This x That

This x That:

Know This:

• Syria agrees to ceasefire plan proposed by former UN chief Kofi Annan.

• Supreme Court wraps up second day of health-care hearings with skepticism.

• RIP: Hilton Kramer, venerable art critic, dead at 84.

Read This:

• Anti-gay National Organization for Marriage outlined initiative to "drive a wedge between gays and blacks."

• "George Zimmerman address" tweeted by Spike Lee belongs to elderly couple who now live in fear.

• New security measures put in place to prevent cheating on SAT, ACT.

• Mitt Romney's new beach house to have car elevator, private lobbyist.

• Student sentences to 56 days in jail for racist tweets about Fabrice Muamba.

• Al-Jazeera received video of Toulouse shootings from Mohammed Merah, decided not to air it.

The Other:

• NewsFeed: ‘Ghost Ship’ from Japan Tsunami Floating Off Canada’s Coast.

• Tea x Time List: 5 Terrifying Serial Killers Who Happened to Be Animals.

• Above: Friends of the High Line, a nonprofit conservancy managing Manhattan's High Line, wants to suspend a locomotive replica by Jeff Koons over the elevated park.

This x That:

Know This:

• Police release George Zimmerman's side of deadly encounter with Trayvon Martin; Martin suspended from school three times, most recently for "marijuana residue"; Martin's mom says leak of suspensions to press attempt to "kill his reputation." 

• Historic Supreme Court review of President Obama's health-care overhaul begins.

• Rick Santorum goes off on New York Times reporter Jeff Zeleny for taking words out of context, defended by Daily Kos; Santorum on Fox News: "If you haven’t cursed out a New York Times reporter during the course of a campaign, you’re not really a real Republican."

• President Obama heard on hot mic telling outgoing Russian President Dmitry Medvedev he will have "more flexibility" to deal with hot button issues after the election; Romney: Russia "is without question our No. 1 geopolitical foe."

Read This:

• Ontario judges unanimously rule in favor of legalizing brothels, pimps.

• The Weinstein Company to release Bully unrated by the MPAA.

• Today's Big Read: How the Daily Mail conquered England.

Look At This:

• Herman Cain releases latest bizarre, faux-animal-execution political ad.

The Other:

• NewsFeed: Save Steve Holt! Arrested Development Fans Rally for Bit Player.

• Tea x Time List: 6 Nobodies Who Stumbled Into World Changing Discoveries.

• Above: "Incarnate (Three Degrees of Certainty II)" by MaskullLasserre: A human skull carved into old software manuals. (
  • This x That

This x That:

Know This:

• Newt Gingrich calls President Obama's remarks on Trayvon Martin shooting "disgraceful" and "appalling"; George Zimmerman leaves voicemail message for supporter Frank Taaffe: "I am very sorry for the loss of your son"; Jeb Bush says "stand your ground" law does not apply to Zimmerman.

• Dartmouth College President Jim Yong Kim nominated by President Obama to head World Bank; here's a video of Dr. Kim performing a sci-fi hip-hop rendition of "Time of My Life"; World Bank board considering two other nominees.

Read This:

• President Obama's campaign team marks two-year anniversary of Affordable Care Act by launching initiative to take back "Obamacare."

• White House responds to petition asking that it take petitions seriously.

• Rick Santorum retracts remarks suggesting he would rather have Obama as president than Mitt Romney.

• African Union sending 5,000 troops to South Sudan on mission to capture Joseph Kony.

• Psst...hey you...yes, you...wanna buy Variety?

The Other:

• NewsFeed: Prescription Pills, iPods and Live Bait: There’s a Vending Machine for That.

• Tea x Time List: 5 Ways to Beat Old-School Games Using Math.

• Above: Map of US counties where alcohol is still banned, somewhat banned, or neither. (via.) 

This x That:

Know This:

• Trayvon Martin: Sanford police Chief Bill Lee temporarily steps down, says his role "has become a distraction"; Gov. Rick Scott appoints new prosecutor to investigation; Sanford city commissioners who voted against police Chief Lee's "no confidence" will face recall; Seminole State College expels George Zimmerman over student safety concerns; Thousands gather for justice rally in Sanford.

• Senate passes anti insider trading bill by a vote of 96 to 3. 

• Staff Sgt. Robert Bales to be charged with 17 counts of murder for Afghanistan massacre.

• 31-hour standoff in Toulouse ends after mass-murderer Mohammed Merah shot dead.

Read This:

• John Edwards allegedly hired high-end prostitute employed by Millionaire Madam Anna Gristina. 

• President Obama orders federal agencies to fast track southern segment of controversial Keystone XL pipeline.

• Renegade soldiers in Mali seize control of presidential palace following coup.

• Bill Maher addresses hypersensitivity and "pretend outrage" in New York Times op-ed.

• Stock of Etch-A-Sketch company skyrockets in aftermath of becoming a political meme.

