Image Credit: Jason Merritt/Getty ImagesThere would be no greater compliment than to be insulted by Greg Giraldo. Ask Joan Rivers, David Hasselhoff, Bob Saget, or any one of the many celebrities the master insult comic ribbed during Comedy Central’s countless roasts. (Or, for that matter, any heckler who dared to challenge Giraldo during one of his acts.) Giraldo could call you “a sunken-eyed monster who’s obsessed with jewelry…it’s like The Lord of the Rings” — Rivers was the proud recipient of that quote, one of the very few printable options out there — and all you could do is laugh, shrug your shoulders, and ultimately agree. Because even amongst talented contemporaries like Lisa Lampanelli and Nick DiPaolo, Giraldo was quite simply the best.

And that’s why the comedian was so respected and admired within the comedy community, regardless of how many insults he hurled their way. Just yesterday, when news broke of Giraldo’s tragic passing at 44 years old, his comedy brethren took to their Twitter pages to mourn and express their love for the late comedian. Their 140-character tributes ranged from the touching (Sarah Silverman: “RIP Greg Giraldo. Belly-laugh hilarious, prolific, good & kind. A thousand oys can’t express”) to the melancholy (Patton Oswalt: “Really, Universe? Greg Giraldo? F— off. Just went out of my way not to drive past Laugh Factory. If I see Giraldo’s name on that marquee, gonna lose it.”), to the extremely inappropriate (Gilbert Gottfried: “If Greg Giraldo is cremated, will that be the ‘Greg Giraldo Roast’?”). Actually, Giraldo probably would have probably liked that one best. After all, the comedian was king of the crass. (Heck, during his 2009 Comedy Central special, Greg Giraldo: Midlife Vices — which EW awarded an A- and called “genius” — he managed to make koala bears raunchy.)

There’s a reason his star brightened during the Comedy Central roasts: However unprofessional and un-PC the comedian’s rants might have been (let’s just say he’s managed to work Anne Frank into an insult or two), the comedian was the figure of professionalism. He was committed to his craft, methodically delivering punchlines while continually staying relevant in the ever-changing culture of comedy, never once sacrificing his trademark acerbic style. (Of course, that’s exactly the kind of dedication you’d expect from a former lawyer and Harvard Law graduate.) Sometimes, while watching him on-stage, it seemed as though he didn’t even have to try to be hilarious.

That’s why it’s so hard to believe Giraldo succumbed to an arc experienced by so many comedians: Funny guy with serious troubles passes on long before his time. (RIP Mitch Hedberg, John Belushi, etc.) Regardless of his history — Giraldo was a recovering alcoholic, something he often spoke about during his shows — he appeared put-together, comfortable, and happy in front of the microphone. If there was one formerly down-on-his-luck comedian to pull for, and one who you were convinced you’d see headlining shows for years to come, it was Giraldo.

I had the luck of seeing the comedian at New York City’s Comedy Cellar about a year ago. (Very exciting, considering how I spent an entire year checking the line-up at the local comedy club in hopes that he would stop by.) And if there was anything that brought me more joy than his act — I should have brought Kleenex, what with the way Giraldo had me sobbing with laughter — it was the fact that he delivered new and inspired bits to a crowd that hardly shelled out more than one Andrew Jackson to see him. (This is a guy who starred in televised, sold-out shows.) He appreciated his fanbase, whether they came in small or large packs. And his fans loved him — while watching him on-stage, you got the sense that you could ask him out for a burger after the show and he’d be happy to oblige.

We can only hope Comedy Central decides to re-air some of Giraldo’s greatest comedy specials, and that Tough Crowd With Colin Quinn (one series Giraldo starred, nay shined, in) will one day pop up on DVD. Let’s also hope that the media attention surrounding the comedian’s untimely death will result in a new group of Giraldo devotees. Sadly, Comedy Central’s roasts will never be the same and never quite as funny. To suggest that anyone could fill Giraldo’s shoes? Well, that would be an insult.

greg giraldo death

New Planet Discovered 2010: Gliese 581g aka Goldilocks Planet – Among the planets in our solar system, our planet Earth is the only one which can sustain life. Scientists have been exploring the universe for quite some time now in search for another planet which can support life. One of the most studied planet is the red planet known as Mars because of the possible presence of water. However, based on further research, the lack of a magnetosphere and its extremely thin atmosphere pose great challenge to life’s sustainability.

A recent study conducted by a team of planet hunters from the University of California (UC) Santa Cruz, and the Carnegie Institution of Washington led to the discovery of a new planet using the W. M. Keck Observatory in Hawaii. Accordingly, the new findings are based on 11 years of observations of the nearby red dwarf star Gliese 581. Gliese 581 is located 20 light years away from Earth in the constellation Libra.

The new planet discovered is located in the Gliese 581 star system, in the so-called “Goldiclocks zone” or an area where planets can can support liquid water on their surface.  Hence the new planet discovered was named “Gliese 581g” or the “Goldilocks Planet”. Reportedly, this new planet has a mass of three to four times that of Earth and orbits its star in just under 37 days.

