Kal Penn leaves House for a job in Obama administration

By Jeffrey Bloomer at 9:38 AM on April 9, 2009

Kal Penn was one of the more tireless supporters of Barack Obama last fall, and he used his reputation (or a delicately cleaned-up version of it) to court younger voters. Now he’s decided to make his new calling full time with a job in the White House, EW.com reported on Tuesday. ...  read more

Found in: Culture, News

Carlos Santana asks Obama to legalize marijuana

By Rachel Dovey at 9:35 AM on April 6, 2009

Carlos Santana is unhappy that President Obama is against legalizing marijuana. The guitar legend says that the money from a controlled, taxed crop could help jump-start the economy. ...  read more

Found in: Culture, News

Shepard Fairey files lawsuit against the Associated Press

By Liz Stinson at 10:10 AM on February 11, 2009

Looks like we've got a classic copyright infringement battle our hands, as a new lawsuit emerges from the tangled web of campaign posters, press photos and red, white and blue....  read more

Found in: Culture, News

Bill Ayers set to publish graphic-novel memoir

By Michael Saba at 2:11 PM on February 10, 2009

Bill Ayers' name became common coin during the 2008 presidential election, with Barack Obama's campaign railroaded into answering questions on his tenuous connection to the radical leftist-turned-university professor. The grim specter of this TERRORIST MENTOR dominated the political narrative for a month, and then Tina Fey turned in the defining role of her career. Ayers, clearly operating on the maxim that any publicity is good publicity, has decided to use the last of his 15 minutes to greenlight a graphic-novel adapatation of his 1993 memoir To Teach: The Journey of a Teacher....  read more

Found in: Books, News

Paste Culture Club - "The Obamicon Edition"

By Culture Clubbers at 2:53 PM on February 3, 2009

Click above to listen the the latest edition of the podcast, featuring music from Ben Kweller, PT Walkley, Colour Revolt, Kate York, Clare and the Reasons, Ponderosa and more!  ...  read more

Found in: Featured Audio

Green-Collar Rock: Great Nature Songs Vol. 2 (Land & Sky)

By Steve LaBate at 1:25 AM on January 30, 2009

With last week's inauguration of new President Barack Obama, there's been a lot of talk about green-collar jobs and making long-term investments by implementing environmentally sound policies now. It got me thinking about what we're protecting by doing this—first and foremost, the health and well-being of ourselves and future generations. But it's also about preserving this beautiful natural world we inhabit. There is no shortage of amazing songs that celebrate or draw from this beauty. Classics like John Denver's "Rocky Mountain High" and The Beatles' "Blackbird" come immediately to mind, but there are so many more. Here are a few...  read more

Found in: Blogs, List of the Day

Green-Collar Rock: Great Nature Songs Vol. 1 (Water)

By Steve LaBate at 5:01 AM on January 23, 2009

With this week's inauguration of new President Barack Obama, there's been a lot of talk about green-collar jobs and making long-term investments by implementing environmentally sound policies now. It got me thinking about what we're protecting by doing this—first and foremost, the health and well-being of ourselves and future generations. But it's also about preserving this beautiful natural world we inhabit. There is no shortage of amazing songs that celebrate or draw from this beauty. Classics like John Denver's "Rocky Mountain High" and The Beatles' "Blackbird" come immediately to mind, but there are so many more. Here are a few favorites,...  read more

Found in: Blogs, List of the Day

Ten Nominations for Secretary of the Arts

By Kate Kiefer at 7:00 AM on January 22, 2009

Quincy Jones has officially called for President Obama (President Obama!) to create a Secretary of the Arts position in the U.S. cabinet. There’s an online petition for the cause, which has 170,350 signatures (and counting). Enjoy our list of nominees for the position: ...  read more

Found in: Blogs, List of the Day

Barack Obama musical to debut in March

By Liz Stinson at 5:27 PM on January 21, 2009

Well, that sure didn't take long.Not even 24 hours after the inauguration of the 44th president, Playbill News announced that a new musical entitled Obama On My Mind will premiere March 21 at the Hen and Chickens Theatre in north London....  read more

Found in: Culture, News

Presidential Style

By Kate Kiefer at 5:38 PM on January 20, 2009

Happy Inauguration Day, or as Josh likes to call it, Coronation Day! If you need a superficial break from politics, check out the Mrs. O blog for updates on First Lady Michelle Obama's fashion statements....  read more

Found in: Blogs, Form&Function