Stephon Marbury gets paid $21 million for doing nothing
12/29/2009"...as human beings we are capable of making sense of situations based on the thinnest slice of experience."
Malcolm Gladwell, author of Blink and The Tipping Point.
THIS WEEK IN SPORTS: Does it ever seem like professional sports exists in some kind of weird alternate universe? It sure seems so. Here are a couple of examples. Number 1: Stephon Marbury is a 31-year-old point guard for the New York Knicks who gets paid $21 million to do -- NOTHING. What a great gig. Number 2: Braylon Edwards is a wide receiver from the University of Michigan now dropping passes for the Cleveland Browns. He's dropped at least 16 passes he should catch, but you know why he thinks fans don't like him? Because he went to Michigan. Right, Braylon, that's it. (RL)
PAYING THE DIGITAL FIDDLER: New York Gov. David Paterson has come up with a unique way to try and raise money for the state's beleagured budget: a so-called iPod tax. It would tax people on downloaded music and entertainment, thereby balancing the budget on the backs of 14-year-old iTune users. (RL)
HO, HO, HO: And with that, the Thin Slices staff is on Christmas break for the week or so. Look for fresh new slices December 29.
WHAT A NOVEL IDEA!: Get this, the folks at American Idol say this year they're actually going to focus on talented singers instead of presenting hour after hour of clods who can't sing. About time. Meanwhile, Paula Abdul gets a vote of confidence from her boss. (RL)
NAZIS ON CHRISTMAS: Never accuse of Tom Cruise of playing it safe. Whether it's hopping around on couches professing his love of Katie Holmes or dressing up like a fat ugly fuy for Tropic Thunder, he's wiling to go out on a limb or two. Next up, releasing Valkyrie, his World War II thriller about a plot to kill Hitler that comes out on Chrismas day.. (RL)
MICKEY MOUSE PARTY: Camp Rock actress and Toledo native
Alyson Stoner will be among those rocking in the new year on the Disney Channel's New Year's Eve celebration. (RS)
LOOKING AHEAD ALREADY? Oscar nominations for this year haven't even come out yet and already some people are trying to predict what will be the biggest movies of 2009. Here are a 10 to watch for. (RS)
MULTIMEDIA: Check out Holiday Turkey Tips
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