Baron Dave Romm
No Column
By Baron Dave Romm
Still Fringing.
Today (Sun 8/10) is the last day of the 2008 Minnesota Fringe Festival. This year has been terrific.
fringefestival.org/2008/
I reviewed all the shows I went to, often with pictures, and added a
podcast. For Bartcop-E readers who want their Baron Dave fix -
barondave.livejournal.com/ .
--////
"I'm NOT putting a bat in my freezer."
-- Mike Fotis, from his Fringe show
Thanks (again), Baron Dave!
The Monday Or Thursday Poll
The Current Question
The question was:
Famed Soviet dissident and Noble Prize winner Alexander Solzhenitsyn died this week in Moscow. Have you ever read any of his many books?
The Responses:
There were 5 responses to this poll.
Four said yes, one said no.
The comments were mostly negative, such as MAG writing "I'm a librarian at a small private college and I am constantly reading. A student once gave me "One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, a very thin book. It was so depressing I never got all the way through it."
And Joe "Well, I may be jeered, but his work.has never appealed to me.".
Ken responded with "I read One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich. It pretty much cured me from reading anything else, although I tried Gulag Archipelago. His writing was like a lot of Russian literature - reeeeally depressing and pretty boring. Not a reflection on the political Importance of his writings, they're just hard to enjoy."...
Sally P sent a remarkably entertaining missive covering the past 50 years of her student/social activism history and how he impacted her thinking and opinions that started out....
In response I query, "Is the Pope Catholic?"...
She goes on...
Circa 1958: Sally enters City College of NY (now a part of NYUN). This was a known "Bed of Socialism..." We studied many Russians of Modern Thought, and of Antiquity, over the next 6 years.
Circa 1959: Sally reads, "Prussian Nights," a poem by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
Sally is incredibly bored to tears. She gazes out of her classroom window (overlooking Washington Square Park) and longs to be out with the other protesters...
Circa 1962: Sally (now fully immersed in Protest and Peace) reads, "A Day In The Life Of Ivan Denisovich." Sally is a lot less bored, but the book ignites a storm of controversy on campus, and in Sally's mind.
Circa 1963: Sally decides this author is not her, "Cup of tea."
Circa 1968: She reads Solzhenitsyn's "The First Circle" Sally finds the novel brilliant, but the philosophy abject. Sally suspects he is a war monger
Circa 1978: Sally hears (reads) Solzhenitsyn delivering the commencement address at Harvard. He calls this country, "spiritually weak and mired in vulgar materialism." "Americans," he said,'suffered from a 'decline in courage.'''
HE ACTUALLY WANTS THE US TO CONTINUE IN THE WAR IN VIET NAM!!
Circa 2008: Sally now is certain she was right about Solzhenitsyn. He is brilliant, but his mind was warped, probably from his years in prison (cutting him some slack here).
Circa the future: Sally knows Solzhenitsyn's collected works are soon to be published. Sally will NOT be purchasing or reading this collection - but then, you never know...
The only positive response was from Buzzcook...
The Gulag Archipelago was a big best seller back in the seventies. It was well worth reading and still is today. Not only for what it tells us about Russia under the Tsar and the Soviet, but for what it tells us about ourselves today. Many of the torturers used in the Gulag are being used by America's government today. As Solzhenitsyn said those methods weren't used to get at the truth, they were used as a means of getting a confession to what ever crime the torturers chose.
Solzhenitsyn's histories of the Soviet Union were gripping, but by the time you were well into the second Gulag book they were overwhelming.
It is in his novels that we meet the real Solzhenitsyn. For people who are fond of Tolstoy, reading August 1914, is like meeting an old friend. The book is the first part of a series that starts with the disastrous Battle of Tannenberg and is people with scores of characters and descriptions of place and mood that conger ghosts of Pierre and Natasha in a positive way.
His more autobiographical novels are bit more modern in style. The Some of them such as One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich cover individual themes of survival, power, and personal interaction. Cancer Ward is an allegory for the Soviet state.
Yes I have read a few books by Aleksander Solzhenitsyn. You should too...
Well, I have... All of the books aforementioned during my time as a Cold War(rior). I did so in the context of 'Know thy Enemy'. The above comments pretty much cover how I felt about them. Both good and bad. I even agreed with him somewhat about his comments on America and Americans particularly the 'vulgar materialism' part...
So, there it is! Thanks to all respondents!
BadtotheboneBob
The new question is:
What was your favorite Bernie Mac genre?
