'Best of TBH Politoons'
Recommended Reading
from Bruce
Linda Bilmes and Joseph Stiglitz: War's stunning price tag (latimes.com)
LAST WEEK, at the annual meeting of the American Economic Assn., we presented a new estimate for the likely cost of the war in Iraq. We suggested that the final bill will be much higher than previously reckoned - between $1 trillion and $2 trillion, depending primarily on how much longer our troops stay. Putting that into perspective, the highest-grossing movie of all time, "Titanic," earned $1.8 billion worldwide - about half the cost the U.S. incurs in Iraq every week.
Howard Mintz: Feds after Google data: RECORDS SOUGHT IN U.S. QUEST TO REVIVE PORN LAW (mercurynews.com)
'`This is exactly the kind of case that privacy advocates have long feared,'' said Ray Everett-Church, a South Bay privacy consultant. ``The idea that these massive databases are being thrown open to anyone with a court document is the worst-case scenario. If they lose this fight, consumers will think twice about letting Google deep into their lives.''
Mark Crispin Miller Connects the Dots on Election Problems (A BUZZFLASH INTERVIEW)
The subversion of electoral democracy ... takes vast planning and tremendous effort, and a ton of laundered cash. In short, it has to be that movement's main concern; and I believe that it is Bush/Cheney's main concern, and that it is the main concern of the regime's most fervent backers.
Ted Rall: 'Death from above' (smirkingchimp.com)
This was only the latest botched U.S. attack. Eight days earlier, another attempt to kill al-Zawahiri failed when a missile blew up a house in the Saidgi area, also in the FATA, based on another incorrect report. Eight innocent civilians died.
Mark Helprin : The myth that shapes Bush's world, or Can The World Be Made Safe From Democracies? (latimes.com)
THE PRESIDENT believes and often states, as if it were a self-evident truth, that "democracies are peaceful countries."
Fred Kaplan: GI Schmo, How low can Army recruiters go? (slate.com)
Three months ago, I wrote that the war in Iraq was wrecking the U.S. Army, and since then the evidence has only mounted, steeply. Faced with repeated failures to meet its recruitment targets, the Army has had to lower its standards dramatically. First it relaxed restrictions against high-school drop-outs. Then it started letting in more applicants who score in the lowest third on the armed forces aptitude test-a group, known as Category IV recruits, who have been kept to exceedingly small numbers, as a matter of firm policy, for the past 20 years. (There is also a Category V-those who score in the lowest 10th percentile. They have always been ineligible for service in the armed forces and, presumably, always will be.)
Susan Carpenter: Adventures in storyland (calendarlive.com)
Indie bookstores catering to young readers in Southern California offer some surprising tales - far beyond just the classics of kid lit.
HI MARTY.
JUST A NOTE TO SAY THAT I THINK THAT "MONTEREY POP" IS THE BEST CONCERT FILM EVER. AND TO THINK I TURNED DOWN A CHANCE TO GO. I WAS AT "THE LAST WALTZ" CONCERT AND I'VE SEEN THE FILM AND I THINK THAT "MONTEREY POP" WAS A PROPHECY THAT CAME TRUE. IT WAS TRULY A PREDICTOR OF WHERE THE FUTURE OF MUSIC WAS GOING TO GO. THOSE WERE THE DAYS MY FRIEND, WE THOUGHT THEY'D NEVER END BUT THEY DID. IT WAS LIKE WATCHING THE BEST SUNRISE EVER. OTIS, JIMMY AND JANICE:
ROCK ON!
JD
Thanks, JD!
Hubert's Poetry Corner
EYES OF FERN HOLLAND
January 23 - Vote for Avery Ant
Avery Ant
Selected Readings
from that Mad Cat, JD
In The Chaos Household
Last Night
Fairly overcast & brisk.
Another day with no new flags.
War Support Eroding
Another Poll
Another major poll, this one from the Los Angeles Times, shows support for America's Iraq adventure continuing to slip.
