Recommended Reading
from Bruce
KATHARINE Q. SEELYE: Dole, Politics Aside, Pushes for Health Care Plan (nytimes.com)
When former Senator Bob Dole was the Republican minority leader, he helped deep-six President Bill Clinton's health care plan. This year, Mr. Dole, 86, who left the Senate in 1996 to run for president, is working behind the scenes to help resurrect one.
Tom Danehy: Notes on the freeway, 'Glee' and various political issues of import (tucsonweekly.com)
This being the Best of TucsonŽ issue, you'll probably be in skim-read-the-bite-sized-morsels mode, so I'll take this opportunity to tidy up a few things that aren't big enough to merit an entire column all by themselves (although, if I were up against a deadline, they almost certainly could be stretched into columns without a whole lot of effort).
William M. Chace: The Decline of the English Department (theamericanscholar.org)
How it happened and what could be done to reverse it
"A Paradise Built in Hell: The Extraordinary Communities That Arise in Disaster" by Rebecca Solnit: A review by Brian Sholis
Rebecca Solnit agrees with one aspect of commonplace thinking about disasters: once a hurricane's winds subside, an earthquake's upheavals abate, or an explosion's concussive force dissipates, the trouble is far from over. But the premise of Solnit's forceful new book, 'A Paradise Built in Hell: The Extraordinary Communities That Arise in Disaster,' is that nearly everything else we are told about the aftermath of such events is wrong.
Julia Keller: Welcome back, V.I. Warshawski (Chicago Tribune)
Don't cry for V.I. She's just fine. Trust me. You haven't heard from her in a while, but that's because she's been enjoying herself in Italy - soaking up the sun, trying the wine, relaxing after too many tough cases and long nights in Chicago.
Emily Wilson: "Ancient Greek Lessons About Gay Marriage" (slate.com)
The dizzying spectrum of same-sex relationships.
Neal Justin: For James Ellroy, fierceness and stamina are required to reveal giant lies and tell big stories (Star Tribune)
The most important writing tool in James Ellroy's apartment is his leather couch. For hours every day, the author of such high-octane action novels as "L.A. Confidential" and "The Black Dahlia" stretches over its sturdy, cool surface and broods. No pillow, no notebook, no tape recorder, no music, no lights. Just him and a steady stream of perverted thoughts.
Andres Viglucci: David Byrne rides and writes about it in 'Bicycle Diaries' (McClatchy Newspapers)
For 30 years, artist and musician - and, oh yes, former Talking Head - David Byrne has been getting around New York, his hometown, mainly on a bicycle. Nothing fancy, mind you. Just a sturdy, upright hybrid with handlebar-moustache handlebars and a firm saddle, which is actually less tiring than the cushy kind.
Tom Service: The passion and pain of Bernard Haitink (guardian.co.uk)
As he brings the Chicago Symphony Orchestra to London, conductor Bernard Haitink discusses the secret of playing Mahler, what the Nazis did to music, and playing a Prom through gritted teeth.
David Haglund: Forget 'Harold and Maude' (slate.com)
Watch Hal Ashby's exceptional message movies instead.
Interview by Laura Barnett: "Portrait of the artist: Lesley Sharp, actor" (guardian.co.uk)
'Someone once wrote that I was "moon-faced". That taught me not to read my reviews.'
Mark Washburn: "An IV for TV: For fall medical shows, death panels wouldn't be such a bad thing" (McClatchy Newspapers)
Somebody call 911. We've got a medical emergency. Three of them, actually. Medical shows are breaking out all over this fall TV season, and it's a pox on the screen.
The Weekly Poll
Current Question
The '2009 Season Premier' Edition
This week starts the premiers of new prime time programs as well as programs retained from last year.
What programs, if any, are you planning to watch during this 'premier' season?
Send your response to
Results Tuesday
answered:
From The Creator of 'Avery Ant'
Reader Suggestion
Bonanza's 50th Anniversary
Marty:
Check this out - A half century of Cartwrights: Bonanza's 50th anniversary
EJ2E
Thanks, Mr. 2E!