A. His 'stand up' comedy routine ala 'The Original Kings of Comedy'
B. His movie roles (Ocean's Eleven and sequels, Bad Santa, Booty Call, Mr. 3000, Guess Who?.. et al)
C. The Bernie Mac Show
Send your response to BadtotheBoneBob ( BCEpoll 'at' aol.com )
BadtotheboneBob
Recommended Reading
from Bruce
EVAN R. GOLDSTEIN: Who Framed George Lakoff? (chronicle.com)
A noted linguist reflects on his tumultuous foray into politics.
Susan Estrich: Is Anyone Ready? (creators.com)
The knives are out for my friend Bill Clinton. Again. There he is in Rwanda, not one of the top spots for August vacations, trying to do something to stop a few million Africans from dying of curable diseases. Far as I can tell, no one wanted to discuss that, or at least report what he had to say about it.
FROMA HARROP: A Nation of Whiners? Perhaps (creators.com)
You won't hear me straining to defend Phil Gramm, the Texas Republican whose penchant for grating commentary sunk his 1996 bid for the presidency before the New Hampshire primary. It was really just a matter of time before the former senator, serving as John McCain's economic advisor, put his foot in it: Gramm opined that Americans complaining about the economy were "whiners."
Susan Estrich: A Peaceful Convention (creators.com)
I know Hillary Clinton. She is a friend of mine. I have always respected her - and never more than during the closing days of this campaign, when she displayed a level of grit and determination I have rarely seen in any politician, male or female, Democrat or Republican.
FROMA HARROP: Offshore Drilling: Candidates Concur on Bad Idea (creators.com)
In a rare burst of bipartisan consensus, Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama have agreed on a dreadful proposal: Open more of America's fragile coastlines to offshore oil drilling. How is it awful? Let me count the ways. 1. It will do nothing for today's or tomorrow's pump prices.
Nat Hentoff: Losing Track of Dropouts-and Successes-in New York City Schools (villagevoice.com)
DOE, City Council and Unions all fail to keep tabs on when NYC schools fail - or succeed.
Nat Hentoff: Randi Weingarten and the National American Federation of Teachers: No Child Left Unhealed (villagevoice.com)
To work, a public school must be active in students' lives before and after class.
DR. DAVID LIPSCHITZ: Any Recommended Diet Can Work, If It's Followed (creators.com)
At long last, the results of a head-to-head battle among the most commonly recommended diets were published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine. Amazingly, researchers found that no specific diet was overwhelmingly better than the rest, but rather, each diet, when followed in a measured and healthful manner, could lead to long-lasting change.
Author Interview - John Holmes: A Life Measured in Inches (nakedcity.com)
For the last few years, writer Jessica Sugar has been on a mission to bring porn legend John Holmes' life into print in a definitive biography. She added co-author Jill C. Nelson to the mix last year and the final product, John Holmes: A Life Measured in Inches hits the stands today. The duo interviewed 35 people, reviewed 200 of Holmes' films, and did a whole lot of leg work to produce this book.
Will Harris: A Chat with James Blunt (bullz-eye.com)
Many a musical artist has fallen victim to the curse of the sophomore slump, but James Blunt seems confident that he's avoided it handily with his new album, All the Lost Souls. We spoke with Blunt recently about the differences between this record and the last, whether he ever worried about his chances of success in the States, and how he feels about those who would call him too sensitive a songwriter.
Hubert's Poetry Corner
The Fall and Rise of Jimmy Don Clyde
Don't drink and pray! You might just get what you're praying for?
What did William Fuld invent and patent in 1892?
mj replied:
Ted ("To admit ignorance is the first step in the search for wisdom") said:
Selected Readings
from that Mad Cat, JD
In The Chaos Household
Last Night
Quiet sunny day.
Widow & Daughter Settle Lawsuit
Rodney Dangerfield
The widow of Rodney Dangerfield has settled a copyright infringement lawsuit she filed against the late comedian's daughter over the use of footage from a one-hour Las Vegas act.
The terms of the settlement are confidential.
The settlement comes as the case was heading for trial on August 18 in federal court in Los Angeles. Among the witnesses on the list: MTV president Doug Herzog and comedian Jerry Stiller.
"Joan is very committed to my father's legacy," Roy-Friedman said of the settlement. "He said that he loved her deeply and thought she was the nicest person in the world."
Rodney Dangerfield
Small Town To Honor
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
The southern Vermont town of Cavendish is planning a memorial service for famed Russian writer and one-time resident Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn.
The Nobel Prize-winning author had settled in Cavendish when he sought refuge in the West and was looking for a place whose forests and harsh winters reminded him of his homeland.
