Recommended Reading
from Bruce
Marc Dion: I'm a Graduate of Janitor University (Creators Syndicate)
There is a movement afoot to make public colleges free for everyone. It's a small movement, but you read about it more and more. My parents were lower middle class people who lived in rented apartments and never owned more than one car at a time. They didn't go anywhere on vacation. Instead, they stayed home and slept late in the mornings. So, when I went to college, I worked. My dad took a second job to help.
Lucy Mangan: school runaround (Guardian)
Toryboy wants to home-school our son… He wants to what?
Alison Flood: What would Stephen King do? A litmus test for life (Guardian)
Emily Schultz has taken Stephen King as her guide as she spends an unexpected windfall from her novel Joyland. But how could the master of horror help with your decision-making?
Adam Todd Brown: "5 Celebrities Who Get More Hate Than They Deserve (Part 4)" (Cracked)
#5. Nicolas Cage.
Anonymous, Amanda Mannen: "5 Things Movies Get Wrong About Bank Heists (From a Guard)" (Cracked)
I guarded a branch of the Federal Reserve Bank, a popular target in movies like Die Hard With a Vengeance, and I can tell you with a fair degree of certainty that Ray Bannington the Third wouldn't make it to that beach in Tahiti. He wouldn't even make it out the door, because …
One Woman, 17 British Accents - Anglophenia Ep 5 (YouTube)
Sihobhan Thompson performs various British celebrity accents.
Ask a grown-up: where does salt come from before it gets into the sea? (Guardian)
Geologist Ted Nield answers eight-year-old Isla's question.
Rosanna Greenstreet: "Q&A: Sam Shepard" (Guardian)
'How do I relax? I'm always relaxed.'
Harry Dean Stanton: 'Life? It's one big phantasmagoria' (Guardian)
The wine, the women, the song… The great Harry Dean Stanton talks to Sean O'Hagan about jogging with Dylan, Rebecca de Mornay leaving him for Tom Cruise and why Paris, Texas is his greatest film.
Sarah Boseley: How Britain got so fat (Guardian)
As more of us become obese, the food manufacturers want us to think it's our own fault, the politicians try to avoid the issue and the diet industry gets rich on the misery it creates. So where do we go from here?
Oliver Burkeman: "This column will change your life: we mustn't ignore attention-seekers" (Guardian)
'We think of attention-seeking as a character flaw. Start to see it instead as a universal need and all sorts of things fall into place.'
Kurt Loder: 'The Fault in Our Stars' and 'Edge of Tomorrow': Teenage Tears and Blockbusting Terrors (Creators Syndicate)
The movie doesn't reach for tears, but tears come.
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wrote:
took the day off.
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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.
The most active open discussion is on Bart's Facebook page.
( www.facebook.com/bartcop )
You can listen to Bart's theme song here
or here.
( www.bartcop.com/blizing-saddles.mp3 )
( youtu.be/MySGAaB0A9k )
We have opened up the radio show archives which are now free. Listen to
all you want.
( bartcop.com/members )
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
Sunny and seasonal.
Maine
Mike Michaud
A Democratic candidate who reluctantly came out of the closet last year found himself serving as the grand marshal of Maine's biggest gay pride parade and festival Saturday and urged activists to continue fighting to eliminate discrimination and promote equality.
Mike Michaud, who would become the nation's first openly gay person to be elected governor if he unseats Republican Paul LePage in November, said it would be powerful for the gay community to have a seat at the table in discussions with governors across the country on equality issues.
Gay rights activists say the six-term congressman's victory would be a key milestone in their movement toward equality, inspire other gay leaders to pursue public office and send a positive message to the community's youth.
When Michaud came out publicly last year, he said he didn't want to focus on his personal life in the three-person race with independent Eliot Cutler.
But his potentially historic candidacy has caught the eye of national groups like the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, which has bundled $30,000 to $50,000 for his campaign.
Mike Michaud
Clearwater Festival
Pete Seeger
Music luminaries honoured Pete Seeger on the shore of the Hudson River at Saturday's Clearwater Festival, the first of the annual music and environmental program he started to be held after his death.
Folk artists Tom Paxton, Tom Chapin, Holly Near, Dar Williams and others performed together to honour Seeger, who died in January at age 94. Sets were planned centred on music of the Weavers and Almanac Singers, both bands that featured Seeger, and highlighting the banjo, which Seeger frequently picked in concert.
Lucinda Williams, Rufus Wainwright, Richard Thompson, the Mavericks, Norah Jones and Josh Ritter are among the headliners at the two-day festival expected to draw around 25,000 people.
Chapin opened the tribute by singing "Midnight Special," a folk song recorded by Seeger and others. Before singing "Rainbow Race," Near urged the audience to remember how Seeger "walked into controversy and made us understand how to do that."
Pete Seeger
2015 Inductees
Walk of Fame
The Hollywood Walk of Fame on Friday revealed its annual list of honorees for sidewalk stars and as expected, despite the best efforts of hubby Kanye West and some dedicated fans, Kim Kardashian didn't make the final cut.