Selected Readings
from that Mad Cat, JD
In The Chaos Household
Last Night
Hotter than yesterday's freakin' hot.
NOLA Update
Brad Pitt
The average electric bill for one of the energy-efficient homes built in New Orleans by Brad Pitt's Make It Right foundation is $35 a month, the actor said Thursday during an update on the project at the Clinton Global Initiative.
The cost of building the homes also is dropping. And by the time all 150 promised homes are completed, the cost will be comparable to standard buildings, Pitt said.
Pitt started the foundation in 2007. The program focuses home construction in a section of New Orleans heavily damaged when Hurricane Katrina struck in August 2005. The homes are being built with features including rooftop solar panels and energy-efficient appliances to help reduce electricity consumption.
The Clinton Global Initiative, an annual event started by former President Bill Clinton, brings together the public and private sector to discuss solutions to problems in four areas - climate change, poverty, global health and education.
Brad Pitt
Performs In Israel
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen wowed an adoring audience Thursday night, crooning his iconic ballads at his first show in Israel in 30 years and ignoring a political storm over his appearance.
The 75-year-old singer entertained fans at Ramat Gan stadium near Tel Aviv. Some in the audience wore black fedora hats, a tribute to one of Cohen's trademarks.
The concert sparked a protest long before it took place on a warm night near the Israeli seashore.
Cohen's manager, Robert Kory said the singer established a foundation, "The Fund for Reconciliation, Tolerance and Peace," to distribute proceeds from the concert.
Leonard Cohen
Election Tests Resolve
Screen Actors Guild
The Screen Actors Guild's choice of its next president could indicate whether actors are ready to go it alone in another bruising fight over Internet compensation or would rather merge with a smaller union for better bargaining leverage.
Ballots were being counted Thursday in SAG's election pitting union-merger proponent Ken Howard, who recently won an Emmy, against Anne-Marie Johnson, a hard-liner who promises to seek strike authorization before the next round of studio negotiations. Those are set to begin in October 2010.
Also in the running are independent candidate Seymour Cassel and a relative unknown, Asmar Muhammad.
The union and its 120,000 members are coming off a tough round of negotiations in which SAG failed to gain new concessions from Hollywood studios after breaking off joint negotiations with the other actors union, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, known as AFTRA.
The negotiations produced bitter infighting at SAG.
Screen Actors Guild
Costumes Headed To Smithsonian
'Lion King'
Producers of "The Lion King" musical are donating two of the Broadway show's elaborate costume pieces to the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.
On Thursday, museum officials are accepting Simba's mask and the costume for tribal shaman and show narrator Rafiki to be placed in the entertainment history collection. They'll be in rare company among about 50 objects from Broadway, including costumes from "Hello, Dolly!," "Fiddler on the Roof," "Rent" and "Cats."
"We'll have Rafiki next to Dolly Levi. That's a big thing," said a giddy Thomas Schumacher, the show's producer.
Designer Julie Taymor created the costumes, puppetry and scenic design that brought the 1994 animated Disney movie to life on stage in 1997. The hit show how now been seen by 50 million people worldwide - the first American musical to hit that milestone and only the fourth in theater history.
'Lion King'
Big Auction
Antique Toys
More than a thousand antique automotive toys will go on the block this week as Donald Kaufman, whose family founded KB Toys, auctions off his private collection.
Kaufman, who began collecting toys in 1950, is among the world's top antique toy collectors, with roughly 7,500 pieces focusing mainly on tin and cast-iron vehicles such as cars, planes, boats and trucks.
The entire collection is being auctioned in a series of sales taking place over the next few years, giving collectors and enthusiasts a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, according to Jeanne Bertoia, owner of Bertoia Auctions in Vineland, New Jersey, which is handling the auctions.
The first auction of Kaufman's toys, held in March, raised $4.2 million. The second auction will take place on Friday and Saturday and is expected to bring in roughly $2 million to $2.5 million, Bertoia said.
Antique Toys
Star Witness
Kirsten Dunst
"Spider-Man" actress Kirsten Dunst has served as a star witness against a man charged in the theft of her designer purse from a New York City hotel suite while she was on a movie set.
