Recommended Reading
from Bruce
Andrew Tobias: Updates From Florida And The Vatican
What's more, Andrew's win drives home a point I try to make over and over: this election is not about persuasion (getting their folks to switch tribes), it's about turn-out (getting ours to show up). Thus: organizing, not advertising. And guess what? Of a reported $71.5 million (!!!) spent on TV ads in the Florida Democratic primary, Andrew - who won - and his allies spent just $3.7 million. He won because of organizing.
Marc Dion: The Camera Adds 10 Pounds of Tears (Creators Syndicate)
Those of us who live in the "gritty" places, the "hardscrabble" places, we are used to being the backdrop for someone's idea of what it means to be tough, or poor, or noble in the face of hardship. And I've never seen anyone get it right.
Ted Rall: Please Speak Ill of the Dead (Creators Syndicate)
"Too soon!" That was a standard response to my criticisms of John McCain after his death.
Lenore Skenazy: The Prescription for a Smart Child (Creators Syndicate)
First came the American Academy of Pediatrics report that aimed a Nerf gun at the current practice of forcing kids to spend all their school time on classwork and all their after-school time on homework. That is absolutely backward, said the good doctors. What kids need is to get more free time after school and more recess while in it.
Froma Harrop: The Silly Debate About Socialism (Creators Syndicate)
On the left, calling oneself a socialist has become something of a pose, and I wish such individuals would desist. For one thing, they're obviously not socialists. (A mandated $15 minimum wage is not socialism. It's a labor regulation.) And for another, "socialism" sounds scary to many Americans who would otherwise embrace universal coverage, more money for education and a lot of other changes progressives are calling for.
Froma Harrop: Identity Politics Are a Double-Edged Sword (Creators Syndicate)
It's hard to believe that the white working-class voters who supported Obama in 2012 and then Trump in 2016 turned racist in the four intervening years. Obama was really good at talking to everyone. Successful Democrats of whatever color, religion or sexual bent will follow his playbook. They should identify with interests rather than genetics.
Greg Sargent: Trump and Giuliani are talking tough about a Mueller subpoena. But they're actually revealing weakness. (Washington Post)
Perhaps Trump can avoid a sit-down interview, if Mueller decides he doesn't need one, or if Trump's team fights this all the way to the Supreme Court and wins with Judge Brett Kavanaugh casting the deciding vote (Trump may have chosen him for precisely this purpose). But even these scenarios would not allow Trump to evade a reckoning at the hands of Mueller's report and the political fallout it will unleash. No matter how much Trump and Giuliani bluster, their real reason for dodging the interview betrays Trump's vulnerability more than anything else.
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Presenting
Michael Egan
took the day off.
has returned to semi-retired status.
In memory.
Reader Suggestion
Michelle in AZ
from Bruce
Audience Anecdotes
• Theodore Thomas traveled throughout America popularizing classical music in the 19th century. Of course, many of the people who attended his concerts knew nothing about music-one man told him that he was very impressed because all the musicians turned the pages of their music at the same time. Among the music he introduced in America was Richard Wagner's "Liebestod" from Tristan und Isolde. Unfortunately, it wasn't popular and Mr. Thomas was advised to remove it from the repertory. Mr. Thomas declined to do so, saying, "We'll keep on playing Wagner until they do like it."
• British comic actor Kenneth Williams once appeared in a review written by Bamber Gascoigne. In the review, the actors introduced themselves as they came on stage, saying in turn, "I am brown, "I am green," and so on. When one actor introduced himself by saying, "I am pink," a man in the audience began heckling, shouting, "How dreadfully effeminate." Therefore, as each new actor introduced himself, the heckler kept shouting things like, "Oh dear, another pansy." When Mr. Williams came on, the man heckled him, but Mr. Williams quieted him by saying, "Be quiet, Madam."
• The pianist Vladimir de Pachmann was once disappointed with the audience's reaction to his performance at a concert, so he threatened not to finish the concert because he was not appreciated. His manager begged him to continue, pointing out that he always appreciated his playing. Therefore, Mr. de Pachmann seated his manager on the stage, and after performing each piece, he stood up, ignored the audience, turned to his manager, and bowed.
• Ethel Barrymore was performing on stage with the slightly deaf and elderly character actor Charles Cherry, when some loud late arrivers came into the theater and took their seats while still talking noisily among themselves. She expressed her displeasure by telling them, "Excuse me, I can hear every word you're saying, but Mr. Cherry is slightly hard of hearing. I wonder if you would speak up for him."
