Recommended Reading
from Bruce
Susan Estrich: The Truth About Bin Laden (Creators Syndicate)
[This movie] won't be seen only by Americans. Entertainment is America's biggest export. The myth that Americans support torture, that we depended on it for our greatest military operation, will be seized upon not only by those in the world who already hate us but also by those who might grow up to hate us and those who are still not certain about how much they hate us. Just as we are lulled into supporting torture, they will be lulled into hating us for it.
Marc Dion: For Bill Unger and the Hobby Boys (Creators Syndicate)
Even as I write (in the quaint old phrase), some fellow in, say, Oklahoma is planning or perhaps hosting the meeting of his hometown camera club. Some woman, equally sincere, is going over the books of her bowling team, making sure they're on financial track to purchase trophies for the annual banquet. As a guy in his 60s organizes a barroom darts league and a younger fellow hovers over a computer, making sure all is well with a fantasy football league.
Esther Inglis-Arkell: The Ironic End of the Man who Made Himself Immune to Poison (io9)
Legend has it, there was an ancient king who resisted Rome. And he ended the way that most people who resisted Rome did. But, because of his research into poisons, and immunity to poison in particular, his end had an ironic twist that many Romans would have appreciated. Learn about the sad, ironic death of the poison-resistant Mithridates.
Terry Savage: Start Early to Make 2013 Better (Creators Syndicate)
Organize your checkbook. Of course, you may not use a checkbook anymore, preferring to do all your banking online. But this is the moment to go over your check payments for the year and figure out which are tax deductible for your 2012 return. You may have written checks to charities, or to pay for business expenses and travel. Get it sorted out now.
John Cheese: 5 Excuses That Prevent Us from Growing Up (Cracked)
#3. "I Can't Make It on My Own!"
Charlyn Fargo: Keep It Simple (Creators Syndicate)
I remember being in the hospital after having my daughter, worrying about the extra pounds I gained while pregnant. A friend, who was a registered dietitian, came in to visit, and I shared my concerns. She looked at me and said, it's really simple - eat fewer calories, use more calories. ... If you want to lose weight, shrink your portions and increase your exercise. Keep it simple. You don't have to count calories, buy special food or go on a special diet. Just eat less, and exercise more.
Bruce Sterling: The Complete Interview, 2013
Cory Doctorow: Do you feel that the world is, on balance, improved by technology?
Well, if you ask that question from the point of view of almost anything in this world that's not a human being like you and me, the answer's almost certainly No. You might get a few Yea votes from the likes of albino rabbits and gene-spliced tobacco plants. Ask any living thing that's been around in the world since before the Greeks made up the word "technology," like say a bristlecone pine or a coral reef. You would hear an awful tale of woe.
Piotr Kowalczyk: Every writer should learn to self-publish
I think every writer should try to learn how to self-publish the book. There is no exception. Everyone. It doesn't mean that a book has to be published. It only means that opportunities have to be recognized. And there are a lot of opportunities. The biggest one is control over the process of developing an ebook. "Developing" is a good word.
David Bruce's Amazon Author Page
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David Bruce has approximately 50 Kindle books on Amazon.com.
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Reader Suggestion
Michelle in AZ
From The Creator of 'Avery Ant'
Selected Readings
from that Mad Cat, JD
In The Chaos Household
Last Night
Mostly overcast and on the cool side.
Nancy Pelosi's Appearance
'30 Rock'
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi will appear on the series finale of NBC's "30 Rock."
Pelosi's office confirmed Friday the California congresswoman will appear but did not reveal any other details. The final episode of Tina Fey's comedy is scheduled to air Jan. 31, ending seven seasons for the Emmy Award-winning show.
