Recommended Reading
from Bruce
Paul Krugman: In Defense of Obama (Rolling Stone)
The Nobel Prize-winning economist, once one of the president's most notable critics, on why Obama is a historic success.
Paul Krugman: The Deficit Is Down, and Nobody Knows or Cares (NY Times)
The CBO tells us that the federal deficit is way down - under 3 percent of GDP. And Jared Bernstein notes that Obama seems to get no credit.
Reza Aslan: Bill Maher Isn't the Only One Who Misunderstands Religion (NY Times)
Bill Maher is right to condemn religious practices that violate fundamental human rights. Religious communities must do more to counter extremist interpretations of their faith. But failing to recognize that religion is embedded in culture - and making a blanket judgment about the world's second largest religion - is simply bigotry.
Alison Flood: Creative writing courses are killing western literature, claims Nobel judge (Guardian)
Grants cut off writers from society, whereas past greats worked as 'taxi drivers and waiters' to feed their imaginations, says Horace Engdahl.
James Perez: "7 Film Adaptations the Author Hated (for Insane Reasons)" (Cracked)
Although books are a frequent source of inspiration for filmmakers, Hollywood doesn't always see eye-to-eye with the authors of those books, because books are for nerds, so who cares what they think. Understandably, this often doesn't sit well with the writers. But it doesn't mean the author is always right -- in fact, some of our favorite movies are books that Hollywood "ruined" in the eyes of their authors. Movies like ...
David Christopher Bell, Chris Tashjian: 5 Reasons America Can Calm the F#@% Down About Ebola (Cracked)
WARNING: ANY OF YOU COULD DIE, AT ANY MOMENT. That's because you're a mortal being; that's how it works. But you're not going to die from Ebola.
Tom Danehy: Let's take a break from our football frenzy and talk about twirling (Tucson Weekly)
When the undefeated and by-golly-nationally ranked Arizona Wildcats take the field this Saturday against not-undefeated but also nationally ranked USC, they will almost certainly do so in front of a sell-out crowd. It's been a looong time since that happened in a game that didn't include Arizona State, but that's what happens when you beat up the neighborhood bully not once, but twice, in an eight-game span bridging two seasons.
Andrew Tobias: Drinking
I poured a glass for a connoisseur without letting him see the bottle. He started speaking Wine - a language I do not - telling me he was guessing it was French (it is South African), possibly from 2010 (2013), and commenting on its notes and hints and palate (or was it his palate? whatever). He may have said something about bacon. But the gist was that he liked it. What might it cost, I asked? He guessed it was perhaps in the $20-$30 range (I paid $6.29 with the discount, free shipping); $50-$60 in a restaurant. At which point I bought six more cases. Oracle Pinotage 2013.
John Sutherland: My top 10 unfinishable novels (Guardian)
Nick Hornby has told an audience that they shouldn't be scared to abandon a novel if it proves tough going. John Sutherland picks the 10 books that have convinced him not to turn the page.
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David Bruce has approximately 50 Kindle books on Amazon.com.
wrote:
took the day off.
is semi-retired.
Reader Suggestion
Michelle in AZ
From The Creator of 'Avery Ant'
from Marc Perkel
BartCop
Hello Bartcop fans,
As you all know the untimely passing of Terry was unexpected, even by
him. We all knew he had cancer but we all thought he had some years
left. So some of us who have worked closely with him over the years are
scrambling around trying to figure out what to do. My job, among other
things, is to establish communications with the Bartcop community and
provide email lists and groups for those who might put something
together. Those who want to play an active roll in something coming from
this, or if you are one of Bart's pillars, should send an email to
active@bartcop.com.
Bart's final wish was to pay off the house mortgage for Mrs. Bart who is
overwhelmed and so very grateful for the support she has received.
Anyone wanting to make a donation can click on this the yellow donate
button on bartcop.com
But - I need you all to help keep this going. This note
isn't going to directly reach all of Bart's fans. So if you can repost
it on blogs and discussion boards so people can sign up then when we
figure out what's next we can let more people know. This list is just
over 600 but like to get it up to at least 10,000 pretty quick. So
here's the signup link for this email list.
( mailman.bartcop.com/listinfo/bartnews )
Marc Perkel
Selected Readings
from that Mad Cat, JD
In The Chaos Household
Last Night
Still sunny and seasonal.
Satellite Sees Hot Spot In US Southwest
Methane
A surprising hot spot of the potent global-warming gas methane hovers over part of the southwestern U.S., according to satellite data.
That result hints that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other agencies considerably underestimate leaks of methane, which is also called natural gas.
The higher level of methane is not a local safety or a health issue for residents, but factors in overall global warming. It is likely leakage from pumping methane out of coal mines. While methane isn't the most plentiful heat-trapping gas, scientists worry about its increasing amounts and have had difficulties tracking emissions.
