'Best of TBH Politoons'
Explains It All - Cormorants & Albatrosses
Baron Dave
Marty:
To clear up a possible confusion, I hereby admit that I don't
know a kestrel from an albatross from a cormorant. The last picture
from the Vernadsky CD I used in
Monday's column (1/23), not
1/11
, is a shot of a bird with the caption "Kestrel? Albatross?" It
is, I suspect, a blue-eyed cormorant, a relative of the one in
this picture, and Paul on
Tuesday tried to correct the misidentification, then things went
horribly wrong and the fabric of space-time was twisted. Thanks
Paul, and Alphonse (the cormorant) thanks you.
In other space-time twisting commentary: The Boondocks episode
mentioned in Thursday's column, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
wakes up in 2000 after being in a coma for 32 years, is brilliant.
It just misses as comedy and the political satire occasionally strays
from the mark, but is an astonishing episode and is one of the best
things shown on tv so far this year. I can see why Al Sharpton is
mad, but I don't mind making Al Sharpton mad and somehow I doubt
Aaron McGruder cares much for his feelings either.
TTFN,
Baron Dave
--
"What doesn't have credibility today is the truth." -- Bill Moyers,
The Daily Show 6/22/05
Thanks, Baron Dave!
I took a 'short-cut' - looked in the picture file, under 'albatross', and since there was only one labeled 'albatross', and it was used on 1/11...
It didn't seem to quite fit, but, as usual, I was running late.
Thanks for the clarification!
Recommended Reading
from Bruce
Fred Brown: In search of political civility (denverpost.com)
Politics has become such a nasty, partisan game that even its practitioners are fed up. On several fronts, Colorado's politicians, policymakers and private-sector poobahs are working to restore meaning and civility to state government.
Garrett Scott and 'Occupation Dreamland' Take Us All To Falluja (A BUZZFLASH INTERVIEW)
People talk about the war. We have ideas about the war. We have representations about the war - little snippets of dangerous moments. But nobody really gets an idea of what the phenomenon of the war is - what it's like, regardless of your politics or what anybody thinks about it.
Molly Ivins: Time for a Pragmatic Approach (AlterNet.org)
We have made a horrible mess of this 'war on terrorism' -- now how do we fix it?
Bush Aide Says Abramoff Photos Coincidence (news.yahoo.com)
An adviser to President Bush said Monday that Bush's photographs in the company of disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff amount to a coincidence and shouldn't be interpreted any more seriously than that.
A Dialogue on the California High School Exit Exam: Guest commentary by Jo Rupert Behm with a response from the Irascible Professor
The Irascible Professor: ... one approach might be to require students to pass an exam that tested for basic literacy and numeracy at the level needed for everyday living. Then students could be given the option of selecting a third standardized exam that tests either more advanced academic skills or more advanced vocational skills.
DANIEL C. DENNETT: Common-Sense Religion (chronicle.com)
Can just any religion give lives meaning, in a way that we should honor and respect? What about people who fall into the clutches of cult leaders, or who are duped into giving their life savings to religious con artists? Do their lives still have meaning, even though their particular "religion" is a fraud?
Dan Neil: The Big Bang (latimes.com)
Once upon a time, giants thundered across the land: Moon, Bonham, Baker, Palmer. These sweaty and indifferently groomed young men gave the world that curious and hard-to-love artifact of rock, the drum solo.
WILLIAM KATES: Size Does Matter in Bats' Evolution (apnews.myway.com)
Large brains, meanwhile, are metabolically costly to develop and maintain. Pitnick's research suggested that in those bat species with promiscuous females, the male's body used more of its energy to enhance the testes - giving it the greater adaptive advantage - and lacked the energy it needed to further develop the brain.
Annalee Newitz: Buffy, It Ain't (AlterNet.org)
At Veronica's Neptune High, battles are between the multiracial underclass and a mostly white, ultrarich crowd of '09ers.'
Liz Langley: When Harry Met Larry (AlterNet.org)
It's a cliche that men are loony for lesbians. So why is it taboo for women, like me, to swoon at the sight of two guys having sex?
Hubert's Poetry Corner
Breast Or Obtuse Bush
Selected Readings
from that Mad Cat, JD
In The Chaos Household
Last Night
Sunny & brisk.
The plumber never showed, but has promised he'll be by tomoroow. Uh-huh.
Was so pre-occupied with the plumber & mess that's already been created, I spaced that the kid was getting out of school early today.
At least I wasn't online when he called.
That's one reason why I'd love to be rid of this crappy dial-up & get dsl.
But Verizon, in its infinite wisdom. has decided either that my 'hood isn't worthy, or that it's overloaded.
That's what the Verizon sales-liar told me yesterday.
Added 2 new flags - Algeria & Virgin Islands (US).
On Fire At Sundance
Al Gore
Former Vice President Al Gore, often accused of being stiff throughout his unsuccessful 2000 presidential campaign, was full of anger and passion as he visited the Sundance Film Festival this week. Since losing the presidency, the self-described "recovering politician" has found a new mission: saving the planet.