Other politicians who have appeared on the show include former Vice President Al Gore, former Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
'30 Rock'
Bee Species Name
Big Bang Theory
Lots of people in Hollywood have Emmy Awards, but how many can say they have a bee species named after their work? Jim Parsons' Sheldon Cooper character from his hit sitcom "The Big Bang Theory" (which he's won an Emmys and a Golden Globe for) has been honored with a bee species name. A new species of Brazilian orchid bees have been dubbed "bazinga" (official name being Euglossa bazinga), which pays homage to his catchphrase, "Bazinga!" "TBBT" executive producer Steven Molaro said in a statement, "Sheldon would be honored to know that Euglossa bazinga was inspired by him. In fact, after 'Mothra' and griffins, bees are his third-favorite flying creatures."
Big Bang Theory
Lost Dog
Dennis Lehane
There's a new mystery on Dennis Lehane's mind, and the best-selling author is offering a special reward solving the case: Find his lost dog and get a spot in his next book.
The plot kicked off Christmas Eve, when the crime novelist's rescue beagle Tessa escaped from his yard after an outdoor gate latch didn't lock all the way.
Since then, Lehane's family has launched an all-out search. They've posted fliers, organized foot searches and used social media to try to bring Tessa back to their home in Brookline, Mass., near Boston.
The 47-year-old author of books including "Mystic River" and "Gone, Baby, Gone" is offering a monetary reward and has said he'll name a character in his next book after whoever finds Tessa.
Dennis Lehane
Mugged In Paris
Naomi Campbell
British supermodel Naomi Campbell was mugged by two assailants who tried to steal her handbag in Paris in late November, the prosecutor's office and police said on Friday.
Campbell lodged a complaint with police after being attacked by two men on motorbikes in the capital's trendy Marais neighbourhood.
The men attempted to steal Campbell's bag from inside the car she was in on the evening of Nov. 21, a police source said.
"There was an attempted robbery with violence," an official at the prosecutor's office said. U.S. media reported that Campbell had suffered a knee injury in the attack and could require surgery.
Naomi Campbell
Got A Mandate
Gerard Depardieu
French film star Gerard Depardieu arrived in Russia on Saturday to meet President Vladimir Putin, who granted him citizenship after a public spat in France over his efforts to avoid a potential 75 percent income tax.
Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the two would meet in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, where Putin was spending part of the 10-day New Year and Russian Orthodox Christmas holiday.
He said it was possible Putin would hand Depardieu his Russian passport during the meeting.
Depardieu is a popular figure in Russia, where he has appeared in many advertising campaigns, including for ketchup. He also worked there in 2011 on a film about the eccentric Russian monk Grigory Rasputin.
Gerard Depardieu
Leads Campaign Against Legal Pot
Patrick Kennedy
Retired Rhode Island Congressman Patrick Kennedy is taking aim at what he sees as knee-jerk support for marijuana legalization among his fellow liberals, in a project that carries special meaning for the self-confessed former Oxycontin addict.
Kennedy, 45, a Democrat and younger son of the late "Lion of the Senate" Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts, is leading a group called Project SAM (Smart Approaches to Marijuana) that opposes legalization and seeks to rise above America's culture war over pot with its images of long-haired hippies battling law-and-order conservatives.
Project proposals include increased funding for mental health courts and treatment of drug dependency, so those caught using marijuana might avoid incarceration, get help and potentially have their criminal records cleared.
Kennedy wants cancer patients and others with serious illnesses to be able to obtain drugs with cannabinoids, but in a more regulated way that could involve the U.S. Food and Drug Administration playing a larger role.
The eight-term former congressman from Rhode Island and the group he chairs will put forth their plan on Wednesday with a media appearance in Denver.
Patrick Kennedy
"Trooper of the Year"
Utah Highway Patrol
A class-action lawsuit has been filed against a former Utah Highway Patrol trooper
The department fired Lisa Steed in November for alleged misconduct related to her duties.
Steed was named Utah Highway Patrol's "Trooper of the Year" in 2007 for making more than 200 DUI arrests, a reward that Studebaker says should be taken away from her.
Steed herself has admitted in the past that she did not follow proper protocol while administering a DUI check. At a court hearing in May 2012, Steed admitted that, while she was administering a blood-alcohol test on Theron Alexander March 2010, she removed her microphone in order to perform an unauthorized action.
