occurrence, so any prank at my expense could very well be an improvement.