With the assistance of filmmaker Davis Guggenheim, Gore's message rings loud and clear in the Sundance documentary "An Inconvenient Truth."
What Gore wants to do is to convince humankind -- especially Americans, who use up most of the resources on this planet -- to rescue Earth from global warming. The movie is a glossy, high-def digital version of his usual presentation. In one scene that uses a giant chart to demonstrate carbon monoxide and global temperatures soaring off the chart in the next 10 years, Gore ascends to the top of the 90-foot graphic on a lift. "These are skilled moviemakers. They added brilliant color and bring the graphics out of the background, which makes it easier to absorb," Gore said.
Al Gore
The New Censorship
'Jerry Springer - The Opera'
Creators of "Jerry Springer - The Opera," the musical that sparked outrage among conservative Christians when shown on British television, say protests and lobbying have dented ticket sales for a tour in what they call a blow to freedom of speech.
The outcry, which culminated in more than 60,000 people complaining to the British Broadcasting Corporation when it aired the profanity-laden show last year, has also undermined plans to take the award-winning musical to Broadway.
At least two Christian lobby groups, Christian Voice and the Christian Institute, have led a campaign against it, calling it gratuitously offensive and blasphemous.
'Jerry Springer - The Opera'
Siemens Music Prize
Daniel Barenboim
The Argentinian-Israeli pianist and conductor Daniel Barenboim has won the prestigious international Ernst von Siemens music prize this year, the Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation announced.
Barenboim, 63, said Thursday that he would donate 100,000 euros (122,500 dollars) of the 150,000-euro prize money to help renovate Berlin's flagship opera house, the Staatsoper Unter den Linden, of which he is artistic director.
The remaining 50,000 euros would be donated to a new foundation for talented young musicians set up by the maestro.
Barenboim is music director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and artistic director of the Berlin State Opera, whose house orchestra, the Staatskapelle Berlin, recently voted him chief conductor for life.
Daniel Barenboim
Activists Aid Woman
Patricia Santangelo
Patricia Santangelo just wanted to save money, but the mother of five quickly realized that acting as her own lawyer against the music companies accusing her of illegal downloading was a big-time money-burner. Fortunately, for her, it didn't take long for the Internet crowd to help her out.
Santangelo, who is being sued by the Recording Industry Association of America for allegedly pirating songs, said Thursday that pending court approval she is hiring an attorney to defend her in the civil case being brought here.
Fortunately for Santangelo, her case has created a stir online among critics of the RIAA's tactics. They contend that music downloaders have the right to use the peer-to-peer networks like the ones the RIAA said were used on Sangangelo's computer. More than 16,000 people have been sued by the RIAA, and nearly 4,000 have settled. Santangelo refuses to settle, though it would be much less expensive than the $24,000 she says she already has spent.
Patricia Santangelo
New Movie Films At
UN
With little hoopla, the United Nations has hosted its second-ever film production, serving as a backdrop for parts of a coming epic about Argentine revolutionary Che Guevara starring Latin heart-throb Benicio Del Toro.
Scenes for the film "Che," expected to be released later this year, were filmed at the world body's New York headquarters last weekend, making it only the second movie to be shot inside the U.N. compound since it was built in 1952, U.N. chief spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Thursday.
UN
Goodwill Ambassador
Nicole Kidman
Nicole Kidman has a new role - working to advance women's rights around the globe as a goodwill ambassador for the U.N.
The Oscar-winning actress will work with the United Nations Development Fund for Women, UNIFEM, on critical gender concerns such as ending violence against women.
The first countries Kidman plans to visit are Sudan, Congo, Liberia, Afghanistan and Cambodia.
Nicole Kidman
Showtime to Present
Liza With a 'Z'
Showtime will air a fully restored and digitally remastered version of Liza Minnelli's iconic 1972 concert "Liza With a 'Z'" on April 1.
Minnelli worked with producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, executive producers of the film "Chicago," to bring back the special, which was broadcast on NBC on Sept. 10, 1972; March 9, 1973; and September 1973. It has not aired since.
The show won a Peabody Award along with four Emmy Awards, including Best Performance for Minnelli, Best Direction and Best Choreography for Bob Fosse, and Best Music, Lyrics and Special Material for John Kander and Fred Ebb.
Liza With a 'Z'
Adopts Baby Girl
Meg Ryan
Meg Ryan has adopted a baby girl from China. The 44-year-old actress recently traveled to China for the adoption. She and her new child are now home in California together, Ryan's publicist Stephen Huvane confirmed Thursday.
No further details were available.
Meg Ryan
Backtracks, Reams & Whines
Oprah
In a stunning switch from dismissive to disgusted, Oprah Winfrey took on one of her chosen authors, James Frey, accusing him on live television of lying about "A Million Little Pieces" and letting down the many fans of his memoir of addiction and recovery.
