Jack Abramoff has pled to testify and to do time for his crimes. The
fallout--who will be swept up in the morass and what should Democrats do to
reform the ills that led to this mess?
Tom DeLay is in retreat--can his successor be worse?
The NSA scandal and ensuing fallout won't disappear no matter how hard the
Bushites try. What next?
And all the fun topics we can cram in because we will NEED them.
Sunday night we are joined by Marty (or is it Martha?) from
BartCopEntertainment to review the week.
Heh - now you see why I wait 24 hours to archive a page.
OTOH, seeing as how it's been about 500 days since I took a break, should probably expect worse.
The archived page has been corrected - thanks.
MARK DANNER: How Bush Really Won
Hour by hour, as the booming salesman's voice of proud Floridian Rush Limbaugh rumbled from the radio, warning gravely of the dangers of "voting for bin Laden" ("Haven't you noticed that bin Laden is using Democratic talking points?"), and other ominous voices reminded listeners of the "hundreds of votes" Senator Kerry cast "against our national defense" ("In a time of terror, when our enemies are gathering...can we afford to take that risk?") ....
Donnie Fowler: Howard Dean Gets It (huffingtonpost.com)
The truth came out this week in Washington, DC. Howard Dean is not only keeping his commitment to organize the Democratic Party outside the DC Beltway, he has broken all DNC fundraising records during a non-election year.
Cindy Sheehan: The Opposite of Good Is Apathy (truthout.org)
On October 26th, as MoveOn.org was holding its candlelight vigils across the country to mourn the death of the 2000th American soldier in Iraq, I and two dozen others were being arrested in front of the White House protesting the carnage done in our name by the illegitimate residents therein. Now, counting the 11 American soldiers who were pointlessly killed in George's unconscionable and brainless war of terror in the Middle East, the American "official" death toll is up to 2193: 200 more families ruined in less than three months!
Geoff Dyer in Shanghai and Andrew Balls in Washington: China signals reserves switch away from dollar (news.ft.com)
China indicated on Thursday it could begin to diversify its rapidly growing foreign exchange reserves away from the US dollar and government bonds - a potential shift with significant implications for global financial and commodity markets. Economists estimate that more that 70 per cent of the reserves are invested in US dollar assets, which has helped to sustain the recent large US deficits. If China were to stop acquiring such a large proportion of dollars with its reserves - currently accumulating at about $15bn (¤12.4bn) a month - it could put heavy downward pressure on the greenback.
Woody Allen is an annoying nerd…a pitiful perv….a clarinet playing elitist turd……OK there…I said it !!!! Why are all the high priced critics raving about his new movie "Match Point" ? Maybe because he wisely no longer stars in his own flicks ? Maybe because he filmed this one in London and not Manhattan ? Maybe because he picked the deliciously adolescent siren Scarlett Johansson to star in this mystery/thriller. AHHHHH…that's it "frankly..my dear Scarlett"!!!!
Stephen Rea of the Philadelphia Enquirer says of Scarlett's performance…."as a sultry thing sucking on a cigarette"…..She evokes.."Lauren Bacall's "To Have and Have Not" role with "Bogey" !!
Peter Travers in Rolling Stone says of Scarlett's performance……"Johanssan is Tart and Terrific" !!
Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle says of Scarlett's performance……"She borders on astonishing" !!
With all this Hype and Hoopla, I had to see for myself! The last Woody flick I really liked was "Manhattan" (1979) with the innocent and seventeen year old Mariel Hemingway in bed with Allen. And I just adored Johansson in "Lost in Translation" with an innocent and seventeen year old Scarlett in bed with Bill Murray. "Are you feelin' lucky…PUNK ???"
These are the words that came to mind when the plot of "Match Point" began playing itself out….Chris Wilton is a poor professional Tennis player from Ireland …..but the ball hadn't bounced his way when he played Agassi and Laver so he gets a job in London teaching the "Lob" and the "Ace" to a rich Heir Apparent named Tom Hewett (Matthew Goode). The two bond over opera and novels and pretty soon Chris is hanging out at the Country Estate. He meets the wealthy Parents, Alec Hewett (Brian Cox) and Eleanor Hewett (Penelope Wilton) and Tom's sweet sister Chloe (Emily Mortimer - "Notting Hill" (1999) - "Scream 3" (2000) - "Lovely & Amazing" (2001) with whom Chris becomes attached to …she takes him to the "Tate" and to the Opera.
It's a big, gala dinner party and Chris accidently runs into Nola Rice (Scarlett Johansson - "The Horse Whisperer" (1998) - "Eight Legged Freaks"(2002) - "Lost in Translation" (2003) - "Girl with a Pearl Earring" (2003) …..she's in the game room playing table tennis…he challenges her to a game (she had just disposed of another guy) and slams his best overhands and after beating her soundly, he moves in next to her and tries to kiss her, he wants her….Tom walks in and says.. Chris, I'd like you to meet my American Actress Fiancee, Nola Rice!!!!! Oh shit ! The "Passion, Temptation and Obsession" begins….