The poll, conducted Saturday through Monday, found that the percentage of Americans who believe the situation in Iraq was "worth going to war over" has sunk to a new low of 39%, down 5% since October.
The Times also reported that 37% of the public advocates withdrawing at least some troops now, a position very few newspaper editorial pages have endorsed. Fifty-two percent want to wait and see what happens after the Iraqi elections. Just 4% would like to send more troops, a position supported by many newspapers, including The New York Times, along with legislators such as Sen. John McCain.
The Times poll surveyed 1,033 adults. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
Another Poll
'Syriana' Script Switch
Stephen Gaghan
Filmmaker Stephen Gaghan is in shock after learning by chance that his screenplay for the film "Syriana" has been reclassified as an original work rather than an adaptation by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, just days before Oscar ballots are due in.
Although the Academy confirmed the switch Wednesday, a spokeswoman said the decision was made in late December by its writers branch executive committee. She said, however, that neither the filmmakers nor the film's distributor Warner Bros. Pictures was formally notified. Instead, she said the Academy's reminder list -- which listed "Syriana" as one of more than 100 original screenplays -- was mailed with Oscar ballots on December 29, signifying the change.
Gaghan said he did veer from his source material, Robert Baer's memoir "See No Evil: The True Story of a Ground Soldier in the CIA's War on Terrorism," and conducted a great deal of original research that he incorporated into the script. Still, he considered it an adapted screenplay, as it was credited in the film.
Stephen Gaghan
"Why We Fight"
Eugene Jarecki
The director of "Why We Fight," a documentary examining why America keeps going to war, would like to emulate the success of "Fahrenheit 9/11" but he says that's all he wants to have in common with Michael Moore.
Eugene Jarecki's movie, whose title echoes Frank Capra's World War Two propaganda films, examines the role of the military industrial complex in U.S. foreign policy.
"Why We Fight" starts from President Dwight Eisenhower's 1961 farewell speech when the former World War Two general invented the term "military industrial complex" and warned Americans to be on their guard against its influence.
The film examines links between politicians, think-tanks, arms manufacturers and defense contractors. It argues that with the economic livelihood of voters at stake, members of Congress are inclined to approve greater and greater spending on defense and the government has an economic motive to wage war.
Eugene Jarecki
Places Roses on Poe Gravesite
Mystery Man
For the 57th straight year, a mystery man paid tribute to Edgar Allan Poe by placing roses and a bottle of cognac on the writer's grave to mark his birthday.
Some of the 25 spectators drawn to a tiny, locked graveyard in downtown Baltimore for the ceremony climbed over the walls of the site and were "running all over the place trying to find out how the guy gets in," according to Jeff Jerome, the most faithful viewer of the event.
Jerome, curator of the Poe House and Museum, said early Thursday he had to chase people out of the graveyard, fearing they would interfere with the mystery visitor's ceremony.
Jerome has seen the mysterious visitor every Jan. 19 since 1976.
Mystery Man
February 28 - March 15
William S. Paley Television Festival
Some of TV's biggest stars and hottest behind-the-scenes personnel are headlining the 23rd annual William S. Paley Television Festival, which will be held February 28 through March 15 in Hollywood.
This year's featured shows include "Grey's Anatomy," "Weeds," "Entourage," "Everybody Hates Chris" and a partial reunion of the cast and crew of "The Golden Girls."
Sponsored by the Museum of Television and Radio, the festival takes place at the Directors Guild of America Theater.
For more info - William S. Paley Television Festival
Keeps Schedule
Marilyn Horne
Mezzo-soprano Marilyn Horne has localized pancreatic cancer and is undergoing treatment that offers an excellent chance for full recovery, her manager said Thursday.
Horne, 72, was diagnosed in mid-December, said Denise Pineau, her manager at Columbia Artists Management.
"There is no reason to anticipate any changes in her schedule," Pineau said in a statement.
