Armed Forces Day

Armed Forces Day celebrations for the first time since the central Massachusetts army based was decommissioned more than a decade ago. The public event Saturday was the idea of current base commander Lt. Col. Steven Nott, who wanted to re-establish ties with the civilian community. The day features children’s games, as well as military displays, including tanks and Humvees. Fort Devens was decommissioned in 1996 after 79 years as an active army base. But it’s still home to Reserve units and training facilities.

On August 31, 1949, Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson announced the creation of an Armed Forces Day to replace separate Army, Navy and Air Force Days. The single-day celebration stemmed from the unification of the Armed Forces under one department — the Department of Defense. Each of the military leagues and orders was asked to drop sponsorship of its specific service day in order to celebrate the newly announced Armed Forces Day. The Army, Navy and Air Force leagues adopted the newly formed day. The Marine Corps League declined to drop support for Marine Corps Day but supports Armed Forces Day, too.

Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 20, 1950, marks the first combined demonstration by America’s defense team of its progress, under the National Security Act, towards the goal of readiness for any eventuality. It is the first parade of preparedness by the unified forces of our land, sea, and air defense. The theme of the first Armed Forces Day was “Teamed for Defense.” It was chosen as a means of expressing the unification of all the military forces under a single department of the government.

Deborah Gibson

Deborah Gibson (yes, that Deborah Gibson) is the only one who can save the world? Be afraid. Be very afraid. “Mega Shark vs Giant Octopus” may never come to a theater near you, but the trailer is everywhere since its debut on MTV.com this week. The schlocky sci-fi thriller destined for the discount bin (it’s direct to DVD) has already been viewed over 250,000 times on YouTube.

While the creature feature will not be promoted at Cannes, film buffs everywhere can appreciate the combination of questionable production values, mega monsters of the deep in mortal combat, imminent danger to humankind (or at least California), and an ’80s pop sensation as a star.

Tucker Carlson

Tucker Carlson and Dana Perino have joined Fox News as contributors, the Huffington Post has learned. Carlson hosted the 6PM hour on MSNBC until March 2008, when his show, "Tucker," was canceled. Since then, he served as a senior campaign correspondent for MSNBC and has written for The Daily Beast. Perino served as White House Press Secretary from September 2007 through the end of George W. Bush's second term. Last month, it was announced she'd be joining Mark Penn's public relations firm, Burson-Marsteller, as "chief issues counselor."

After stints at CNN and MSNBC, Tucker Carlson is getting his pundit passport stamped by the third cable news network (and the most popular of the three), the Fox News Channel. Mr. Carlson will be a paid contributor for Fox, appearing on programs to talk politics. Might the former CNN and MSNBC talk show host become a host of his own program on Fox, too? “I’m doing whatever they want me to do,” Mr. Carlson said in an interview Friday.

Mr. Carlson, a prominent libertarian, worked at CNN for five years, mostly as a co-host of “Crossfire,” the now-defunct political debate show. In 2005 he moved to MSNBC, where he dropped his signature bow tie and anchored for three years until his program was canceled in March 2008. He was hired both times by Rick Kaplan, a former president of CNN and MSNBC who now produces the “CBS Evening News.” During Mr. Carlson’s tenure, MSNBC’s evening programming moved gradually to the left. His former time slots, 6 and 9 p.m., are now occupied by two liberals, Ed Schultz and Rachel Maddow.