Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders Visit Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan

vikings Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders Visit Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan

A diverse, multi-national, group of men came together and found common ground in the shared realization that cheerleaders are hot:

After the push-up contest was finished, the cheerleaders performed another routine, and then they picked 10 servicemembers to join them on stage for a game of “Cheerleader Says,” modelled after the classic children’s game “Simon Says.”

Once again, the stage was speckled with an array of U.S. uniforms, and a Polish soldier also joined the ranks. The Polish soldier and two U.S. soldiers were eliminated in the first round. Two airmen and two more soldiers fell in the second round. Four rounds later, a tie was called as Army Sgt. 1st Class Timothy Winger and Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Billy Grant refused to be outsmarted.

A fair mix of rivalry and camaraderie added to the evening’s excitement, one coalition NCO said. “I like American football; it is tough, yet fun. This is like the feeling of the people here — keyed up and still having fun,” French army Sgt. Domera Phelippon said. “I know the Minnesota Vikings because I saw them on TV. Still, I didn’t imagine the cheerleaders would be this pretty. I am glad I came.”

We’d probably do just as well to replace the entire State Department with some sort of Cheerleader Diplomatic Corps.

Video: Bjork References Tibet During “Declare Independence” Performance in Shanghai – China Cracks Down

I love Bjork:

“Did she really just say that?”

That was the question on the lips of my fellow concertgoers at the rousing March 2 Björk show in Shanghai, after the Icelandic singer’s finale performance of the track “Declare Independence.” An impassioned, angry anthem from the recent Volta, the lyrics—“Don’t let them do that to you,” “Protect your language,” and “Raise your flag”—were given an extra charge when, while the backing brass band lulled, Björk whispered close to the microphone, “Tibet, Tibet.”

Such a direct call for Tibetan independence is a shocking gesture by a visiting artist to China, which has ruled its westernmost region since 1951. Although activists argue that Tibet’s spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, is the rightful ruler, such discussion is taboo. Indeed, state-run media did not report on Björk’s verboten murmurings, though Chinese language message boards lit up. One typical fan, as translated by the media source, Danwei, asked, “Wow, the nerve! Where’d she get the courage to do this?”

China, as you can imagine, is not happy:

A statement by China’s Culture Ministry said Bjork’s outburst “broke Chinese law and hurt Chinese people’s feelings.”

Bjork shouted “Tibet!” after a passionate performance of her song “Declare Independence” on Sunday. The outburst drew rare public attention inside China to Beijing’s often harsh rule over the Himalayan region.

The statement, posted on the Culture Ministry’s Web site, also said “there is no country that admits that Tibet is an ‘independent country.’”

Shanghaiist has a roundup of reactions.

Jimmy Carter: I Got What America Needs Right Here

I could almost vote for The Onion’s very NSFW Jimmy Carter:

You better get down on your hands and knees and kiss Jimmy Carter’s rosy-red Georgia-peach-picking ass and beg me to run your f*cking country again, because there’s no way I’m ever gonna come to you f*ck-knobs and politely ask you if I might please be a presidential candidate in your precious f*ckin’ election. So you can just bite my c*ck. I’ve had it with you jerkoffs and your jerkoff candidates.

The profanity gets much worse so I wouldn’t click on this link from work if I were you.