The Inkwell

This week started off on a very bad note. I wrote an article for Associated Content and cited a story from a reputable travel website. They broke a scandalous story about the star of a popular series of viral videos. They had a video of him claiming that he faked the whole thing, he wasn’t who he said he was, and his videos were all composed of special effects.

I whipped up a version of the story and put it on Associated Content within a few hours of hearing about it. Luckily, Associated Content buried the story deep in their tech news section so very few people read it.

The day after it was published I got an e mail from the gentleman who starred in the videos. He was incensed that I would perpetuate an obviously fabricated rumor.

That hit me hard.

I never thought the reputable travel website would publish false information. And I felt horrible for regurgitating it, assuming it was a real story without digging deeper. Because of my article, the star of the videos was in trouble with his sponsor.

I e mailed him back and apologized profusely. I explained to him that the website’s commentary combined with his convincing looking video led me to write the article without even considering it could be a huge mistake.

The article was removed, the video star and I are now on good terms, and I learned a HUGE lesson about writing. Check, check, re-check the story before publishing.

Wow, yesterday we had awards for stupidity, today we have something called “The Obsessies”. ImNotObsessed.com is a safe for work/safe for family celebrity blog. They recently polled their viewers to find out what they though of celebrity behavior in 2008. Here are some of the highlights.

Celebrity Train Wreck

Winning by a landslide was Amy Winehouse. She’s got a killer voice but the drugs, the hair, the teeth, the impetigo… this girl has earned that title.

Favorite New Mom

Nicole Richie is the the recipient of this Obsessy? Obsessie? What a turnaround Nicole has made! Everyone loves a Cinderella story and baby Harlow has certainly turned Nicole Richie into a diva mom.

Celebrity You Wish Would Be Silent

Gosh, how do you pick just one? Rosie O’Donnell just barely edged out Kanye West and Miley Cyrus for this Obsessie. Miley Cyrus is just plain annoying but Rosie and Kanye can’t seem to say anything nice. Ever. I’m pretty sure they both think their farts smell like roses, too.

Read the full list of winners and runners up at http://www.imnotobsessed.com/

So there’s this guy, and I can’t tell if he calls himself Mega Genius or if Mega Genius is the name of his get smart program. I can say for sure that Mr. Mega Genius goes around calling himself “The Man With the Perfect IQ”. I don’t have the patience to read his website to clairify his official title, to be perfectly honest. But Mega Genius just released his “Stupidest Statements Awards” for 2008 and they’re really entertaining. The statements themselves are comical but even better are his snarky little comments. Mega Genius issued a press release on January 2 of the Top 10 Stupidest Statements.

1. Vijay Prakash, Indian welfare minister, for urging 5-star hotels to serve rat burgers, rat tail pasta, and minced baby rat meat: “It is very high in protein and the beauty is that we have billions of rats.” August 13, 2008. (Mega Genius: “Does it go well with the Indian custom of drinking urine?”)
2. The editors of Wine Spectator, America’s largest-selling wine publication, for the honor they accidentally bestowed upon Osteria L’Intrepido, a fake restaurant with a high-priced “reserve wine list” compiled from the magazine’s lowest-scoring Italian wines: “Wine Spectator Award of Excellence.” August 2008 issue. (Mega Genius: “You may want to have your blood alcohol levels checked.”)
3. Sarah Palin, US Republican Party’s vice-presidential nominee, for her response to a challenge to name a Supreme Court decision that she disagreed with, besides Roe v. Wade: “Well, let’s see. There’s, of course in the great history of America there have been rulings, that’s never going to be absolute consensus by every American.” October 1, 2008. (Mega Genius: “I think I pulled something in my neck from cringing so hard.”)
4. Mike Huckabee, US Republican Party’s presidential candidate, for his disclosure to South Carolinians: “We used to take a popcorn popper, because that was the only thing they would let us use in the dorm, and we would fry squirrels in the popcorn popper.” January 16, 2008. (Mega Genius: “I think that qualifies you as an avant-garde chef in India.”)
5. Joseph Biden, US Democratic Party’s Vice President-elect, for his recognition of State Senator Chuck Graham, a paraplegic confined to a wheelchair, at a rally in Missouri: “Chuck, stand up, Chuck. Let ‘em see ya.” September 9, 2008. (Mega Genius: “Senator Biden’s speeches are not that inspirational.”)
6. Prince Harry, third in line to the British Throne, for his admission about his country: “I generally don’t like England that much.” February 2008. (Mega Genius: “It’s just so aggravating there, being treated like royalty.”)
7. John McCain, US Republican Party’s presidential nominee, for his revelation when asked if he prefers a Mac or PC: “Neither. I’m - I’m a - illiterate that has to rely on my wife for all the assistance I can get.” January 2008. (Mega Genius: “Again, why was he a presidential nominee?”)
8. Hillary Rodham Clinton, former US First Lady and Democratic Party’s presidential candidate, for her tale of gunfire and evasive action on a trip to Bosnia, in 1996, which video footage revealed never occurred: “I remember landing under sniper fire. There was supposed to be some kind of greeting ceremony at the airport, but instead we just ran with our heads down to get into the vehicles to get to our base.” March 17, 2008. (Mega Genius: “Then she dreamed that she was a ‘00,’ with a license to kill.”)
9. Barack Obama, US Democratic Party’s President-elect, for incorrectly totaling his country’s 50 states during a campaign event in Oregon: “Over the last 15 months, we’ve traveled to every corner of the United States. I’ve now been in 57 states, I think - one left to go.” May 9, 2008. (Mega Genius: “Well, he did promise change to America.”)
10. Oprah Winfrey, American television icon, self-image advisor, and author of a soon-to-be-published weight-loss book, for her bewilderment at her current obese body mass index of 31.8 and weight of 200 pounds (90.7 kg): “How did I let this happen again?” December 9, 2008. (Mega Genius: “My guess is that you have been overeating. May I suggest an Indian diet?”)

www.megagenius.com