• Actress East Robertson once said in a play, "Oh, God, where will I be when my beauty fades!" A voice from the audience said, "In the gutter, love." Ms. Robertson was well known for playing bitchy characters, and during another performance on stage, another voice came the audience, saying, "I bet you are a bitch off as well as on!"
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© Copyright Bruce D. Bruce; All Rights Reserved
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Bonus Links
Jeannie the Teed-Off Temp
Reader Comment
Current Events
Wonkette on Barry's speech:
"People who willingly voted for Trump non-ironically accused Obama of narcissism -- going so far as to actually count the number of times Obama referred to himself. That's a lethal drinking game to play with a Trump rally."
"Let me put it bluntly: Claiming Obama "lectures" us is racist. Rolling your eyes over Hillary's "lectures" is sexist. Period."
On Hillary: "She literally warned us of everything that's happened in the past two years, like she was describing events seen in a crystal ball, but dudes acted like their penises would drop off whenever she spoke."
Selected Readings
from that Mad Cat, JD
"JUST SHUT UP AND QUIT"
"JUST DO IT!"
"DUMB SOUTHERNER."
TROUBLE IN THE CASTLE.
DON'T PUT THIS CRIMINAL ON THE SUPREME COURT!
Visit JD's site - Kitty Litter Music
In The Chaos Household
Last Night
If you've ever thought about sending Marty a donation this would be an excellent time.
Postal Stamp
John Lennon
The U.S. Postal Service honored singer and songwriter John Lennon with his very own stamp at a first-day-of-issue ceremony in New York City's Central Park.
Lennon is one of the founding members of the Beatles and a successful solo artist. The Beatles still hold records for a string of hits released from 1962-1970, including "All You Need is Love," which served as an anthem for Lennon's humanitarian endeavors. Lennon's last studio album was released in 1980. Lennon was posthumously inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1987 and twice inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: as a member of the Beatles in 1988 and as a solo artist in 1994.
Postmaster General and CEO Megan J. Brennan welcomed Lennon family membersand guests who during the dedication at the Naumburg Bandshell.
The Music Icons: John Lennon Commemorative Forever stamp features a photo of Lennon taken by noted rock 'n' roll photographer Bob Gruen in August 1974 who was also in attendance. The photo was taken on the rooftop of Lennon's Manhattan apartment and is part of a series of images taken by Gruen during the photo session for Lennon's 1974 album Walls and Bridges.
Other musicians who have been part of the USPS Music Icon stamp series include Elvis Presley, Ray Charles and Sarah Vaughan.
John Lennon
Creative Arts
Emmys
FX's "The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story" scored several early wins at the 2018 Creative Arts Emmy Awards. But as the ceremony wears on, "Game of Thrones" is coming on strong with seven wins and counting.
The presentation kicked off Saturday evening at the Microsoft Theater in downtown Los Angeles.
Here's a list of winners:
Sound editing for a comedy or drama series (half-hour) and animation: "Atlanta"
Guest actress in a comedy series: Tiffany Haddish, "Saturday Night Live"
Actress in a short-form comedy or drama series: Christina Pickles, "Break a Hip."
Actor in a short-form comedy or drama series: James Corden, "James Corden's Next James Corden"
For the complete list - Emmys
Shreds 'Used Car Salesman'
Jim Carrey
im Carrey accused President-for-now Donald Trump (R-Unindicted) of tearing Americans "limb from limb" on Friday's broadcast of "Real Time with Bill Maher."
For the interview, the actor-artist donned a new pair of Nike sneakers in honor of the brand's promo deal with former 49er quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who began taking a knee during the national anthem before NFL games in 2016 to protest police brutality and systemic racial injustice. Carrey previously hailed Nike's decision with a cartoon.
Trump is "a used car salesman," said Carrey, whose artwork has taken aim at the Trump administration in recent months.
"He didn't make America great again but he did turn back the odometer," he added. "So who knows what the hell is wrong with us."
"We've got to get back to a place where we realize that a vote is not who you are," he said. "Because you voted Republican doesn't mean you're stupid, you're not different, you're not worthless. I could break bread with anybody who voted for Trump. We could find some common ground and a reason to love each other."
Jim Carrey
More Women
Venice Film Festival
The Venice film festival -- which ends Saturday -- is overflowing with movies with female storylines and meaty parts for women.
Yet all but one of them are directed by men.
The #MeToo movement set off by the Harvey Weinstein scandal may seem to be bringing breakneck change to the film industry -- with Hollywood players queueing up at Venice to pledge themselves to the female cause -- but the rhetoric is taking time to filter through to the screen.
