Alicia’s Midday News Roundup

Here’s your Saturday midday news hit – go slow, this stuff is potent. Today we’re covering the life and death of Big Poppa, secret CIA prisons and salmonella-laced snack foods.
1. No more waterboarding? A source says the president-elect is looking to prohibit harsh interrogation techniques. Meaning the CIA can’t waterboard prisoners – or make them listen to Metallica at full volume for hours and hours.
Obama’s new proposal would require all interrogators to conform to the rules of the U.S. Army Manual. It would also shut down the secret “black site” prisons around the globe and move all interrogations to American military facilities.
This is for real. This is according to The Associated Press. “Black sites.” What the hell is that? That’s absolutely terrifying. Maybe I missed previous articles about black sites, because this is the first I’ve heard of them and they sound straight X-files.
But, according to the AP, Obama’s advisers are thinking about adding a loophole to the proposal that would allow for “interrogation techniques not specifically authorized by the Pentagon.” Isn’t the point of the proposal that ALL interrogations would have to follow the U.S. Army Manual? Otherwise, what’s the point?
The more you know: Waterboarding is an interrogation technique that simulates drowning. Here’s the full definition from Wisegeek.
2. Biggie resurrected: “Notorious,” the biopic about rapper Notorious B.I.G., dropped Friday. I haven’t seen it yet, but I’m sure Jackie will bootleg it for me before the night is out. The film is produced by the late rapper’s mother and features rapper Jamal Woolard (aka Gravy) as Christopher “Notorious B.I.G.” Wallace. Lil Kim, Faith Evans, Tupac Shakur and Puff Daddy are also portrayed in the film.
In North Carolina, officials suspended showing of the film after a shooting outside the theater. A 32-year-old man was shot in the abdomen and about 700 people were evacuated from the Grand 18 at Four Seasons Station. Although they say they can’t find a link between the movie and the fight, they’re halting its run in their theater. Absurd. This is NOT what Big would have wanted.
And Puff Daddy (Diddy) has video-blogged about the night Notorious died. It’s supposed to be a confessional / promotional vid. The best part is Diddy’s attempt to differentiate one’s “swag” from one’s “spirit.”
The more you know: Here’s a 30-second Biggie bio for all you readers who didn’t grow up listening to “Hypnotize” and “All About the Benjamins.” Biggie came up from the streets of Brooklyn, where he dealt drugs from a young age, to become one of the most adored rappers on the east coast. He married Faith Evans, had an affair with Lil Kim, and by the end of the 90s, was heavily involved in the east coast-west coast rap wars. Tupac got shot in 1996; almost immediately, Biggie was blamed. Then, in ’97, Biggie got popped. He died. The end. … Oh god, why did you leave us, Biggie!?
3. Killa Kellogg, Killa Kellogg: Just kidding. Kellogg isn’t killing people, the salmonella in their Keebler crackers is.
Kellogg has recalled 16 products, including Austin and Keebler branded Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers. They’ve also pulled snack-size packs of Famous Amos Peanut Butter Cookies and Keebler Soft Batch Homestyle Peanut Butter Cookies.
Federal officials have confirmed the contamination has come from peanut products – namely, peanut butter – from a Georgia facility. Eighty-five companies bought the peanut products.
According to the AP, the nationwide outbreak has sickened hundreds of people in 43 states and killed at least six.
The more you know: This is ridiculous. The girls and I were JUST deciding what we were going to bring on our trip to the inauguration, and we specifically asked for those brands of peanut butter cracker multi-packs. Guess that’s out.
They’re still fighting in Gaza – Egypt’s working on a unilateral 10-day cease-fire, but Hamas says they won’t stop firing until Israel pulls all forces out. Also, Obama’s whistle-stop train ride to Washington has kicked off, and the pictures are very cool. Photographers loveee this family. So do rappers, if the stuff I’ve been listening to is any indication. Obama’s already in at least seven hip-hop joints I’ve heard in the past week. T -2 days!
Comments
BIG foreva..and we wont stop…rockafella…