There’s one more interesting fact about this newly discovered planet called Gliese 581g. Since it is tidally locked to the Gliese 581 dwarf star, one side of the planet is always facing the star and is in perpetual daylight, while the side facing away from the star is in perpetual darkness.

new planet discovered 2010

tags for the article:

Nirmohi Akhara

Today, the Allahabad High Court ruling came in providing an Ayodhya verdict. When all is said and done, Nirmohi Akhara was awarded 1/3 of the land. The courts were assigned with deciding how to split the 2.7 acres of land in the ancient city of India, Ayodhya. It is believed to be the birth place of Hindu god Sri Rama, as well as the capital of the Kosala Kingdom.

The verdict by the Allahabad High Court was that the land, all 2.7 acres, should be divided equally. The land will be divided into thirds with 1/3 going to Sunni Waqf Board, 1/3 going to Nirmohi Akhara, and the final third to Ram Lalla. The Hindus will get the part where the Lord Rama idol is stored.

The land is set to be divided up in three months time. The Ayodhya debate has been going on for 60 years now, thus many people are relieved that the verdict finally came in today.

For those who do not know, the Nirmohi Akhara is a Hindu religious denomination, which is one of the 14 akharas recognized by the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad.

nirmohi akhara

Lovely Lady Of The Day

Raquel Alessi :: Frank Micelotta/Getty Images

Chris, of Atlanta, says, “Hey, Jimmy, saw a bad movie, but it did have an upside — Raquel Alessi. The movie was Miss March (bad is being kind — Hugh Hefner makes an “appearance” in some of the worst editing of a scene you will ever see), but did I tell you that it also has Raquel Alessi? I therefore say spare yourself from watching the movie, and go right to Raquel Alessi.” Or I can just make her the LLOD.

raquel alessi

Posted on Thu, Sep. 30, 2010

WASHINGTON – Phillies righthander Joe Blanton started the year in unfamiliar territory, fought through a rough beginning, and now has hit his stride as the postseason nears.

As the fourth starter on a team with three aces, Blanton often has been overlooked. At least in the first round of the National League Division Series, he is expected to be moved to the bullpen.

No matter what the role, he will enter the postseason with renewed confidence. Blanton ended his final regular-season start with a flourish, allowing three hits and one unearned run in seven innings as the Phillies beat the Nationals, 7-1, Wednesday in a game in which they hit four homers.

Blanton is now 9-6 with a 4.74 ERA, which may not sound like much, but after being 1-5 with a 7.28 ERA through mid-June, he has made up considerable ground.

Over his last 11 starts, Blanton is 5-0 with a 3.03 ERA and the Phillies are 10-1 during that stretch.

“It’s always good to finish the season strong and it’s a positive note going into the playoffs,” Blanton said.

The Phillies likely won’t need a fourth starter in the opening playoff series, so just like last year Blanton appears headed to the bullpen. Last season, he made two relief appearances in the division series against Colorado.

“Last year was completely new, and I had no idea whether I’d be starting or relieving, but having done it once, I’m a little more familiar with how to handle it,” Blanton said.

Blanton began the season on the disabled list with a strained muscle in his left side that sidelined him from March 26 to May 2. It was his first time on the DL.

When he came back, he struggled mightily, as his early-season record indicates.

“I started in a hole, trying to catch up too quickly, and really go out of sorts,” he said. “My mechanics got way off and it took a long time to get them right.”

While he’ll never be confused with the big three of Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt, Blanton is a solid No. 4 starter, one who earned a World Series win for the Phillies in 2008.

“Just because he won’t start [in the division series], he definitely is very valuable in the bullpen because he throws strikes, is gutty, his command is good, and he has four pitches,” manager Charlie Manuel said. “He is a very serviceable guy.”

In Wednesday’s lineup, Blanton carried superstar status. The Phillies received an A-plus effort from what amounted to their B team.

The only regular position players who started were shortstop Jimmy Rollins and centerfielder Shane Victorino. Both went 0 for 4 and were lifted after batting in the seventh inning.

Wednesday marked Rollins’ second straight start after being sidelined for 14 games with a hamstring injury.

The Phils hit four home runs in Nationals Park, two by Ben Francisco and one each by Mike Sweeney and John Mayberry Jr.

That was more than enough offense for Blanton, who wins more on moxie than displaying great stuff on the mound.

“I was mixing things up, moving in and out, and changing speeds back and forth,” Blanton said.

When he does that consistently, Blanton can be a postseason factor – as a starter or a reliever.

“He always put us in a position to win a game,” Manuel said. “As a starting pitcher, that is very important, and the fact that he was consistently doing that means we always had a chance when he pitched.”

NLDS Schedule

The Phillies have opted to get an extra day’s rest for their starting pitchers and will open the National League division series at home Wednesday, with next Thursday as an off day. They will host Game 2 on Friday, Oct. 8.

Games 3 and 4 will be played on the road Oct. 10 and 11. If necessary, the Phillies will host a series-deciding Game 5 on Wednesday, Oct. 13.

All times are to be determined and all games will be televised by TBS.

If the Braves win the wild card, the Phillies would play the NL Central or NL West winner with the worst record. If those two are tied, the decider would be head-to-head meetings.

If the Padres or Giants win the wild card, the Phillies would host them.

Contact staff writer Marc Narducci at 856-779-3225 or mnarducci@phillynews.com.

national news