A satellite image of atmospheric methane concentrations over the continental U.S. shows the hot spot as a bright red blip over the Four Corners area of New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona and Utah. The image used data from 2003 to 2009.
Within that hot spot, a European satellite found atmospheric methane concentrations equivalent to emissions of about 1.3 million pounds a year. That's about 80 percent more than the EPA figured. Other ground-based studies have calculated that EPA estimates were off by 50 percent.
Methane
Braids Sell For $37,000
Willie Nelson
Some of the most distinctive hair in American music, Willie Nelson's trademark braids, sold for $37,000 Sunday, auction organizers said on Monday.
The braids were cut in the 1980s when Nelson's hair was still red and were the most talked-about item in the Arizona auction of items owned by the late Waylon Jennings, Nelson's cohort in the "outlaw country" music movement of the 1970s.
Jennings was given Nelson's braids at a 1983 party thrown by Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash in Jennings' honor to celebrate his sobriety. The identity of the buyer was not disclosed.
Also sold was Buddy Holly's Ariel Cyclone motorcycle, for $450,000. The motorcycle, bought by the rock 'n roll great in 1958, was given to Jennings by members of Holly's band years after Holly was killed in 1959.
Willie Nelson
Slave Photo Discovered
Robert E. Lee
The National Park Service has acquired a rare Civil War-era photograph of an enslaved woman who helped save Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's home in Arlington, Virginia.
The previously unknown photograph depicts Selina Gray, the head housekeeper to Lee and his family, along with two girls. The photograph was unveiled Thursday at the Arlington House plantation overlooking the nation's capital that was home to Lee and dozens of slaves before the Civil War.
Gray is noted in history books for helping to save Arlington House after Lee's family left and the plantation was captured by Union troops during the Civil War.
Arlington House was originally built as a monument to George Washington. Lee's wife, Mary Custis Lee, entrusted the home to Gray, and she later confronted a Union general about soldiers pilfering Washington family heirlooms from the house. She was able to have the items safeguarded.
Robert E. Lee
Time Capsule Opened
Boston
It is a mystery worthy of an "Indiana Jones" movie. A woman comes forward to tell historians that, according to family tradition, the oldest unopened time capsule in the world was lodged in the mouth of a golden lion statue atop Boston's Old State House.
Last month, the Bostonian Society got an inkling that it was true. Amid renovations on the Old State House, the capsule was discovered.
But it was not opened until Thursday at a private ceremony in front of reporters in Woburn, Mass. The box, it turned out, was full, with a red hardcover book sitting on top. The Bostonian Society decided not to take out the book at the ceremony. Instead, historians will examine all the contents of the capsule soon in a more controlled environment.
The Bostonian Society, which preserves historical Boston artifacts and maintains the city's Old State House, was alerted to the possibility of the time capsule three years ago. The tipoff came from a descendant of a carpenter who worked on the Old State House in 1901.
Later, historians discovered a Boston Globe article from 1901 that suggested campaign buttons and sealed letters, including one from the mayor, were inside, as well as a family history of the carpenter, according to Boston.com.
Boston
Drug Agency Sued Over Fake Account
Facebook
The Drug Enforcement Administration set up a fake Facebook account using photographs and other personal information it took from the cellphone of a New York woman arrested in a cocaine case in hopes of tricking her friends and associates into revealing incriminating drug secrets.
The Justice Department initially defended the practice in court filings but now says it is reviewing whether the Facebook guise went too far.
Sondra Arquiett's Facebook account looked as real as any other. It included photos of her posing on the hood of a sleek BMW and a close-up with her young son and niece. She even appeared to write that she missed her boyfriend, who was identified by his nickname.
But it wasn't her. The account was the work of DEA Agent Timothy Sinnigen, Arquiett said in a federal court lawsuit. The case was scheduled for trial next week in Albany, New York, although a mediator has now been selected for the dispute, court records show.
Facebook
Still Undecided On Ebola Funding
Senator Pissquick
U.S. Republican Senator James Inhofe has not yet agreed to release additional Defense Department funds for a military mission to fight Ebola in West Africa, his spokeswoman said on Thursday, citing concerns over protecting military staff and the mission's long-term future.
Approval by Inhofe, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services committee, is the final sign-off needed for an increase in Pentagon Ebola funds to $750 million.
Two key House of Representatives lawmakers earlier on Thursday agreed to that amount after releasing only $50 million last week. The Obama administration had requested a shift of $1 billion from a war operations budget to the Ebola mission.
Inhofe spokeswoman Donelle Harder said that the Oklahoma Republican was still seeking information on the planned medical protocols to shield military personnel from virus exposure, as well as the mission's future once the $750 million runs out in about six months. She added that he hopes to have enough information to decide on the additional funds by Friday.