A native of Bradford, Pa., she studied at the University of Southern California and made her debut in Smetana's "The Bartered Bride" in a 1954 Los Angeles Guild Opera production.
Marilyn Horne
Can Take Pitt's Name
Jolie's Kids
A judge granted a request Thursday by actress Angelina Jolie to change the names of her two adopted children to reflect that actor Brad Pitt intends to become their adoptive father.
The names of the adopted children will become Zahara Marley Jolie-Pitt and Maddox Chivan Jolie-Pitt. Zahara celebrated her first birthday on Jan. 8. Maddox, a boy, is 4.
Jolie's Kids
Gets Community Service, Fine
Ms. Dynamite
A court ordered British hip-hop singer Ms. Dynamite to perform 60 hours of community service and pay 750 pounds (US$1,324) in compensation to a police officer she slapped outside a nightclub in January, court officials said Thursday.
The singer, whose real name is Niomi McLean-Daley, pleaded guilty Jan. 13 to charges of disorderly conduct and assaulting the female police officer following an incident outside the Paragon Lounge nightclub in London's West End on Jan. 6.
The 24-year-old singer will also have to pay an additional 500 pounds (US$882) in fines for the disorderly conduct charge and 50 pounds (US$88) in court costs.
Ms. Dynamite
Studio to Be Razed
Nashville
The studio where Elvis Presley recorded "Heartbreak Hotel" is being torn down.
The studio at 1525 McGavock St. near Nashville's Music Row was purchased in 1999 by auto-dealership owner Lee Beaman, who had been leasing the half-acre property until recently, when he decided the dealership needed more customer parking.
Doug McClanahan, president of Beaman Automotive Group, said the area will be paved over within the next 60 days.
Nashville
Wearing Kirsten Dunst's Hand-Me-Downs
Reese Witherspoon
Reese Witherspoon's gown wasn't vintage - though it had been worn by another actress three years ago.
Photos published this week showed the Golden Globe winner wearing the same glittery Chanel cocktail dress that Kirsten Dunst had worn to the awards in 2003.
Witherspoon, the best actress in a musical or comedy winner for "Walk the Line," was seen asking Chanel President Maureen Chiquet at an after-party why she wasn't told the gown already had a public outing, Women's Wear Daily reported.
Gretchen Fenton, publicist for Chanel, told The Associated Press the fashion house was "unaware" that Dunst, star of the "Spider-Man" movies, had worn the dress.
Reese Witherspoon
Loses 38-Ton Statue
Spanish Museum
Spanish police said they are looking for a 38-ton sculpture by American artist Richard Serra that has vanished from Madrid's Reina Sofia modern art museum.
The artwork, titled Equal-Parallel/Guernica-Bengasi, was acquired by the Spanish culture minister in 1987 for 217,000 euros (263,000 dollars).
The last official trace of the sculpture is in a 1992 noting in the museum's books.
Spanish Museum
Wants Kids Banned From 'Da Vinci Code'
Opus Dei
Controversial Catholic group Opus Dei has called for the forthcoming film version of "The Da Vinci Code" to be given an adult rating to prevent children being influenced by its "insidious" lies about the Catholic Church.
"Just as we protect children from explicit sex and violence, it would seem to make sense to protect them from violence that is more subtle and thus more insidious," said Marc Carroggio, a spokesman for the body in Rome.
But he said Opus Dei would make no "declaration of war" against the film as it would only help its marketing.
Opus Dei
Army Orders Soldiers to Shed or Lose SGLI Death Benefits
Dragon Skin
Two deploying soldiers and a concerned mother reported Friday afternoon that the U.S. Army appears to be singling out soldiers who have purchased Pinnacle's Dragon Skin Body Armor for special treatment. The soldiers, who are currently staging for combat operations from a secret location, reported that their commander told them if they were wearing Pinnacle Dragon Skin and were killed their beneficiaries might not receive the death benefits from their $400,000 SGLI life insurance policies. The soldiers were ordered to leave their privately purchased body armor at home or face the possibility of both losing their life insurance benefit and facing disciplinary action.
