Boss Pens Halloween Screamer

Governor's approval ratings fall to 43%

(NEWSER) - Chris Christie's approval ratings have dived and the Republican would be dead even with his favorite Democratic rock star in a hypothetical 2013 contest for New Jersey governor, according to a new poll. Christie—who has clashed with the Boss over spending cuts —and Springsteen both scored 42% in the poll, reports the Los Angeles Times . Newark Mayor Cory Booker would beat Christie by 47% to 43%, the poll found. More»

Governor's a fan, but doesn't like Bruce's 'liberal' politics

(NEWSER) - A New Jersey feud is playing out between a man many consider to be a political rock star—Gov. Chris Christie—and a man everyone considers to be a real rock star—Bruce Springsteen. It began when Springsteen wrote a letter to his hometown Asbury Park Press praising a story on poverty. The article highlighted “the contradictions between a policy of large tax cuts, on the one hand, and cuts in services to those in the most dire conditions, on the other," wrote the Boss. More»

Even 'I Kissed a Girl' not as obvious as it sounds

(NEWSER) - In honor of Jay-Z’s Decoded, which breaks down the meanings behind his songs, the Independent offers up the true stories behind 10 hits:

• Katy Perry, “I Kissed a Girl”: The message behind this one seems fairly obvious, but Perry has insisted it’s actually about heterosexual friendships and was only sexed up to sell more records.
• Van Morrison, “Brown Eyed Girl”: Though many think it’s about heroin use, Van Morrison has said it is about an interracial relationship and was originally titled “Brown Skinned Girl.”

Demonstrators sing 'God Bless America' to protest song about prez

(NEWSER) - A band of tea-party protesters descended on a New Jersey elementary school yesterday, complaining that a class song hailing President Obama was "indoctrinating" kids. Some 70 protesters sang God Bless America and The Battle Hymn of the Republic outside the B. Bernice Young School in a suburb 15 miles northeast of Philadelphia. More»

(NEWSER) - A feisty former American Idol contestant who boldly lashed out at Simon Cowell has been killed in a hit-and-run accident in a Jersey seaside resort, reports the New York Daily News. Alexis Cohen, known to TV viewers as "Glitter Girl" because of the glitter she wore during an Idol song, was found crumpled along a roadway in Seaside Heights. "It appeared she sustained multiple injuries as a result of a motor vehicle hitting her and leaving the scene," said a police official. More»