Instead, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce selected a wide-ranging, generally well-deserving crew that includes a brace of Anchorman stars (Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd); Harry Potter alter ego Daniel Radcliffe; noir master Raymond Chandler; chapeau aficionado Pharrell; Batman creator Bob Kane; the funny lady trifecta of Melissa McCarthy, Amy Poehler, and Sofia Vergara; spaghetti Western soundtrack slinger Ennio Morricone; Middle-earth maven Peter Jackson; a bevy of Oscar, Emmy, Grammy, and Tony winners; and in a move sure to please all dog lovers, the double whammy of Pitbull and Snoopy.
MOTION PICTURES: Raymond Chandler (posthumous), Eugenio Derbez, Will Ferrell, Jennifer Garner, Peter Jackson, Bob Kane (posthumous), Daniel Radcliffe, Paul Rudd, Snoopy, Melissa McCarthy, and Christoph Waltz.
TELEVISION: James L. Brooks, Ken Ehrlich, Bobby Flay, Seth MacFarlane, Julianna Margulies, Chris O'Donnell, Jim Parsons, Amy Poehler, Kelly Ripa, and Sofia Vergara.
AND THE REST: Lukasz "Dr. Luke" Gottwald, Kool & the Gang, Pitbull, Al Schmitt, Pharrell Williams, Larry Elder, Kristin Chenoweth, Dick Gregory, and Ennio Morricone.
Walk of Fame
Exercise Video for the Ages
Bowie & Jagger
Mick Jagger and David Bowie recorded a terrible song for a good cause back in 1985, covering the Motown hit "Dancing in the Street" for Live Aid. Mario Wienerroither resuscitated the rock icons' rendition of the Motown classic for his music-less music videos series.
You get all of the dance moves, with some grunts and prancing thrown in, without any of the cooing. In other words, it is the perfect jazzercising video.
Jagger is wearing workout attire - a loose shirt and pants - while Bowie dons some kind of trench coat to make sure he sweats it out.
Bowie & Jagger
Divest As Protest
Presbyterians
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) on Friday became the most prominent religious group in the United States to endorse divestment as a protest against Israeli policies toward Palestinians, voting to sell church stock in three companies whose products Israel uses in the occupied territories.
The General Assembly voted by a razor-thin margin - 310-303 - to sell stock in Caterpillar, Hewlett-Packard and Motorola Solutions. Two years ago, the General Assembly rejected a similar divestment proposal by two votes.
The American Jewish Committee, a policy and advocacy group based in New York, said the vote was "driven by hatred of Israel." But Heath Rada, moderator for the church meeting, said immediately after the vote that "in no way is this a reflection of our lack of love for our Jewish brothers and sisters."
The decision is expected to reverberate beyond the 1.8 million-member church. It comes amid discouragement over failed peace talks that have left activists desperate for some way to affect change and as the broader movement known as BDS - or boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel - has gained some momentum in the U.S., Israel's closest and most important ally.
Presbyterians
Stunning Increase In Earthquakes
Oklahoma
Between 1978 and 2008, Oklahoma had just two earthquakes with a magnitude over 3.0. In 2014, thus far, there have been around 200 such earthquakes there, more even than the highly unstable state of California. (They've had 140.) Experts believe the unusual increase in earthquakes is linked to the number of wastewater wells connected to oil and gas drilling.
Wastewater wells occur when oil and gas companies inject wastewater deep underground. Scientists believe that the wastewater acts as a lubricant in existing fault lines, causing more movement. Hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as fracking, has also been linked to earthquakes, though the majority of Oklahoma's tremors were caused by wastewater wells.
The USGS and Oklahoma officials are adding monitor stations to best determine which wastewater wells are causing the earthquake issue. There are currently 15 permanent stations and 17 temporary stations.
Thus far, none of the earthquakes in Oklahoma have caused major damage. However, USGS geophysicist Rob Williams believes it is only a matter of time, "Given the rate of earthquakes over the last six months, it's concerning enough to be worried about a larger, damaging earthquake happening, let alone what might happen in the future."
Oklahoma
Sues For Trademark Infringement
Mormon Church
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is suing the religious leader of a small polygamous sect in British Columbia, alleging Winston Blackmore has violated the church's trademarks and is attempting to portray himself - and his controversial community - as a part of mainstream Mormonism.
The Salt Lake City-based church has filed a notice of claim against a corporation set up by Blackmore, who is one of two leaders in a commune in southeastern B.C. known as Bountiful. Blackmore and his followers practise a fundamentalist form of Mormonism that still holds polygamy as a tenet of the faith.
The Canadian arm of the Mormon church says it tried to register Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Canada with B.C.'s corporate registry, but the application was rejected.
The registry indicated the church's proposed name was too similar to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Inc., which was registered by Blackmore in 2010, according to the statement of claim.
The lawsuit alleges Blackmore is attempting to suggest his group is sanctioned by the official church, which renounced polygamy more than a century ago and has disavowed any connection to Bountiful or similar polygamous groups in the United States.