The 27-year-old Dunst on Thursday gave jurors a rundown of the August 2007 theft. She says she was filming the comedy "How to Lose Friends and Alienate People" at the SoHo Grand hotel when she discovered her $2,000 Balenciaga bag and its contents, including $2,000 in cash, were missing. The purse and her credit cards were eventually returned.
Thirty-five-year-old James Jimenez is charged with burglary. His lawyer has pinned the blame on a co-defendant who pleaded guilty to attempted burglary.
Kirsten Dunst
Arrested In Texas
Randy Quaid
Actor Randy Quaid and his wife have been arrested in west Texas for investigation of skipping out on a $10,000 hotel bill in California.
Presidio County sheriff's officials said Thursday that Quaid and wife Evi are in custody in the town of Marfa, but the department isn't releasing other details.
In California, Santa Barbara County sheriff's spokesman Drew Sugars says the warrant for Quaid and his wife Evi set bail at $20,000 each. The felony warrant is for burglary, defrauding an innkeeper and conspiracy.
Randy Quaid
Lawsuit Can Resume
Robert Culp
Actor Robert Culp can move ahead with a lawsuit to stop construction of an elephant exhibit at the Los Angeles Zoo.
The star of the 1960s TV series "I Spy" and real estate agent Aaron Leider filed a lawsuit against the city in August 2007, alleging that the zoo did not treat the elephants well and the planned larger exhibit would be a waste of taxpayer money. But a judge dismissed their suit in 2008.
On Wednesday, a notification was posted on the 2nd District Court of Appeal's Web site saying that the Superior Court ruling dismissing the case was "reversed in full."
The City Council approved construction of the $42 million Pachyderm Forest exhibit in 2006.
Robert Culp
Threatened To Cancel
Juanes
During his historic concert in Havana, Colombian pop star Juanes was all smiles. But hours before, he threatened to call off the event, angered over constant monitoring by Cuban handlers and rumours police were blocking people from the concert.
In an exchange recorded by journalists at the Hotel Nacional in Havana on Sunday morning, Juanes pointed to an individual apparently from Cuban state security.
"I just realized a little while ago that since yesterday, the guy who's bringing me breakfast, the guy who is accompanying me, then I see him in the concert, and now I see him sending messages," Juanes shouted.
Moments later, Juanes raised concerns that police were letting only certain individuals into the concert area and prohibiting those not wearing white shirts symbolizing peace.
"We can't permit that normal people aren't allowed in the show, that a person who has not brought a white shirt isn't allowed in," he told fellow performers Miguel Bose of Spain and Olga Tanon of Puerto Rico.
Eventually, Bose, his voice breaking, consoled a weeping Juanes, while Tanon tried to convince both men to go on with the concert for the sake of the Cuban people.
Juanes
Sells Part Of Art Collection
Richard Attenborough
Film director Richard Attenborough is auctioning part of his collection of British paintings, including one he sold to help finance Oscar-winning movie "Gandhi" and which he bought back years later.
The 51 lots, representing a cross section of British art from the middle decades of the 20th century, are expected to fetch more than 2 million pounds ($3.2 million) at the November 11 London auction, Sotheby's said on Thursday.
In terms of value, "Old Houses" by L.S. Lowry is expected to be the top lot on the night, with a pre-sale estimate of 300-500,000 pounds for the urban realist's 1948 work.
Another highlight is Graham Sutherland's "Thorn Head" from 1947, which Sotheby's said was arguably the finest work by the artist to come to market since the same painting was sold by the same auctioneer in 1984.
Richard Attenborough
Finds Anglo-Saxon Treasure
Terry Herbert
An amateur treasure hunter prowling English farmland with a metal detector stumbled upon the largest Anglo-Saxon treasure ever found, a massive seventh-century hoard of gold and silver sword decorations, crosses and other items, British archaeologists said Thursday.
One expert said the treasure found by 55-year-old Terry Herbert would revolutionize understanding of the Anglo-Saxons, a Germanic people who ruled England from the fifth century until the Norman conquest in 1066. Another said the find would rank among Britain's best-known historic treasures.