Chris has to have Nola…but Chloe wants to marry Chris and have his baby…and if Chris marries Chloe, Daddy will give Chris a Plum job down at the Office. Chris has to have Nola…..and finally one wet afternoon after Tom and Nola have a fight and Nola storms out into the rainy fields, Chris follows her over behind the shed and they have "Splendor in the Grass"…(This was not at all a sexy love scene but rather clumsy and forced).
Chris marries Chloe and he gets the hot position down at the office. But he still has to have Nola even though she says "get over it…it was a "one time thing". Chloe wants a baby but Chris has to have Nola…
Well, Tom dumps Nola for a more appropriate girl (from Money not America) ….Nola moves back to the US. Tom gets married and has a kid and now the pressure is on Chris to have a kid (he tells Chloe he's tired from work)…
Then one day Chris sees Nola and before you know it Chris has Nola..she gets a little apartment that he rents for her and he tells her that he's going to leave Chloe…as soon as he can and the compulsive lying begins…
I'm not gonna give the ending away because it is worth the $7.50 and popcorn but suffice is to say that this is not a Comedy nor a Morality play.
And as far as the accolades for acting by My dear Scarlett…..she was very wooden, dry and detached….and Enrico Caruso didn't help at all!
Purple Gene gives "Match Point" 7 bouncing on the net green tennis balls out of 10 for being good enough to hold my attention but not a grand slam.
P.S. If you're going for sex scenes…forget it..there are no Scarlett breasts showing (and she ain't no Lauren Bacall!)…and Emily Mortimer's is by far the best performance in the film!
Think I'm on
Erin's Show on 710 KIRO a little after 10pm (pst) tonight. As June Allyson would say, 'Depends.'
Added a new flag - Bermuda.
Tonight, Sunday:
CBS starts the night with '60 Minutes', followed by a FRESH'Cold Case' (all the music in this episode is by Bruce Springsteen), then a RERUN'CSI: The 3rd One', followed by a RERUN'CSI: The 2nd One'.
NBC opens the night with 'Dateline', followed by a FRESH'West Wing', then a FRESH'Law & Order: Criminal Intent', followed by a FRESH'Crossing Jordan'.
ABC begins the night with a FRESH'America's So-Called Funniest Home Videos', followed by a FRESH'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition', then a FRESH'Desperate Housewives' (runs 1 minute long), followed by a FRESH'Grey's Anatomy' (starts 1 minute past the top of the hour).
The WB offers a RERUN'Reba', followed by another RERUN'Reba', then a FRESH'Charmed', followed by a RERUN'Supernatural'.
Faux has a RERUN'Simpsons', followed by another RERUN'Simpsons', then a FRESH'Simpsons', followed by a FRESH'War At Home', then a FRESH'Family Guy', followed by a FRESH'American Dad'.
UPN has an old 'Alias', followed by an old 'Fear Factor'.
A&E has '24', another '24', 'The First 48', and a FRESH'Intervention'.
AMC offers the movie 'Dr. No', followed by the movie 'Batman'.
BBC -
[2pm] 'The Robinsons' - Episode 1;
[2:40pm] 'The Robinsons' - Episode 2;
[3:20pm] 'The Robinsons' - Episode 3;
[4pm] 'The Robinsons' - Episode 4;
[4:40pm] 'The Robinsons' - Episode 5;
[5:20pm] 'The Robinsons' - Episode 6;
[6pm] 'Bargain Hunt' - Wetherby 5;
[6:30pm] 'Bargain Hunt' - Ardingly 16;
[7pm] 'Cash in the Attic' - Corry-Thomas;
[8pm] 'Cash in the Attic' - Episode 2;
[9pm] 'Changing Rooms' - Episode 2;
[9:30pm] 'What Not To Wear' - Liz Traves;
[10pm] 'Mile High' - Episode 12;
[11pm] 'Cash in the Attic' - Episode 2;
[12am] 'Changing Rooms' - Episode 2;
[12:30am] 'What Not To Wear' - Liz Traves;
[1am] 'Mile High' - Episode 12;
[2am] 'Cash in the Attic' - Episode 2;
[3am] 'Manchild' - Episode 4;
[3:40am] 'Manchild' - Episode 5;
[4:20am] 'Manchild' - Episode 6;
[5am] 'Without Prejudice' - Episode 4;
[6am] 'BBC World News'. (ALL TIMES EST)
Bravo has 'Law & Order: Criminal Intent', another 'Law & Order: Criminal Intent', 'Inside The Actors Studio' (Queen Latifah), and yet another 'Law & Order: Criminal Intent'.
Comedy Central has 'Blue Collar Comedy Tour: The Movie' and 'Christopher Titus'.
History has 'Weather...Or Not?', 'Little Ice Age: Big Chill', and 'Modern Marvels'.
IFC -
[6AM] Fargo (1996);
[7:45AM] IFC in Theaters (2005);
[8AM] Happy Times (2001);
[9:30AM] Y Tu Mama Tambien (2002);
[10AM] Mr. & Mrs. Bridge (1990);
[12:15PM] Home Movie (2002);
[1:30PM] At the IFC Center #9 (1642);
[2PM] Happy Times (2001);
[4PM] Mr. & Mrs. Bridge (1990);
[6:15PM] Ugetsu (1953);
[8PM] The Business of Strangers (2001);
[11:30PM] The Third Miracle;
[1:45AM] The Business of Strangers (2001);
[3:15AM] Y Tu Mama Tambien (2002);
[5AM] Short: Wide Awake in Nothing;
[5:30AM] At the IFC Center #9 (1642). (ALL TIMES EST)
SciFi has the movie 'Final Destination', followed by the movie 'Jeepers Creepers'.
Sundance -
[6AM] No Secret Anymore: The Times of Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon;
[7AM] Dopamine;
[8:30AM] Paradise Alley;
[10:20AM] If I Should Fall From Grace: The Shane MacGowan Story;
[12PM] Coldblooded;
[1:35PM] Life, Liberty and The Pursuit of Happiness;
[2PM] Iconoclasts: Ford on Koons;
[2:45PM] Life, Liberty and The Pursuit of Happiness;
[3PM] Kath & Kim: Kicking Up a Stink;
[3:25PM] Hamburger America;
[4:20PM] Super Size Me;
[6PM] Iconoclasts: Ford on Koons;
[6:45PM] Life, Liberty and The Pursuit of Happiness;
[7PM] Dopamine;
[8:30PM] Kath & Kim: Kicking Up a Stink;
[9PM] Twentyfourseven;
[10:40PM] Little Black Boot;
[11PM] Kika;
[1AM] Twentyfourseven;
[2:40AM] Kika;
[4:35AM] Coldblooded. (ALL TIMES EST)
Aaron McGruder, creator of 'The Boondocks,' poses for photos before taking part in the 5th annual New York Times Arts & Leisure Weekend, Saturday, Jan. 7, 2006 in New York.
Photo by Henny Ray Abrams
"Capote," which chronicles the years Truman Capote spent researching and writing the groundbreaking nonfiction novel "In Cold Blood," was named best picture of 2005 after a lengthy vote by the National Society of Film Critics on Saturday.
The mafia story "A History of Violence" earned second place in the best picture vote, and "2046," the story of a former newspaper editor's exploits in a hotel room, ranked third.
"Capote" star Philip Seymour Hoffman was voted best actor for his transformation into the author who became obsessed with the 1959 murder of a farm family in Kansas.
Second place in the best actor category went to Jeff Daniels, who played a father of two boys in the Brooklyn divorce story "The Squid and the Whale." Heath Ledger, a cowboy conflicted about his feelings for another man in "Brokeback Mountain," was a close third.
Reese Witherspoon was selected as best actress for her performance as June Carter Cash in the biopic "Walk the Line." Keira Knightley won second place in that category for "Pride and Prejudice"; Vera Farmiga ("Down to the Bone") and Kate Dollenmayer ("Funny Ha Ha") shared third.
Actor-comedian Robin Williams performs during Google CEO Larry Page's keynote address Friday, Jan. 6, 2006, at the Consumer Electronics Show, CES, in Las Vegas.
Photo by Damian Dovarganes
Comedian John Cleese owes a lot to the animal kingdom after building a career around the surreal "Monty Python" and achieving mainstream movie success with "A Fish Called Wanda" -- now he's decided to return the favour.
Cleese, 66, will perform a fundraiser for Sydney's Taronga Zoo this weekend. He has staged similar shows in the past for Britain's Jersey Zoo and is a director of the Santa Barbara Zoo in California, near his US ranch.
He said his interest had been heightened because we were living "at a time when the richest people I have ever seen in my life in America are only interested in becoming richer and spoiling the planet in the process".
Elvis Costello has found a new touring partner: the symphony orchestra. The 51-year-old singer-songwriter, whose backing bands in the past have included The Attractions and The Imposters, will team up with symphonies around the U.S. for an orchestral tour this spring.
He'll perform his orchestral work, "Il Sogno," or "The Dream," during the first part of the concert, according to his Web site. After intermission, he plans to play his eclectic rock and pop hits.
In this photograph provided by XM Satellite Radio, Quincy Jones, left, and Herbie Hancock are seen together backstage at the XM Satellite Radio booth during the Consumer Electronics Show, Saturday, Jan. 7, 2006 in Las Vegas. Jones was on hand for an interview, and Herbie Hancock came to perform at the booth.
Photo by John Harrington
Singer Pink and motocross racer Carey Hart tied the knot in Costa Rica on Saturday.
More than 100 guests attended the wedding, which was held on the beach at the Four Seasons resort, People magazine reported.
Pink, whose real name is Alecia Moore, met Hart at the 2001 X Games in Las Vegas and proposed to him last summer during a race in Mammoth Lakes, Calif.
Hip-hop singer Ms. Dynamite has been charged with punching an officer in the face after police arrested her for allegedly kicking the door of a west London nightclub, police said Saturday.
The musician, whose real name is Niomi McLean-Daley, was out celebrating her birthday with her brother. She allegedly became abusive when officers confronted her while she was kicking the front door of the Paragon Lounge.
Police said she was taken into custody and punched a female officer, bruising the officer's nose. McLean-Daley, 25, was charged with disorderly conduct and assaulting an officer.
Michael Jackson is being sued for unpaid bills by the veterinarian who tends to the pop star's exotic animals at his Neverland ranch, which the singer has not occupied since being acquitted of child molestation charges last June.
Jackson has been living in the tiny Persian Gulf kingdom of Bahrain, but the lawsuit was filed in Santa Maria, Calif., where he stood trial last year.
Martin Dinnes, owner of Dinnes Memorial Veterinary Hospital, alleges that Jackson owes $91,602 in veterinary bills. Dinnes helped the singer acquire animals for his zoo including flamingoes, giraffes, elephants and orangutans, said his lawyer, Brenton Horner.
Adult film actress Jesse Jane blows a kiss to fans at the Digital Playground booth during the AVN Adult Entertainment Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada January 6, 2006.
Photo by Steve Marcus
In the 50 years that Grant Goodman has known and corresponded with a colleague in the Philippines he never had any reason to suspect that their friendship was anything but spectacularly ordinary.
Last month Goodman, an 81-year-old retired University of Kansas history professor, received a letter from his friend in the Philippines that had been opened and resealed with a strip of dark green tape bearing the words "by Border Protection" and carrying the official Homeland Security seal.
"I was shocked and there was a certain degree of disbelief in the beginning," Goodman said when he noticed the letter had been tampered with, adding that he felt his privacy had been invaded. "I think I must be under some kind of surveillance."
In this photo provided by Grandfather Mountain, a light snow and frost capped ridge is seen as the sun rises over Grandfather Mountain near Linville, N.C., Saturday, Jan. 7, 2006.
Photo by Jim Morton
The preserved remains of two prehistoric men discovered in an Irish bog have revealed a couple of surprises --- one used hair gel and the other stood 6 foot 6 inches high, the tallest Iron Age body discovered.
"He would have been a giant...the other man was quite short, about 5 foot 2 inches," said Ned Kelly, head of antiquities at the National Museum of Ireland.
"The shorter man appeared to attempt to give himself greater stature by a rather curious headdress which was a bit like a Mohican-style with the hair gel, which was a resin imported from France," Kelly told BBC radio.
The fashion-conscious gel wearer has been named Clonycavan Man and Kelly said the fact he was able to buy imported cosmetics suggests he was a wealthy member of Irish society about 2,300 years ago. The other was dubbed Oldcroghan Man.
Austrian mountaineer Heinrich Harrer, whose life was portrayed in his book and the film "Seven Years in Tibet," died on Saturday aged 93, Austrian officials said in a statement.
He was the first person to climb the north face of Switzerland's Eiger mountain in 1938, but won world renown after his book, the film version of which was directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud and starred Brad Pitt.
Harrer was taken prisoner by British forces in 1944 during an expedition in the Himalayas but escaped and fled over the mountain range to Tibet.
He struck up a close friendship with the Dalai Lama when staying at the Tibetan capital of Lhasa from 1946 to 1951, before China annexed the country.
Following media reports, Harrer admitted in the 1990s he had been a member of the Nazi party.
Slender-tailed Merkats snuggle against each other for warmth in the zoo of Hanover, northern Germany on Friday, Jan. 6, 2006. The weather forecast predicts cold weather for the next days.
Photo by Kai-Uwe Knoth
You have reached the Home page of BartCop Entertainment.
Make yourself home, take your shoes off...
Go ahead, scratch it if it itches.
The idea is to have fun.
Do you have something to say?
Anything that increased your blood pressure, or, even better,
amused or entertained?
Do you have a great album no one's heard?
How about a favorite TV show, movie, book, play, cartoon, or legal amusement?
A popular artist that just plain pisses you off?
A box set the whole world should own?
Vile, filthy rumors about Republican musicians?
Just plain vile, filthy rumors?
This is your place.
(In other words, submissions are welcome.)
Send mail to Marty
( SuprmChaos at yahoo dot com )