The soldiers asked for anonymity because they are concerned they will face retaliation for going public with the Army's apparently new directive. At the sources' requests DefenseWatch has also agreed not to reveal the unit at which the incident occured for operational security reasons.
On Saturday morning a soldier affected by the order reported to DefenseWatch that the directive specified that "all" commercially available body armor was prohibited. The soldier said the order came down Friday morning from Headquarters, United States Special Operations Command (HQ, USSOCOM), located at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. It arrived unexpectedly while his unit was preparing to deploy on combat operations. The soldier said the order was deeply disturbiing to many of the men who had used their own money to purchase Dragon Skin because it will affect both their mobility and ballistic protection.
"We have to be able to move. It (Dragon Skin) is heavy, but it is made so we have mobility and the best ballistic protection out there. This is crazy. And they are threatening us with our benefits if we don't comply." he said.
Dragon Skin
Soldier Tech
picture of vest
Thanks, Ned!
The Forgotten Wounded of Iraq
Ron Kovic
Originally posted at Truthdig, along with this photo essay.
Thirty-eight years ago, on Jan. 20, 1968, I was shot and paralyzed from my mid-chest down during my second tour of duty in Vietnam. It is a date that I can never forget, a day that was to change my life forever. Each year as the anniversary of my wounding in the war approached I would become extremely restless, experiencing terrible bouts of insomnia, depression, anxiety attacks and horrifying nightmares. I dreaded that day and what it represented, always fearing that the terrible trauma of my wounding might repeat itself all over again. It was a difficult day for me for decades and it remained that way until the anxieties and nightmares finally began to subside.
As I now contemplate another January 20th I cannot help but think of the young men and women who have been wounded in the war in Iraq. They have been coming home now for almost three years, flooding Walter Reed, Bethesda, Brooke Army Medical Center and veterans hospitals all across the country. Paraplegics, amputees, burn victims, the blinded and maimed, shocked and stunned, brain-damaged and psychologically stressed, over 16,000 of them, a whole new generation of severely maimed is returning from Iraq, young men and women who were not even born when I came home wounded to the Bronx veterans hospital in 1968.
I, like most other Americans, have occasionally seen them on TV or at the local veterans hospital, but for the most part they remain hidden, like the flag-draped caskets of our dead, returned to Dover Air Force Base in the darkness of night as this administration continues to pursue a policy of censorship, tightly controlling the images coming out of that war and rarely ever allowing the human cost of its policy to be seen.
For the rest, Ron Kovic: The Forgotten Wounded of Iraq
In Memory
Wilson Pickett
Wilson Pickett, the soul pioneer best known for the fiery hits "Mustang Sally" and "In The Midnight Hour," died of a heart attack Thursday, according to his management company. He was 64.
Pickett - known as the "Wicked Pickett" - became a star with his soulful hits in the 1960s. "In the Midnight Hour" made the top 25 on the Billboard pop charts in 1965 and "Mustang Sally" did the same the following year.
Pickett was defined by his raspy voice and passionate delivery. But the Alabama-born picket got his start singing gospel music in church. After moving to Detroit as a teen, he joined the group the Falcons, which scored the hit "I Found a Love" with Pickett on lead vocals in 1962.
He went solo a year later, and would soon find his greatest success. In 1965, he linked with legendary soul producer Jerry Wexler at the equally legendary soul label Stax Records in Memphis, and recorded one of his greatest hits, "In the Midnight Hour," for Atlantic Records. A string of hits followed, including "634-5789," "Funky Broadway" and "Mustang Sally." His sensuous soul was in sharp contrast to the genteel soul songs of his Detroit counterparts at Motown Records.
Without appearing in the film, he cast a long shadow and served as a role model in "The Commitments" in 1991, the same year he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame.
Besides his induction into the Hall of Fame in 1991, he was also given the Pioneer award by the Rhythm and Blues Foundation two years later.
Wilson Pickett
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