Dick Van Dyke brought his characteristic charm to the SAG Awards this weekend, and Internet users dutifully searched for all sorts of details on him -- anything to distract us from the icy weather that caused school closings from here to Ann Arbor.
Another top distraction this weekend was this year's edition of the Royal Rumble, covered for The Baltimore Sun from Arizona by blogger Arda Orcal. Links to full details are below.
|| ONLINE TRENDS ||
School closings
(Google search, Twitter)
An icy commute is expected Monday morning, with all of Central Maryland under a winter weather advisory and several hundredths of an inch of ice accumulation possible, according to the National Weather Service. It could be a treacherous start to a strange and varied week of weather. [Baltimore Sun]
SAG Awards
(Google search, Twitter)
If it came as something of a surprise to audiences that PBS period drama "Downton Abbey" won the Screen Actors Guild Award for ensemble in a drama series, it was positively a shock to the cast of the British period piece.[LAT via Sun]
Cape Town
(Google Plus)
Ed Barnard made an unbeaten century to lead England Under out of trouble on the first day of a cricket tournament in Cape Town. Batting got easier as the day went on and Barnard relished the better conditions to put England in a fair position at the close. [ESPN]
WWE, #RoyalRumble
(Google search, Twitter)
After the Royal Rumble concluded I received a direct message on Twitter from a good friend who used to work in the wrestling industry. To me, he summed up the 2013 Royal Rumble best with this quote: "A fun show that is 100% predictable is still a fun show." [Baltimore Sun]
Rajon Rondo
(Google search)
With Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo out for the year with a torn anterior cruciate ligament, the Sixers have a chance to seize eighth place in the Eastern Conference. The host Sixers continue their eight-game homestand Monday against the Memphis Grizzlies. [Reuters via Sun]
Dick Van Dyke
(Google search)
Sunday evening it was Van Dyke's turn. The sprightly 87-year-old Van Dyke was the richly deserved recipient of the 49th achievement award. And SAG brought out a big comedy gun to present Van Dyke with his honor: Alec Baldwin of "30 Rock." [LAT via Sun]
Brazil, Santa Maria
(Google search, Google Plus)
Relatives of the 231 people who died in a Brazilian nightclub fire demanded answers on Monday as to how it could have killed so many people, while police questioned the club's owner and members of the band whose pyrotechnics show allegedly caused the tragedy. [Reuters via Sun]
Kendrick Lamar
(Google search)
Kendrick Lamar hit Saturday Night Live last night with a live band and two tracks from Good Kid, m.A.A.d City. [Rolling Stone]
Pro Bowl, New Orleans
(Google search, Twitter)
After a week in Hawaii and a blowout game, the NFL's all-stars are defending the Pro Bowl as a worthy reward for top players who don't make the Super Bowl in New Orleans. [AJC]
IBM Connect
(Twitter)
IBM Connect starts today in Orlando. And the story here for IBM is about the chief marketing officer and that high-ranking executive in human resources. For marketing it means reaching customers and prospects. For HR — it's about tools for the pros and the ones who are still learning the ways of social business. [Tech Crunch]
Frank Ocean
(Twitter)
R&B singer Chris Brown will be questioned as part of an investigation into allegations that he punched a man during a fight over a parking space in West Hollywood. No arrests were made. The alleged victim was not named in a department statement that said Brown and his entourage had left the scene before deputies arrived. However, TMZ is reporting that R&B singer Frank Ocean was involved in the incident. [Reuters via Sun]
Rick Ross
(Twitter)
A Rolls-Royce crashed into a building on Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale early Monday. Police are on the scene of the accident, which also reportedly involved a shooting. WSVN-Channel 7 is reporting that shots were fired at the Rolls in which a "famous rapper" was riding before the car went into the building. [Miami Herald]
Leroy Fer
(Twitter)
Everton have agreed a deal to sign Netherlands international Leroy Fer from FC Twente, according to a statement on the club's official website. Fer, 23, is heading to Merseyside to undergo a medical and discuss personal terms, with a view to joining David Moyes' team before the end of the transfer window. [ESPN]
Celac
(Twitter)
At this weekend's summit of the EU and CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean Nations) in Santiago, Chile, one of the people most chased after by the media is Ernesto Villagas, Venezuela's Information and Communications Minister. With astonishing patience and calm, he answers questions over and over again about the health of his boss, President Hugo Chavez. [Al Jazeera]
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