Senator Pissquick
Loses London Casino Court Case
Phil Ivey
A professional US poker player on Wednesday lost his case against a London casino that accused him of sneaky tactics after he won £7.7 million (9.8 million euros, $12.4 million).
Crockfords Casino said the player, Phil Ivey, used a technique known as "edge-sorting" in a game of baccarat to work out which cards are which by how the patterns are printed on their backs.
The High Court in London ruled in favour of the casino in the upmarket city centre district of Mayfair, where Ivey played in four sessions over two days in August 2012.
The casino sent back the player's stake money of £1.0 million but not the winnings.
Phil Ivey
Language Case
Navajo
A candidate for tribal president on the nation's largest Indian reservation could be removed from the ballot just weeks before the election after he refused to show whether he is fluent in Navajo as required by tribal law.
In a hearing that underlined the importance of the language to the Navajo Nation, an administrative court officer said he had no choice but to rule against Chris Deschene.
Deschene vowed to appeal Nez's decision, meaning it's unclear whether he will appear on the ballot. He must file his appeal within 10 days to the tribe's Supreme Court, which likely will consider the case on an expedited basis.
Deschene said he is proficient in speaking Navajo and that he has proven so on the campaign trail. He said he should not be subjected to a standard of fluency in a courtroom when that standard isn't well-defined.
The Navajo Supreme Court last month sent the case back to Nez after ruling the Navajo language is sacred and cannot be disregarded as a qualification for the presidency.
Navajo
Top 20
Concert Tours
The Top 20 Concert Tours ranks artists by average box office gross per city and includes the average ticket price for shows in North America. The previous week's ranking is in parentheses. The list is based on data provided to the trade publication Pollstar by concert promoters and venue managers.
1. (1) One Direction; $6,339,902; $84.14.
2. (2) Beyoncé / Jay Z; $6,001,611; $115.31.
3. (3) Paul McCartney; $3,363,370; $128.86.
4. (5) Katy Perry; $1,808,676; $103.42.
5. (7) Phish; $1,459,975; $53.58.
6. (4) Bruno Mars; $1,456,809; $80.30.
7. (6) Luke Bryan; $1,456,031; $50.78.
8. (8) Jason Aldean; $1,271,777; $50.08.
9. (9) Zac Brown Band; $1,182,713; $53.76.
10. (10) Dave Matthews Band; $1,089,752; $56.77.
11. (New) Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers; $992,806; $91.03.
12. (12) Michael Bublé; $967,470; $85.09.
13. (13) Rod Stewart / Santana ; $942,680; $96.77.
14. (14) Blake Shelton; $891,302; $50.41.
15. (New) "Walking With Dinosaurs"; $815,721; $41.12.
16. (15) Mötley Crüe; $740,977; $50.68.
17. (16) Journey / Steve Miller Band; $693,839; $61.17.
18. (17) Brad Paisley; $541,085; $34.49.
19. (18) Miranda Lambert; $519,214; $35.43.
20. (19) Rascal Flatts; $481,434; $34.76.
Concert Tours
In Memory
Jan Hooks
Jan Hooks, whose Hillary Clinton and Tammy Faye Bakker were hallmarks of Saturday Night Live in the late '80s, has died. She was 57.
During her five-year stint as an SNL regular, Hooks was part of an ensemble that included Mike Myers, Phil Hartman, Dana Carvey, Kevin Nealon, Chris Farley, Dennis Miller, and her fellow Sweeney Sister, Nora Dunn.
A reliable supporting sketch artist, Hooks was best known for her spot-on impressions of mascara-melting Bakker, Clinton, Bette Davis, Diane Sawyer, Nancy Reagan, and Sinéad O'Connor during her 1986-91 run on the late-night comedy show. Her character Brenda the waitress later became a template for her guest role on 30 Rock, playing the gold-digging Verna Maloney, mother to Jane Krakowski's Jenna.
Hooks also appeared in a handful of films, including Tim Burton's Batman Returns and, most notably, Pee-wee's Big Adventure. She delivered one of the movie's catchphrases: "There's no basement in the Alamo!"
Hooks left SNL in 1991 to co-star on Designing Women, although she would return to Studio 8H for guest appearances through 1994. Hooks subsequently had a recurring role on 3rd Rock From the Sun. Her last credited on-screen work was on 30 Rock.
She also did voice work, most famously as The Simpsons' ever-patient Manjula Nahasapeemapetilon, who puts up with her husband Apu's long hours at the Kwik-E-Mart despite having octuplets to take care of.
Hooks was born in the Atlanta suburb of Decatur in 1957. According to an AP interview from 1991, Hooks worked in dinner theater and with the New Wits End Players comedy group before making it big. She first auditioned for SNL in 1985, but was deemed "too old," according to TV Guide
Jan Hooks
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