He wound up spending 18 years in Cavendish before returning to Russia.
The town of some 1,500 people will honor him with a memorial service on Aug. 17.
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
Foreign Correspondent
Rob Riggle
Foreign correspondency on the fake news of "The Daily Show" usually amounts to someone standing in front of a video screen on the New York set, a few steps away from Jon Stewart's desk.
But to coincide with the Olympics, the show's Rob Riggle went to China. Really. His skewed travelogue unfolds this week on the Comedy Central hit.
"It was an opportunity to go over to China and do something that has probably not been done in the past - go to China and do some comedy," said Riggle, a former U.S. Marine who served in Afghanistan and is still on reserve.
Riggle, who last year traveled to Iraq for "Operation Silent Thunder," started planning by applying in January for journalists' visa. With the intercession of MTV executives in China, they got the go-ahead less than 24 hours before their plane was due to leave on July 29.
Rob Riggle
CD Sparks Israeli Alert
"Nuclear Modified"
When Yasmin Sabah was given a music CD by a friend, she never imagined it would make her the target of a clandestine operation by Israeli security services.
Sabah, a 22-year-old nurse, said the Defence Ministry placed her under surveillance last month after a passerby, drawn by a "for sale" sign on her car, reported that they had seen a CD in it with the handwritten title: "Jericho IV -- Nuclear Modified".
Israel is believed to have developed nuclear-tipped missiles known as Jerichos, although the government makes no official comment on the country's nuclear capabilities.
Interviewed by Israel Radio, she said two security agents posing as prospective car-buyers arranged to meet her and then "sat in my car, looked at the disc, and then listened to it song by song, making sure there is nothing hidden in it".
The agents took the CD and have yet to return it, she said.
"Nuclear Modified"
Drawing Protest
"Tropic Thunder"
Groups that advocate for the disabled called on Sunday for a national boycott of the Ben Stiller comedy "Tropic Thunder," citing what they say is its negative portrayal of people with intellectual disabilities.
"We are asking people not to go to the movie and hope to bring a consciousness to people about using derogatory words about this population," said Peter Wheeler, spokesman for Special Olympics, one of 22 disability groups nationwide protesting the satire.
He said the groups are particularly offended by the film's repeated use of the word "retard" regarding a character, Simple Jack, played by Stiller in a subplot about an actor.
Representatives of the Special Olympics, the Arc of the United States, the National Down Syndrome Congress, the American Association of People with Disabilities and other groups met with studio executives last week to discuss the film, but DreamWorks did not make any changes.
"Tropic Thunder"
Brace For Fewer Flights
Airports
From his office overlooking the runways of one of the nation's busiest airports, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport Chief Executive Jeffrey Fegan sees the slowdown coming this fall.
Airlines are cutting flights under the pressure of rising fuel costs, and that means fewer passengers and less money from parking and food concessions at DFW. For the first time in its 34-year history, the airport is freezing its budget and rethinking future expansion plans.
"We couldn't do that even after 9-11," Fegan says.
With the airline industry in a nosedive, airports are hitting turbulence: After years of growth, they are delaying capital projects, freezing hiring, and considering increases in everything from landing fees to parking. Concessionaires are hurting, and many expect to close.
Airports
Wants A Fight
Shriver - Lazenby
Former James Bond actor George Lazenby says he will fight Pam Shriver's claim for custody over the couple's three young children.
Shriver, a former tennis star, has filed for divorce from Lazenby and cited "irreconcilable differences" for ending their six-year marriage.
The 68-year-old Lazenby said Sunday through spokesman Michael Sands that he loves his children "very much" and will seek sole legal and physical custody. Shriver has said she will seek custody with supervised visits for Lazenby.
The couple are due in court Aug. 25.
Shriver - Lazenby
Leaving Poverty
Vietnamese Women
Nearly 70 young Vietnamese women swept past in groups of five, twirling and posing like fashion models, all competing for the hand of a Taiwanese man who had paid a matchmaking service about $6,000 for the privilege of marrying one of them.
Sporting jeans and a black T-shirt, 20-year-old Le Thi Ngoc Quyen paraded in front of the stranger, hoping he would select her.
"I felt very nervous," she recalled recently as she described the scene. "But he chose me, and I agreed to marry him right away."
Like many women from the Mekong Delta island of Tan Loc, Quyen had concluded that finding a foreign husband was her best route out of poverty. Six years later, she has a beautiful daughter and no regrets.
Vietnamese Women
Sauna World Championship
Finns Win
"It wasn't fun after two or three minutes," said Sauna World Championship organizer Ossi Arvela.