Only one film out of the 21 in the running for the Golden Lion top prize is by a woman.
Venice Film Festival
Hush-Money Agreement
Stormy Daniels
The company set up by Donald Trump's former personal attorney offered Friday to rescind Stormy Daniels' hush-money agreement and dropped plans for its threatened $20 million lawsuit against the porn actress for allegedly violating the deal.
An attorney for Essential Consultants said the company wants Daniels to repay the $130,000 she was paid as part of the nondisclosure agreement, which was signed days before the 2016 presidential election, according to a letter included in a Friday night court filing.
Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, claims she had an affair with Trump in 2006, which Trump denies, and was suing to invalidate the nondisclosure agreement.
The development could kill a plan by Daniels' attorney, Michael Avenatti, to try to compel the president to provide testimony under oath, if the agreement is rescinded and a judge agrees to dismiss the case.
Essential Consultants was set up by Trump's former personal attorney, Michael Cohen, who pleaded guilty in federal court last month to campaign-finance violations and other charges. Cohen told the judge that he and Trump had arranged the payment of hush money to Daniels and a former Playboy model to influence the election.
Stormy Daniels
Has No Idea
Little Tucker
Fox News host Little Tucker Carlson (R-Rupert's Sock Puppet) sees absolutely no benefit to diversity.
The opinionated host on Friday questioned how diversity strengthens the U.S. while also suggesting that diversity weakens the workplace, marriages and the military.
"How precisely is diversity our strength?" Carlson asked.
Carlson is apparently ignoring the many benefits of diversity: Studies show that diverse groups are more innovative and creative, diverse groups encourage people to think on a global level, and diversity makes America's workforce and militaries more competitive.
On Twitter, British politician Oliver Cooper pointed out that diversity was essentially one of America's national mottos: "E pluribus unum," "Out of many, one."
Little Tucker
Climate Change
Japan
Record typhoons, biblical floods, heatwaves, landslides and earthquakes: this summer, Japan really has seen it all and images of the destruction caused have been beamed around the world.
And while world-class infrastructure and high-tech warning systems means the death toll and damage is generally lower in Japan than elsewhere, climate change is putting that to the test, experts say.
Moreover, citizens used to decades of natural disasters may be underestimating the risk posed by stronger climate change-related phenomena.
More than 220 died in floods in July mainly because "less than one percent of people affected by local evacuation recommendations actually went to the shelters, thinking that there would not be a problem," notes Jean-Francois Heimburger, an expert on natural disasters in the country.
Unlike in other countries, even the highest levels of evacuation orders in Japan are not compulsory and the vast majority of people ignore them.
Japan
Study Revisits The Debate
Pluto
Twelve years after the International Astronomical Union voted in a definition of planethood that reclassified Pluto, the debate goes on.
A newly published study uses the historical record to take aim at the definition's most controversial clause: the idea that a planet in the solar system has to "clear the neighborhood of its orbit," so that no other worlds are at a similar orbital distance.
That requirement was employed in 2006 to exclude Pluto, whose orbit periodically crosses paths with the orbit of Neptune's orbit. More to the point, other, smaller worlds have been detected in the same region of the solar system frequented by Pluto.
Complicating the debate is the fact that a steadily increasing number of icy celestial objects are being found in the Kuiper Belt, a broad ring of sparsely distributed material beyond Neptune. One object discovered in 2005, known as Eris, was found to be more massive than Pluto. That discovery is what sparked the IAU's effort to settle the matter, and ultimately led to the orbit-clearing clause.
The clause not only leaves out Pluto and Eris, but also Ceres in the main asteroid belt and other worlds discovered beyond Pluto. Those worlds, which are still massive enough to crush themselves into a round shape, were designated as "dwarf planets."
Pluto
New Map
Antarctica
Planning a trip to Antarctica? Now there's a new map to guide your way.
Scientists from Ohio State University and the University of Minnesota have created what they say is the best, most complete and accurate map ever made of the frozen continent at the bottom of the world (see example, below).
"Up until now, we've had a better map of Mars than we've had of Antarctica," Ian Howat, earth science professor at Ohio State, said in a statement. "Now it is the best-mapped continent on Earth."
The map uses high-resolution satellite images to show the continent in "stunning detail" It will also provide new insight on climate change.
Amazingly, researchers now know the height of every mountain and all the ice in all of Antarctica within a few feet. "It is the highest-resolution terrain map by far of any continent," said Howat.
Antarctica
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