The Other:

• Tea x Time List: 10 Incredibly Hot Women Who Are Larger Than A Size 12.

• Above: "Diamond Dust": Judith Braun's latest meticulously fingerpainted charcoal mural.

This x That:

Know This:

• The Etch-A-Sketch Candidate: Romney adviser Eric Fehrnstrom hands opposition hook with quip comparing general election strategy to an Etch-A-Sketch: "You can kind of shake it up and restart all of over again." Rick Santorum: "I'm no Etch a Sketch waiting to be shaken up & re-shifted"; Santorum spox Alice Stewart hands out mini Etch-A-Sketches at Romney event; Newt Gingrich gives little boy an Etch-A-Sketch, tells him "now you can be a presidential candidate"; DNC attack ad up within hours: "Mitt Romney: Some Things You Just Can’t Shake Off"; On Twitter: #RomneyToys, Fake Eric Fehmstrom; Single Serving Site: Etch-A-Sketch Mitt Romney; Etch-A-Sketch spox Nicole Gresh reax: "A profound toy...is now SHAKING up the national debate"; Mitt Romney breaks silence on Etch-A-Sketch-Gate: "The issues I'm running on will be exactly the same"; Fehrnstrom clarifies: "[The general election] is a different race, with different candidates, and different issues that get discussed."

• Jeb Bush endorses Mitt Romney, tells Republicans to unite behind him.

• City of Sanford releases statement explaining why George Zimmerman wasn't arrested for shooting Trayvon Martin; "No confidence" vote against police Chief Bill Lee Jr. passed by Sanford city commissioners; demonstrators seeking "justice for Trayvon" take to NYC streets in Million Hoodie March.

• Police in Mohammed Merah engaged in standoff with Mohammed Merah, man alleged to be responsible for recent spate of ethnically-motivated shootings.

• RIP: Noboru Ishiguro, legendary Japanese animator and director, dead at 73.

Read This:

• New Hampshi

This x That:

Know This:

• Mitt Romney claims victory in Illinois primary.

• Major earthquake rattles Mexico, damages hundreds of homes. White House: Malia Obama unhurt.

• Rick Santorum criticized President Obama for letting Malia go to Mexico.

• Newt Gingrich calls Robert DeNiro's "white First Lady" quip "inexcusable"; DeNiro: Remarks "were not meant to offend."

Read This:

• Former president Jimmy Carter expresses support for same-sex marriage.

• Peyton Manning and Denver Broncos make it official with five-year, $96 million contract.

• Rick Santorum on Dan Savage: "I'm praying for him; he obviously has some serious issues."

• Pirated Russian version of Iron Lady depicts Margaret Thatcher as Hitler-loving enemy of the working class.

The Other:

• NewsFeed: Asma Assad, Syria’s First Lady and Self-Professed ‘Real Dictator’.

• Tea x Time List:13 Songs That Don't Mean What You Think They Do.

• Above: Shark Diving magazine editor Eli Martinez high-fives a lemon shark in The Bahamas. 

This x That:

Know This:

• Rick Santorum sweeps south, with wins over Mitt Romney in Alabama and Mississippi.

• NASDAQ closes above 3,000 for the first time since December 2000.

• Former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks arrested again along with husband, four others.

• RIP: Michael Hossack, Doobie Brothers drummer, dead at 65.

Read This:

• JonBenet Ramsey's Father calls Toddlers & Tiaras "bizarre," says he regrets putting daughter in pageants.

• Police, retailers dismiss claims of Tide theft epidemic.

• Oregonian publishes salacious details surrounding deceased editor's death.

Listen To This:

• Stream The Shins' new LP, Port of Morrow, in full for free on iTunes.

The Other:

• NewsFeed: Have Art Experts Discovered a Lost da Vinci Masterpiece?

• Tea x Time List:7 Scientific Reasons You'll Turn Out Just Like Your Parents.

• Above:KillShot: A rifle-shaped digital camera. (via.)

This x That:

Know This:

• Taliban vows revenge over American soldier's shooting rampage, as Afghan lawmakers call for public trial.

• As bodies continue to pile up, Syrian opposition calls on international community to consider military intervention.

• Egypt announces Israel-Gaza truce reached, went into effect this morning.

• RIP: Leonardo Cimino, noted character actor, dead at 94.

Read This:

• UN special rapporteur on torture accuses US govt. of cruel and inhuman treatment of Bradley Manning.

• Justice Department blocks Texas voter ID law over concerns that it prevent minorities from voting.

• Kim Kardashian responds to Jon Hamm's "f*cking idiot" comment: It's "careless" to call "someone who runs their own businesses" stupid.

The Other:

• NewsFeed: Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Son Patrick Injured in Idaho Ski Accident.

• Tea x Time List: 6 Historical Events That Are Way More Modern Than You Think.

• Above: "Third Rock" outdoor fire pit globe by Fire Pit Art. (via.)