One hundred sixty men and women from 23 countries participated in the 10th annual sauna championships in Finland, with the Finns dominating due to what Women's title winner Leila Kulin described as "sisu" -- usually translated as perseverance.
Bjarne Hermansson of Finland outlasted the competition and endured the heat for 18:15 minutes.
Kulin sweated her way to the Women's title with a time of 5:22 minutes in the sauna.
Finns Win
Gravity Wins, Again
Arches National Park
One of the largest and most photographed arches in Arches National Park has collapsed.
Paul Henderson, the park's chief of interpretation, said Wall Arch collapsed sometime late Monday or early Tuesday.
The arch is along Devils Garden Trail, one of the most popular in the park. For years, the arch has been a favorite stopping point for photographers.
He said it's the first collapse of a major arch in the park since nearby Landscape Arch fell in 1991. No one has reported seeing it fall.
Arches National Park
Weekend Box Office
`Dark Knight'
"The Dark Knight" took in $26 million to finish as the No. 1 movie for the fourth straight weekend, beating the stoner comedy "Pineapple Express," which opened in second place with $22.4 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.
The weekend haul lifted the Warner Bros. Batman sequel to No. 3 on the all-time domestic box-office charts with $441.5 million, behind only "Titanic" ($600.8 million) and the original "Star Wars" ($461 million).
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Media By Numbers LLC. Final figures will be released Monday.
1. "The Dark Knight," $26 million.
2. "Pineapple Express," $22.4 million.
3. "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor," $16.1 million.
4. "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2," $10.8 million.
5. "Step Brothers," $8.9 million.
6. "Mamma Mia!", $8.1 million.
7. "Journey to the Center of the Earth," $4.9 million.
8. "Hancock," $3.3 million.
9. "Swing Vote," $3.1 million.
10. "WALL-E," $3 million.
`Dark Knight'
In Memory
Isaac Hayes
Isaac Hayes, the pioneering singer, songwriter and musician whose relentless "Theme From Shaft" won Academy and Grammy awards, died Sunday afternoon, the Shelby County Sheriff's Office said. He was 65.
"Hot Buttered Soul" was groundbreaking in several ways: He sang in a "cool" style unlike the usual histrionics of big-time soul singers. He prefaced the song with "raps," and the numbers ran longer than three minutes with lush arrangements.
Next came "Theme From Shaft," a No. 1 hit in 1971 from the film "Shaft" starring Richard Roundtree.
At the Oscar ceremony in 1972, Hayes performed the song wearing an eye-popping amount of gold and received a standing ovation. TV Guide later chose it as No. 18 in its list of television's 25 most memorable moments. He won an Academy Award for the song and was nominated for another one for the score. The song and score also won him two Grammys.
Hayes was elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.
A self-taught musician, he was hired in 1964 by Stax Records of Memphis as a backup pianist, working as a session musician for Otis Redding and others. He also played saxophone.
He began writing songs, establishing a songwriting partnership with David Porter, and in the 1960s they wrote such hits for Sam and Dave as "Hold On, I'm Coming" and "Soul Man."
Additionally, he was the voice of Nickelodeon's "Nick at Nite" and had radio shows in New York City (1996 to 2002) and then in Memphis.
He was in several movies, including "It Could Happen to You" with Nicolas Cage, "Ninth Street" with Martin Sheen, "Reindeer Games" starring Ben Affleck and the blaxploitation parody "I'm Gonna Git You, Sucka."
In a 1999 interview, Hayes described the South Park cook as "a person that speaks his mind; he's sensitive enough to care for children; he's wise enough to not be put into the 'whack' category like everybody else in town - and he l-o-o-o-o-ves the ladies."
But Hayes angrily quit the show in 2006 after an episode mocked his Scientology religion. "There is a place in this world for satire, but there is a time when satire ends and intolerance and bigotry towards religious beliefs of others begins," he said.
Co-creator creator Matt Stone responded that Hayes "has no problem - and he's cashed plenty of checks - with our show making fun of Christians." A subsequent episode of the show seemingly killed off the Chef character.
Hayes was born in 1942 in a tin shack in Covington, Tenn., about 40 miles north of Memphis. He was raised by his maternal grandparents after his mother died and his father took off when he was 1 1/2. The family moved to Memphis when he was 6.
He held down various low-paying jobs, including shining shoes on the legendary Beale Street in Memphis. He also played gigs in rural Southern juke joints where at times he had to hit the floor because someone began shooting.
Isaac Hayes
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