An attorney representing Alexander told ABC News last year that Steed's actions could call all her cases into question.
Utah Highway Patrol
Gets TV Show
Edwin Edwards
Former Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards will star on a new cable TV show alongside the woman he married after his release from federal prison on a corruption conviction.
In a Facebook exchange Friday, Trina Scott Edwards told The Associated Press she's currently filming for "The Governor's Wife," which will showcase the 34-year-old wife of the octogenarian former governor.
According to A&E, the series will follow Trina Edwards as she tries to fit into the former governor's upscale world while trying to get along with step-daughters almost twice her age and corral her teenage sons.
The series will include Edwin Edwards' daughters: Anna, a 62-year-old, four-time divorcee, and Victoria, whom A&E described in a news release as "a hardened 60-year-old ex-showgirl."
Edwin Edwards served four terms as a Democratic governor in the 1970s, '80s and '90s. He married Trina in July 2011, shortly after his release from federal prison for his role in a bribery and extortion scheme to rig riverboat casino licenses during his fourth term in the early 1990s.
Edwin Edwards
Cable TV
Romney
As political experts assess Republican Mitt Romney's failed U.S. presidential bid, an analysis of how his campaign and President Barack Obama's winning team used cable TV to target ads at specific groups of voters may offer some valuable tips for the future.
During the final weeks before the November 6 election, with polls showing a tight race, Obama's campaign exploited cable TV's diverse lineup to target women on channels such as Food Network and Lifetime and men on networks such as ESPN.
The Obama team used the fragmentation of cable TV's audience to its fullest advantage to target tailored messages to voters in battleground states.
Meanwhile, Romney's campaign relied on a more traditional mass saturation of broadcast TV. The Romney camp was entirely dark on cable TV for two of the campaign's last seven days.
"We don't know why. This was a week before the election and you're in the fight for your life," said Timothy Kay, political director for NCC Media, a cable TV industry consortium.
Romney
In Memory
Gloria Pall
Gloria Pall, the sultry hostess of a 1950s Los Angeles TV show that was canceled because her character's sexy poses and flirtatious comments were deemed too hot for television, has died.
Pall died Dec. 30 of heart failure at a Burbank hospital, her son Jefferson Kane told the Los Angeles Times in a story published online Saturday. She was 85.
Pall was a former model and showgirl when she was cast by KABC-TV in 1954 to introduce each week's romantic movie. Appearing as "Voluptua," the statuesque Pall welcomed viewers with a breathy coo to her boudoir and tell them to "Relax, take off your shoes, loosen your ties."
During the show, she caressed a bearskin rug and made costume changes behind a translucent screen.
As she signed off, clad only in a men's pajama top, she kissed the camera goodbye.
The station canceled the show after seven weeks amid pressure from religious and parent groups, and lackluster commercial sponsorship. The protests attracted national media attention.
Pall said her character was simply being suggestive. She described her over-the-top character as "corny not porny."
She also had a brief acting career and had memorable roles. In an image from the 1957 film "Jailhouse Rock," her legs frame Elvis Presley's face at a burlesque show; she clutches Kirk Douglas' arm in a scene from 1954's "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea"; and in "Crimson Kimono," a classic 1959 film noir, Pall played a stripper named Sugar Torch, who gets shot in the opening scene.
She later became a Los Angeles real estate agent.
Gloria Pall
In Memory
Jayne Cortez
Jayne Cortez, a forceful poet, activist and performance artist who blended oral and written traditions into numerous books and musical recordings, has died. She was 78.
The Organization of Women Writers of Africa says Cortez died of heart failure in New York on Dec. 28. She had helped found the group and, while dividing her time between homes in New York and Senegal, was planning a symposium of women writers to be held in Ghana in May.
Cortez was a prominent figure in the black arts movement of the 1960s and '70s that advocated art as a vehicle for political protest. She cited her experiences trying to register black voters in Mississippi in the early '60s as a key influence.