Mormon Church
Targets Church Groups
Souza
Dinesh D'Souza (R-Family Values) is pitching his upcoming film, America, to churches nationwide.
In America, the conservative author and filmmaker answers critics on the left who challenge the country's record regarding equality, war, immigration, capitalism and more. While largely political in nature, the movie also touches on Christianity, and that's the message D'Souza is hoping to spread to churches.
D'Souza -- along with Oscar-winning producer Gerald Molen and others involved with America -- engaged Christian marketing firms Outreach and Sermon Central and writer Phil Hopersberger to create a sermon based on the movie, complete with video clips. About 1,000 preachers have downloaded the sermon thus far and insiders expect that number to swell to 5,000 by the time Lionsgate opens America on July 2.
America is the follow-up to 2016: Obama's America, which was released two years ago and has become the second most popular political documentary in history. D'Souza says that because 2016 struck a chord with Christian audiences, he expects more of the same with America.
D'Souza
Lawmakers Get 2 Percent Pay Raises
California
A California compensation commission voted on Friday to give state lawmakers a 2 percent raise this year, boosting the nation's highest legislative salaries.
The California Citizens Compensation Commission, which meets annually to set pay rates for lawmakers, approved the increase for Governor Jerry Brown and the state's 120 full-time lawmakers on a 4-1 vote.
Commission chairman Thomas Dalzell said the raise still leaves salaries below pre-recession rates, but that the commission based its decision on the 2 percent pay increase all state employees are slated to receive this year. Pay was cut for all state employees, including elected officials, in 2009, when the state faced budget deficits in the billions.
When the pay hike takes effect in December, lawmakers will make $97,197, and Brown will make $177,467. Eight other statewide elected offices and four leadership positions within the state legislature also come with six-figure salaries.
Lawmaker salaries in the most populous U.S state are the highest in the nation, not including the $141.86 they receive for each day they come for floor sessions and committee meetings in Sacramento.
California
Not Florida or Arizona: AARP
Retirement
Retirees who move to Florida and Arizona - popular retirement destinations - may not be getting the quality of life they expect, according to a study that ranked U.S. states by their long-term care services.
Florida, a retiree mecca with the nation's highest proportion of residents 65 or older, ranked 43rd, while Arizona, another top choice for retirees, came in at 21st in rankings by the AARP Public Policy Institute released this week.
Minnesota, Washington state and Oregon led the nation. On the other end of the scale, the Southern states of Kentucky, Alabama and Mississippi scored worst.
The rankings evaluated how well states help people who need assistance with routine activities of daily life such as bathing and eating because of a physical or cognitive long-term health condition.
The report noted that long-term care is unaffordable for middle-income families in all states, with state Medicaid programs stepping in to cover a substantial share of the costs. Top states scored very high on Medicaid performance, the report said.
Retirement
Palestinian Village Wins Listing
UNESCO
A Palestinian village joined UNESCO's world heritage sites list on Friday after an emergency nomination meant to try to block Israel from building a barrier across its ancient farmland.
The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation said the village was recognized urgently in view of "construction of a separation wall that may isolate farmers from fields they have cultivated for centuries".
The UNESCO World Heritage Committee, meeting in Qatar, added the farmed valleys at the village in the occupied West Bank near Jerusalem feature picturesque stone terraces that risk "irreversible damage" were the barrier to be constructed.
The UNESCO statement did not mention Israel, saying only that "the landscape had become vulnerable under the impact of socio-cultural and geo-political transformations."
UNESCO
In Memory
Anthony Goldschmidt
Anthony Goldschmidt, the iconic founder of Intralink Graphic Design, passed away June 17 surrounded by family and friends. He was 71 and is survived by his wife, Cari Rachel, whom he called Five. Goldschmidt was a most accomplished designer of movie posters, and a favorite of directors from Ron Howard to Steven Spielberg and Christopher Nolan. Most recently, Oscar producers Brian Grazer and Michael Rosenberg selected him for the honor of designing the official poster for the 84th Academy Awards.
Over the course of his long career, he worked on the campaigns and designed some of the most memorable posters of the last 50 years. Those films include Young Frankenstein, Blazing Saddles, The Color Purple, Cocoon, E.T., Blade Runner, The Lost Boys, Empire of the Sun, Rain Man, A Few Good Men, Thelma and Louise, Chaplin, Apollo 13, The DaVinci Code, The Dark Knight.
The Yale grad began on Madison Avenue as art director of J. Walter Thompson, New York, NY, before joining Warner Bros as a production assistant and beginning his long Hollywood career. Among the accolades bestowed on him during the course of his career, Goldschmidt won nine Clio Awards, 10 Art Directors Club of Los Angeles Awards, 26 Golden Trailer Awards, and 6 Graphic Design Gold Awards. He was actively involved with supporting the S.A.F.E campaign, the World Wildlife Fund, and Oceana. In lieu of flowers, his family requests donations be made to any of those organizations.
Anthony Goldschmidt
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