Msnbc

What is happening to MSNBC? They've veered off into left-wing politics (which I thought were supposed to be encouraging of free speech) and, all of a sudden, they've turned into anti-free speech zealots. First, Ed Schultz gets suspended for calling Laura Ingraham a "right-wing slut" (which, admittedly, is a tremendously stupid, misogynistic thing to say) but now the network has taken it a step further: Suspending Time editor Mark Halperin over calling President Obama -- brace yourself -- a "dick.

Sometimes Groupon makes you hunt for the best deals. This hidden gem gets you $20 at threadless.com for $10. It is posted under Eerie, Indiana but is valid nationwide. Somehow only 122 have sold so far. Here's an MSNBC story from a few years ago on Threadless:  

One thing about Michael Steele: He's not afraid to mix it up. Push the former Maryland lieutenant governor in an interview, and he'll come right back at you. That's how it went last week with the Johns Hopkins University graduate when he was asked for his reaction to those who say MSNBC hired him recently to be the channel's token conservative — a right-wing, Republican version of the role Alan Colmes played on Fox News. "What's my reaction?" Steele said. "Tune in, that's my reaction.

By writing "Thousands" attended the Glenn Beck rally ("Thousands attend Beck rally," Aug. 29), rather than the hundreds of thousands ( I know it is only a few zeros to you liberals/progressives) as reported on even NBC TV, The Baltimore Sun now ranks right up there with the New York Times and MSNBC in the race for disingenuous reporting honors. Lyle Rescott, Marriottsville

Only in America can a flight attendant, with what appears to be an overhead bin full of personal problems and a flare for the dramatic, go from being a late-night talk show punch line to a major political trend. But there you have it. Steven Slater, who took the microphone to cuss out rude customers on a Jet Blue flight, grabbed a couple of beers and slid down the emergency escape ramp and into the national consciousness, has quickly become a hero to everyone in this country who would like to quit his job in a glorious huff.

Siriano, Conrad to create gowns for Emmy night Project Runway winner Christian Siriano and The Hills star Lauren Conrad are creating gowns for the Emmy Awards on Sept. 21. Siriano's selection as designer for one of the so-called "trophy girls" who hand over Emmy statues to presenters was announced yesterday. The TV academy previously said that Conrad, who's started her own clothing line, will be dressing a trophy bearer. Siriano will have Project Runway company, with the show's Heidi Klum serving as one of five reality show hosts who are to emcee the awards.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham's Spam Data Mine is warning consumers about a new spam trend using MSNBC that attempts to trick e-mail readers into clicking on a site that will infect their computers. UAB says that since the new spam attack is based on real e-mail messages sent to MSNBC Alert subscribers, it will be nearly impossible to block the spam without also blocking legitimate MSNBC mail. Gary Warner, UAB's director of computer forensics, said that for several days last week, one of the top spam messages detected by the Spam Data Mine was "CNN Alerts: my Custom Alert," which forged a CNN e-mail.

A TV wake of six days and five nights for NBC newsman Tim Russert came to an end yesterday with a moving memorial service on cable channel MSNBC. Aptly representative of the arc of Russert's life, those eulogizing the 58-year-old anchor of Meet the Press ranged from an elementary school nun in Buffalo, N.Y., to the stars of mainstream media and singer Bruce Springsteen. From the announcement of Russert's death shortly after 3:30 p.m. Friday to yesterday's service that began at 4 p.m., TV served one of its primary ritualistic functions as a medium of mourning, offering access and an outlet for the affection that millions of Americans felt for an ebullient anchorman - as well as the grief they experienced at his death.

The most-watched presidential primary season in TV history ended yesterday with a wild roller-coaster ride of conflicting news reports, updates, "knockdowns" and delegate countdowns that left even veteran media executives scratching their heads. "It was exactly one year ago that we televised our first debate, and it's been an incredible ride straight through to today," CNN political director Sam Feist said last night. "And what a last day for the primary season! We had one development after another - and more breaking news banners today on CNN than during any other day in recent memory."

MSNBC has seen fit to protect the American public from this political shocker: All three presidential candidates agree on something. The network is refusing to air a new TV ad that reminds Hillary Clinton, John McCain and Barack Obama that they've all spoken in favor of closing a loophole that allows criminals to buy guns at gun shows. Too "controversial," MSNBC told Mayors Against Illegal Guns, the group behind the ad. ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN and Fox are all airing it. The MSNBC decision is of local interest because, as I wrote the other day, Sheila Dixon is one of four mayors featured in the ad. Not to mention because Baltimore police seized almost 4,000 illegal guns last year.