This 2012 photo released by A&E shows, from left, Phil Robertson, Jase Robertson, Si Robertson and Willie Robertson from the A&E series, "Duck Dynasty."Zach Dilgard/The Associated Press
ONE FOR ALL
The good ol' boys of Duck Dynasty are showing solidarity in support of their suspended cast member. The reality-TV clan has issued a statement in response to broadcaster A&E suspending cast regular Phil Robertson for making homophobic comments earlier this week. From the statement: "As a family, we cannot imagine the show going forward without our patriarch at the helm. We are in discussions with A&E to see what that means for the future of Duck Dynasty."
Source: TMZ
TALKING HEADS
Contrary to TV and film depictions, Neanderthals could speak. A new study from the University of South Wales that analyzed the hyoid bone of a Neanderthal specimen has revealed a horseshoe-shaped structure in the neck, which suggests they had the ability to speak. An international team of researchers examined the fossil of a Neanderthal throat bone with 3-D X-ray imaging and concluded that ancient man was fully capable of complex speech.
Source: BBC
SKIN GAME
Any attention may be good attention in the advertising industry, but sexy images don't always sell. Two separate University of Queensland studies on advertising imagery have concluded that when people view sexy ads for the animal-rights group PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), they were actually less inclined to support the cause.
Source: Salon
TAKE TWO
This week's most glaring gaffe: An Indian businessman has become a laughingstock for financing a billboard in New Delhi honouring the recently deceased former South African leader Nelson Mandela. The embarrassing part: The billboard actually boasts a large photograph of actor Morgan Freeman, who portrayed Mandela in the 2009 feature film Invictus. "We will replace it with the correct picture of Mandela," promised the businessman after the gaffe went viral.
Source: Gawker
HOCKEY TALK
Also in the Big Mistake department: A Boston sportscaster is being called out for her mispronouncing the name of Montreal Canadiens' superstar Maurice "Rocket" Richard. Anchor Jamie Erdahl was helming a report on the cable channel NESN when she pronounced the hockey legend's surname as Richard, as in Richard Nixon, instead of the correct "Ree-shard."
Source: Deadspin
PHISHED IN
A Vancouver author is gaining acclaim for putting a Facebook "phisher" in his place. Steven Galloway recently received the obvious money-scam attempt alluding to a "world lottery" from a non-friend. Galloway strung the phisher along for two days and then posted the entire conversation on his Facebook page.
Source: Vancouver Sun