Frey, who found himself booed in the same Chicago studio where he had been embraced not long ago, acknowledged that he had lied.
Thursday's broadcast, rare proof that the contents of a book can lead to great tabloid TV, marked an abrupt reversal from the cozy chat two weeks ago on "Larry King Live," when Winfrey phoned in to support Frey and label alleged fabrications as "much ado about nothing."
Oprah
San Diego Auditions Cancelled
'Biggest Loser'
Hundreds of people were turned away Thursday from an open casting call for NBC's hit weight-loss show, The Biggest Loser, because the venue - a restaurant - couldn't accommodate the immense crowd.
Approximately 1,500 people waited on the street to enter Dave & Buster's for the audition, police spokesman Dave Cohen said.
Arguments broke out, but no one was arrested, he said.
'Biggest Loser'
CNN Gambles On Conservatives
William Bennett
Continuing to load up on conservative commentators, CNN announced Wednesday that radio talk-show host and former U.S. education secretary William Bennett has joined the network as a contributor.
Bennett's hiring comes a week after CNN said former Republican congressman J.C. Watts was also joining to offer regular analysis on politics and government policy.
CNN's sister network, CNN Headline News, said last week that in April it will start a prime-time talk show starring conservative radio talk-show host Glenn Beck.
William Bennett
Works Sell At Auction
Rembrandt & Donatello
A rediscovered painting of an old woman by Dutch master Rembrandt sold at auction on Thursday for $4,272,000, slightly exceeding expectations, Sotheby's auction house said.
"Portrait of an Elderly Woman in a White Bonnet," which dates from around 1640, was sold to a private collector from New York. The auction house in December estimated the sale price between $3 million and $4 million.
A terra cotta relief of the Madonna and Child by Italian Renaissance master Donatello, dating to around 1450, was also auctioned and sold for $4,440,000 to a New York dealer on behalf of the Kimball Art Museum in Fort Worth, Texas.
Sotheby's had estimated its sale price at between $4 million and $6 million.
Rembrandt & Donatello
Creates Team to Track 'Bigfoot'
Malaysia
A southern Malaysian state will appoint a team of scientists and experts to hunt for a "Bigfoot" beast after the reported sighting of three giant human-like creatures, officials said Thursday.
Johor Chief Minister Abdul Ghani Othman said the state will form an official Bigfoot-tracking team in a serious bid to find evidence of such a beast following the reported sightings late last year in the Endau Rompin National Park forest.
Malaysian media have been gripped by Bigfoot fever since November 2005, when fish farm workers reported seeing three giant human-like hairy beasts at the edge of the Endau Rompin reserve. They also claimed to have seen a gigantic footprint which they photographed.
Malaysia
Moneymaking Star
Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise led a poll of movie exhibitors aimed at determining the Top 10 moneymaking stars of 2005.
Cruise has won the annual survey by Quigley Publishing Co. seven times, Arnold Robinson, the actor's publicist, said Thursday.
The Quigley Poll, conducted every year since 1932, asks motion picture exhibitors to vote for the 10 stars who generated the most box-office revenue for their theaters.
Johnny Depp finished second in the 2005 poll. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt tied for third, followed by Vince Vaughn, George Clooney, Will Smith, Reese Witherspoon, Adam Sandler and last year's winner Tom Hanks.
Tom Cruise
Pixar Taking Over
'Toy Story 3'
The Walt Disney Co. will scrap production of the latest "Toy Story" sequel and hand the project over to Pixar Animation Studios Inc. as part of its deal to acquire Pixar, sources familiar with the situation said on Thursday.
It was not clear how the change would affect the production schedule at Pixar, which has not announced release dates for films beyond the June opening of "Cars."
Production had already started on "Toy Story 3" at Disney's new animation unit in Glendale, California. The unit, dubbed Circle 7, was set up while the two companies were haggling over the terms of a new distribution agreement for Pixar films.
'Toy Story 3'
In Memory
Moss Mabry
Moss Mabry, an Academy Award-nominated costumer designer who dressed Doris Day and helped fashion the style of movies such as "Giant" and "The Way We Were," died at a hospital in Oceanside following a long illness that included respiratory and heart problems, said Gary More, a friend for 40 years. He was 87.
His career began with wardrobe work in the 1950s and spanned more than three decades. He worked on more than 80 movies, including "Dial M for Murder," "Portnoy's Complaint," "The Manchurian Candidate" and "Mutiny on the Bounty."
Mabry never won an Oscar but he was nominated four times for costume design: in 1956 with Marjorie Best for "Giant,"; in 1964 with Edith Head for "What a Way to Go,"; in 1965 for "Morituri," and with Dorothy Jeakins in 1973 for "The Way We Were."
Mabry came to Hollywood, where he attended art school and went to work for celebrity fashion designer Don Loper before getting a contract with Warner Brothers. He went on to work with several other major studios.
Moss Mabry
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