"This is just a fantastic find completely out of the blue," Roger Bland, who managed the cache's excavation, told The Associated Press. "It will make us rethink the Dark Ages."
Archaeologist Kevin Leahy, who catalogued the find, said the stash appeared to be war loot and included dozens of pommel caps - decorative elements attached to the knobs of sword handles. He noted that "Beowulf" contains a reference to warriors stripping the pommels of their enemies' weapons as mementoes.
Terry Herbert
Cable Nielsen's
Ratings
Rankings for the top 15 programs on cable television networks as compiled by Nielsen Media Research for the week of Sept. 14-20. Days and start times (EDT) are in parentheses:
1. NFL Football: Buffalo vs. New England (Monday, 7 p.m.), ESPN, 10.22 million homes, 14 million viewers.
2. NFL Football: San Diego vs. Oakland (Monday, 10:17 p.m.), ESPN, 8.77 million homes, 11.94 million viewers.
3. "NCIS" (Wednesday, 8 p.m.), USA, 3.62 million homes, 4.75 million viewers.
4. "Hannah Montana" (Sunday, 7:30 p.m.), 3.487 million homes, 5.06 million viewers.
5. "WWE Raw" (Monday, 10 p.m.), USA, 3.481 million homes, 5.1 million viewers.
6. "Monk" (Friday, 9 p.m.), USA, 3.37 million homes, 4.87 million viewers.
7. College Football: Georgia Tech vs. Miami (Thursday, 7:30 p.m.), ESPN, 3.33 million homes, 4.39 million viewers.
8. "WWE Raw" (Monday, 9 p.m.), USA, 3.24 million homes, 4.73 million viewers.
9. "Suite Life on Deck" (Friday, 8:30 p.m.), Disney, 3.13 million homes, 4.54 million viewers.
10. "The O'Reilly Factor" (Tuesday, 8 p.m.), Fox News Channel, 3.12 million homes, 4.03 million viewers.
11. "Penguins of Madagascar" (Saturday, 10 a.m.), Nickelodeon, 3.04 million homes, 4.02 million viewers.
12. "The O'Reilly Factor" (Wednesday, 8 p.m.), Fox News Channel, 2.98 million homes, 4.03 million viewers.
13. "The O'Reilly Factor" (Thursday, 8 p.m.), Fox News Channel, 2.97 million homes, 3.91 million viewers.
14. "SpongeBob SquarePants" (Saturday, 9:30 a.m.), Nickelodeon, 2.9 million homes, 3.71 million viewers.
15. "The Ultimate Fighter" (Wednesday, 10:05 p.m.), Spike, 2.88 million homes, 4.1 million viewers.
Ratings
In Memory
Robert Ginty
Robert Ginty, a versatile actor who starred in the 1980 film "The Exterminator" and built a varied career as a producer, director and actor in film, television and the stage, has died. He was 60.
Ginty died Monday at his home in Los Angeles, said Michael Einfeld, manager for Ginty's son, James Francis Ginty. He had cancer.
Ginty had a recurring role as Lt. T.J. Wiley in "Baa Baa Black Sheep," which aired on NBC from 1976 to '78 and which he described to the New York Times in 1984 as dealing with "the innocents of World War II, a bunch of gung-ho young kid pilots."
He had an extensive acting career in TV, including appearances in "The Paper Chase," "Hawaiian Heat" and "Falcon Crest."
Other film roles included "Coming Home" (1978), "Bound for Glory" (1976) and "The Alchemist" (1984). He wrote, directed and appeared in "The Bounty Hunter" (1989) and produced, directed and acted in "Vietnam, Texas" (1990).
Ginty directed episodes of such television shows as "Dream On," "China Beach," "Charmed" and "Early Edition."
Robert Winthrop Ginty was born Nov. 14, 1948, in Brooklyn, New York. He attended Yale and the City College of New York and studied acting at the Neighborhood Playhouse.
He was a rock drummer who played with Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin but was encouraged to try acting after his band appeared in a film.
Along with his son, James, Ginty is survived by his wife, Michelle. His two previous marriages ended in divorce.
Robert Ginty
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