A native of Fort Huachuca, Ariz., she was raised in the Watts section of Los Angeles. She loved jazz since childhood and would listen to her parents' record collection. Musicians including trumpeter Don Cherry would visit her home and through them she met her first husband, Ornette Coleman, one of the world's greatest jazz artists. They were married from 1954 to 1964.
Her books included "Scarifications" and "Mouth On Paper," and she recorded often with her band the Firespitters, chanting indictments of racism, sexism and capitalism. Its members included her son, drummer Denardo Coleman, and several other members of Ornette Coleman's electronic Prime Time band, guitarist Bern Nix and bassist Al McDowell.
Cortez, who described herself as a "jazz poet," performed all over the world and her work was translated into 28 languages. At the time of her death, she was living with her second husband, the sculptor Melvin Edwards.
Jayne Cortez
In Memory
John Sheardown
John Sheardown, a former Canadian diplomat who sheltered fugitive American Embassy staffers at his Tehranhome at great personal risk during the 1979 Iran hostage crisis, has died. He was 88.
His wife Zena said Saturday that Sheardown passed away in an Ottawa hospital on Dec. 30. She says he had been treated for Alzheimer's disease for the past four years but also suffered from other ailments.
Sheardown, the First Secretary at the Canadian Embassy in Tehran at the time of the Islamic Revolution, played a key role in the events depicted in Ben Affleck's Oscar-contender film "Argo," although he was not portrayed in the film.
Almost a week after militant Iranian radicals seized the U.S. Embassy in Tehran on November 4, 1979, taking 52 Americans hostage for 444 days in retaliation for U.S. support for the recently deposed shah, the Canadian diplomat received a call from one of the six Americans who had managed to evade capture. American consular officer Robert Anders was calling his friend Sheardown for help.
After that phone call, the Sheardowns agreed without hesitation to shelter four of the six Americans in secrecy in their 20-room house in Tehran. Canadian ambassador, Ken Taylor, housed the other two Americans.
For 79 days, the pair lived a low-profile life in tumultuous Tehran, facilitating a household that was comfortable and welcoming for the Americans, while helicopters streamed overhead, everyone's nerves calmed only by boisterous dinners together and heartfelt hospitality.
While Sheardown might be best known for his role in what became known as the "Canadian Caper," he was noticeably absent from "Argo," which told the story of how the CIA used a fake Hollywood film crew to rescue the six U.S. Embassy staffers sheltered by the Canadians. Affleck has apologized for leaving Sheardown out of the film, which he said was the result of time constraints and plot developments.
Sheardown was made a Member of the Order of Canada for his role in the rescue. His wife later also received the award for her role.
Born in Sandwich, Ontario, later absorbed by Windsor, on Oct. 11, 1924, John Vernon Sheardown joined the Royal Canadian Air Force at age 18. He flew scores of Lancaster bomber missions in World War II. On one mission, he barely managed to get his flak-riddled plane back to Britain. With the Lancaster losing power, he told his crew to bail out. He tried to wrestle the aircraft under control before opting to leap at the last minute. His chute barely had time to open and he broke both legs upon impact.
He stayed in the Canadian Armed Forces after the war, serving in Korea, before joining Canada's immigration service around 1962. He was posted in London, Glasgow, New Delhi and Los Angeles, during his extensive 27-year diplomatic career.
"He was a proud, dignified man, proud to serve his country, a dedicated foreign services officer and well-respected by all," his wife said.
It was that dignified air that caught the eye of his future wife when she first spotted him in the Canadian High Commission in London, England.
She asked a friend who that was and her friend replied: "That's John Sheardown, the kindest man I've ever known. If he was down to his last penny and he thought you needed it, he would give it to you."
The two were married in Los Angeles in 1975. It was his second marriage.
Besides his wife, the former Zena Khan, he is survived by his sons, Robin and John; his sisters, Jean Fitzsimmons and Betty Ann Whitehead; six grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
John Sheardown
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