'Best of TBH Politoons'
Recommended Reading
from Bruce
Jim Ryan: FIXING EDUCATION POLICY (slate.com)
So what can the next president do to fix this mess? Propose an amended NCLB for reauthorization and make sure the new version contains at least three key changes: ...
Margaret Cho: When I Think of Tibet (huffingtonpost.com)
The thought of rioting and looting and blood in the streets there is too painful to comprehend.
'I'd make George Bush watch this again and again' (film.guardian.co.uk)
Silence of the Lambs director Jonathan Demme talks about his documentary "Jimmy Carter: Man from Plains" at the BFI Southbank.
Interview by Laura Barnett: Patti Smith, musician
Q: What advice would you give a young artist just starting out?
A: Stay focused. In the end, you won't be remembered for your looks, or for taking a lot of drugs. