John Mercurio: Those Feisty Freshmen (NationalJournal.com)
In interviews with several of those freshman House Democrats following Bush's State of the Union address this week, an interesting trend emerged: Democrats not only appear confident about their prospects of holding onto power in '08, but despite (or perhaps because of) their perceived vulnerabilities, they're preparing to seek re-election on platforms that openly oppose the Republican president and the agenda he unveiled Tuesday night.
Too many memories? (guardian.co.uk)
From the Holocaust to 9/11, from Berlin to New York, the world is now studded with memorials to human suffering. But does this really mean we care more than we used to? And does our obsession with terrible events make it any less likely that we will repeat them? Jonathan Jones joins the strange new tourist trail.
Joseph Epstein: Kid Turns 70 , And nobody cares (weeklystandard.com)
Seventy. Odd thing to happen to a five-year-old boy who, only the other day, sang "Any Bonds Today," whose mother's friends said he would be a heartbreaker for sure (he wasn't), who was popular but otherwise undistinguished in high school, who went on to the University of Chicago but long ago forgot the dates of the rule of the Thirty Tyrants in Athens and the eight reasons for the Renaissance, who has married twice and written several books, who somewhere along the way became the grandfather of three, life is but a dream, sha-boom sha-boom, 70, me, go on, whaddya, kiddin' me?
RICHARD ROEPER: Total eclipse of the art (suntimes.com)
The Sundance Experience is a strange mix of celebrity-studded moments, 14-hour workdays, bone-chilling cold and exhausting encounters with obnoxious Hollywood types who have no qualms about typing away on their BlackBerrys throughout a screening. Walking on Main Street, I saw a group of fans chasing down an SUV. The passenger rolled down his window to sign autographs. Classy move, Sir Anthony Hopkins.
It all started last Monday, January 22nd! It just so happened to be Linda Blair's 48th birthday…and "Roller Boogie" (1979) was on Cable……..
Most of us remember the prepubescent and possessed Regan in the movie "The Exorcist" (1973)….that was Linda Blair's first big break and she was only 13 when it was filmed. I knew the guy who did some of the effects (Ron Nagel) that were mixed into the sounds from hell with the devils voice (Mercedes McCambridge) uttering things to the exorcising priest, father Damien, like …"your mother sucks cocks in hell"….while poor Regan bounced on the bed with her head twisting around 360 degrees and spewing green pea soup….well it was a great movie and an amazing performance from Linda Blair. This is where her story begins…….
The studios decided to make "Exorcist 2: The Heretic" (1977)….a disappointing piece of drivel…..but what you may not have known was the 15 year old Linda was dating Rick Springfield ("Jesse's Girl") who was over 10 years her senior (she was under age). Some body decided, After the huge success of "Saturday Night Fever" (1977) to make a dance move with disco music….on wheels "Roller Boogie" (1979) ….but it turned out to be a derivative DUD and the next thing we know…..
Linda Blair moves in with Rick James, the braided punk funk singer of "Super Freak" and "Mary Jane"…needless to say there was cocaine, amphetamines and kinky sex …and getting busted! After that, Linda starred in movies like "Hell Night" (1981) and "Chained Heat" (1983) and all the time she was making side money……In 1989 I went to the Alameda County Fair's Halloween Fright Night and I got a kiss and an autographed can of pea soup from…….Linda Blair…..a girl has to pay the rent!
But Poor Linda did have another life….or three….the 34C"-24"-34" …5'-2" beauty received a "Presidential Fitness Award" as a teenager……She's an accomplished Horseman…..She's an activist for P.E.T.A. and the S.P.C.A. and started "Linda Blair's Worldheart Foundation….She wrote a book called "Going Vegan" and she just had a part on the TV show "Supernatural" as Detective Diana Ballard….
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY !
Purple Gene bestows the prestigious "Comeback Kid of the Year" award to Linda Blair for having her career and personal life go to hell and still come out of it all with a positive attitude and a happy face….see you at the Fair!!!!!
Called dear old Dad to wish him a happy 82nd birthday.
Tonight, Sunday:
CBS starts the night with '60 Minutes', followed by a FRESH'Cold Case' (starts 3 minutes after the top of the hour), then the FRESH made-for-TV-movie 'The Valley Of Light'.
NBC opens the night with a FRESH 2-hour 'Grease: You're The One That I Want', followed by a FRESH'Apprentice', then a FRESH'Crossing Jordan'.
ABC begins the night with a FRESH'America's So-Called Funniest Home Videos', followed by a RERUN'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition', then a RERUN'Desperate Housewives', followed by a RERUN'Brothers & Sisters'.
The CW here has LIVE'NBA Basketball' with the Clips visiting the Sonics.
Faux has a RERUN'Til Death', followed by a RERUN'The War At Home', then a FRESH'Simpsons', followed by the SEASON PREMIERE'King Of The Hill', then a FRESH'Family Guy', followed by a FRESH'American Dad'.
MY has the movie 'The Devil's Own', followed by the movie 'New Guy'.
A&E has 'Cold Case Files', 'The First 48', another 'The First 48', and 'Intervention'.
AMC offers the movie 'Back To The Future Part III', followed by the movie 'Happy Gilmore', then the movie 'Back To The Future'.
BBC -
[2:00 PM] Soundproof - Soundproof;
[4:00 PM] The Return - The Return;
[6:00 PM] Bargain Hunt - Episode 15;
[6:30 PM] Bargain Hunt - Ep. 16 Detling;
[7:00 PM] Cash in the Attic - Ep. 1 Lidstone;
[8:00 PM] Cash in the Attic - Ep. 2 Burrington-Wheatley;
[9:00 PM] Gordon Ramsay's F Word - Episode 4;
[10:00 PM] Footballers Wive$: Overtime - Episode 3;
[10:30 PM] Cash in the Attic - Ep. 25 Smith;
[11:00 PM] Cash in the Attic - Ep. 1 Lidstone;
[12:00 AM] Gordon Ramsay's F Word - Episode 4;
[1:00 AM] Footballers Wive$: Overtime - Episode 3;
[1:30 AM] Cash in the Attic - Ep. 25 Smith;
[2:00 AM] Cash in the Attic - Ep. 3 Edwards;
[3:00 AM] Green Wing - Episode 2;
[4:00 AM] Green Wing - Episode 3;
[5:00 AM] Green Wing - Episode 4;
[6:00 AM] BBC World News - BBC World News. (ALL TIMES EST)
Bravo has all 'Law & Order: Criminal Intent' all night.
Comedy Central has 'Stand-Up Showdown Finals', and 'Lisa Lampanelli: Dirty Girl'.
FX has the movie '13 Going On 30', followed by the movie 'The Stepford Wives', and 'Dirt'.
History has 'Modern Marvels', 'Fort Knox: Secrets Revealed', and 'Modern Marvels'.
IFC -
[06:10 AM] Lulu On The Bridge;
[08:00 AM] Amelie;
[10:05 AM] Shattered Glass;
[11:45 AM] Shadow of China;
[01:30 PM] Lulu On The Bridge;
[03:20 PM] Shattered Glass;
[05:00 PM] Shadow of China;
[06:45 PM] IFC News Presents: Spirit Awards Nominations Special 2007;
[07:15 PM] Graveyard of Honor;
[09:00 PM] The Good Thief;
[10:50 PM] The Funeral;
[12:35 AM] Naked;
[02:50 AM] IFC News Special;
[03:00 AM] The Good Thief;
[04:55 AM] The Funeral. (ALL TIMES EST)
SciFi has the movie 'Disaster Zone: Volcano In New York', 'Dresden Files', another 'Dresden Files', and 'Battlestar Galactica'.
Sundance -
[07:00 AM] Festival Dailies 2007: (1/27/07);
[07:30 AM] Simple Men;
[09:30 AM] Southern Belles;
[11:00 AM] Festival Dailies 2007: (1/27/07);
[11:30 AM] Slo-Mo;
[12:00 PM] The Public Eye (1972);
[01:45 PM] Aruba;
[02:00 PM] One Punk Under God: Episode 1;
[02:30 PM] The Guggenheim and the Baroness;
[03:30 PM] Festival Dailies 2007: (1/27/07);
[04:00 PM] IN SHORT: Festival 7;
[04:30 PM] Festival Dailies 2007: (1/19/07);
[05:00 PM] Festival Dailies 2007: (1/20/07);
[05:30 PM] Festival Dailies 2007: (1/21/07);
[06:00 PM] Festival Dailies 2007: (1/22/07);
[06:30 PM] Festival Dailies 2007: (1/23/07);
[07:00 PM] Festival Dailies 2007: (1/24/07);
[07:30 PM] Festival Dailies 2007: (1/25/07);
[08:00 PM] Festival Dailies 2007: (1/26/07);
[08:30 PM] Festival Dailies 2007: (1/27/07);
[09:00 PM] Festival Dailies 2007: (1/28/07);
[09:30 PM] Series 7: The Contenders;
[11:00 PM] Ryan;
[11:15 PM] Festival Dailies 2007: (1/28/07);
[11:45 PM] Aruba;
[12:00 AM] Phone;
[01:45 AM] Waterland;
[03:30 AM] AKA;
[05:30 AM] Southern Belles. (ALL TIMES EST)
Antiwar activist and Vietnam war veteran Ron Kovic joins thousands of protesters in a march in Los Angeles January 27, 2007. The march was one of several held around the United States, with protesters demanding that the government bring home U.S. troops in Iraq.
Photo by Gus Ruelas
Marcia Wallace of "The Bob Newhart Show" fame was honored by the Roswell Park Cancer Institute Saturday for helping educate Americans about the importance of early cancer detection and inspiring others through her 20 years as a breast cancer survivor.
Wallace, who voices schoolteacher Edna Krabappel on The Simpsons, said she keeps up a steady pace of speaking engagements to promote vigilance even in an age of improved cancer testing and treatment.
In accepting the Gilda Radner Courage Award, she said she was fortunate to catch her cancer at an early stage and encourages people to "use all the tools" to give themselves the same advantage.
"My message is very early detection. I beat that drum," Wallace said.
Paris-based satellite company Eutelsat is investigating "unidentified interference" with its satellite broadcast services that temporarily knocked out several television and radio stations. The company declined to say whether it thought the interference was accidental or deliberate.
The problem began Tuesday afternoon, blocking several European, Middle East and northeast African radio and television stations, as well as Agence France-Presse's news service. All transferred their satellite transmissions to another frequency to resume operations.
Theresa Hitchens of the Center for Defense Information think-tank in Washington DC, US, says there have been cases of deliberate satellite jamming in the past, but it is hard to see what motivation there would be in this instance.
"It's really puzzling to me," she told New Scientist. "If it was accidental, why would they be so secretive about saying what the source was and if it's deliberate, you've got to wonder why - it just seems to me to be an odd target, unless someone's ticked off at the French," she says.
Actor and anti-war demonstrator Sean Penn marches past the Supreme Court as thousands of protesters gathered to rally and march against the war in Iraq in Washington, January 27, 2007.
Photo by Joshua Roberts
Grammy Award-winning singer Tom Waits has settled a lawsuit in which he claimed an automaker and an ad agency violated his rights by imitating him in TV commercials, his lawyer said Friday.
The lawsuit was resolved "recently" in a state court in Frankfurt, Germany, but the settlement required other details be kept confidential, attorney Kevin Marks said. Waits will donate the "net settlement proceeds" to charity, Marks said.
The gravel-voiced singer sued Adam Opel AG, which is part of General Motors Corp., and the advertising firm McCann Erickson in 2005 on grounds that his personality rights had been violated.
ABC is shuffling its Wednesday comedy lineup, shifting its struggling new series "The Knights of Prosperity" away from Fox's "American Idol."
The network said Friday that "Knights" -- a crime caper revolving around a gang's plan to rob Mick Jagger -- will move back a half-hour to 8:30 p.m. beginning Wednesday. "According to Jim" will move up to 9 p.m., and "George Lopez" will continue at 8 p.m.
While that's good news for "Knights" -- which saw its audience plummet nearly 50% from its January 3 premiere when it aired opposite "Idol" on January 17 -- fellow freshman comedy "In Case of Emergency" isn't so lucky, remaining in its 9:30 p.m. slot.
The family of Willa Cather, the Pulitzer Prize winning author who captured the lives of Nebraska homesteaders in such works as "My Antonia," has donated a collection of more than 350 personal letters to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
The collection includes 358 letters, 38 postcards, 35 photographs and 77 books, donated by the grandchildren of Cather's brother, Roscoe, and his wife, Meta Cather.
The majority of the letters are from Cather to Roscoe Cather, his wife and two daughters. They contain detailed accounts of Willa Cather's life, work and opinions, the university said Tuesday.
Singer and songwriter Jackson Browne (C) takes part in an anti-war rally in Los Angeles January 27, 2007. The march was one of several held around the United States, with protesters demanding that the government bring home U.S. troops in Iraq.
Photo by Gus Ruelas
When Los Angeles country music station KZLA changed format last August, alarms sounded in the country music radio and record communities.
The nation's No. 2 market joined New York, which has lacked a country station since 2002, and San Francisco, which bowed out of the country game in early 2005, as the third among the top five markets with no FM country outlet. (Two Los Angeles-area AM stations recently switched to country.)
Among the reasons for the KZLA switch: It's increasingly difficult to succeed with country radio in a market where Caucasians carry less and less sway. A 2006 Arbitron report estimated that only 5.4% of country radio's nationwide audience is Hispanic and 2.3% is black, while 92.3% of country listeners fall into Arbitron's "other" category (which includes Caucasians and Pacific Islanders). But in recent years, U.S. Census figures show, the Hispanic portion of Los Angeles County's population (which grew to 44.6% in 2000 from 37.8% in 1990) has passed up the county's non-Hispanic white population (which slipped to 31.1% of the total in 2000 from 40.8% in 1990).
You're unlikely to see Milena Bonilla's artwork on display in a New York gallery. Just mounting one of her installations inside the United States could land the 30-year-old artist in jail.
That's because, instead of oil on canvas, Bonilla's preferred medium is coca leaf, the base ingredient for cocaine. Classified as a dangerous substance, importing the plant is a felony without U.S. Justice Department permission.
The stalky shrub, which Bonilla planted in 12 two-litre plastic Coca-Cola bottles sheared off at the spout, is getting a makeover by a cadre of artists who want to wrest coca's millennial heritage and aesthetic appeal from the teeth of the war on drugs.
But the main target of so-called coca art may be Colombia President Alvaro Uribe, who has become the plant's chief eradicator as caretaker of the United States' $4 billion war on drugs.
A 62-year-old grandmother who prosecutors said ran drugs to support her bingo habit has been sentenced to three years in prison and a $150,000 fine.
Acting on a tip, state police stopped Leticia Villareal Garcia near Bisbee in southeast Arizona in February 2005 and found 214 pounds of marijuana stuffed into the trunk of her car.
Garcia has maintained her innocence, telling the judge at her sentencing Friday that she was unaware of the grass as she headed for a bingo game.
Garcia testified at her trial in November that her son's godfather had borrowed her car the day before. Her lawyer, Robert Zohlmann, said she had been used as a "blind mule" to unknowingly haul drugs.
Michelle Phillips, the last surviving member of The Mamas and Papas, watches as the casket of her bandmate Denny Doherty is taken from Blessed Mother Teresa Roman Catholic Parish, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2007. Doherty died last week at the age of 66.
Photo by Andrew Vaughan
"Monster Garage" reality show host Jesse James has agreed to pay $271,250 for violating California's air quality laws by selling motorcycles that did not meet the state's strict emissions standards, authorities said.
His Long Beach motorcycle building shop, West Coast Choppers, sold more than 50 new or custom-built motorcycles between 1998 and 2005 that were not certified by the Air Resources Board, the agency said in a statement Friday.
As part of a settlement, the shop is building motorcycles that comply with emission standards, the board said.
In a photo provided by Benoit Photo, Noble Threewitt, left, the oldest thoroughbred racing trainer in North America at the age of 95, watches the final runner of a career that has spanned 75 years, Friday, Jan. 26, 2007, when his Threeatonce, owned by his grandson Chris Chinnici, right, and his wife, Patricia, finished third among nine starters in the fifth horse race at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif.
From high-dollar fraud to conspiracy to bribery and bid rigging, Army investigators have opened up to 50 criminal probes involving battlefield contractors in the war in Iraq and the U.S. fight against terrorism, The Associated Press has learned.
Senior contracting officials, government employees, residents of other countries and, in some cases, U.S. military personnel have been implicated in millions of dollars of fraud allegations.
The problems stem in part from the Pentagon's struggle to get a handle on the unprecedented number of contractors now helping run the nation's wars. Contractors are used in battle zones to do nearly everything but fight. They run cafeterias and laundries for troops, move supplies, run communication systems and repair weapons systems.
Kentucky Fried Chicken employees stand on a giant float made of flowers waves during the "Colours Of Harmony" Florafest Parade in Putrajaya, Malaysia, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2007.
Photo by Andy Wong
The Pensacola City Council has agreed to pay $35,000 (17,900 pounds) to a teenage girl who was forced by a policeman to perform jumping exercises while topless in order to avoid arrest on an indecency charge.
Officer Shawn Patrick Shields approached a parked car and found two partially dressed teenagers inside in April 2003, according to a police report. The officer put the 16-year-old girl and 19-year-old man into his police car and threatened to arrest them for lewd and lascivious behaviour.
The girl said Shields suggested she instead perform topless exercises as a punishment and shined his flashlight on her while she did five jumping jacks.
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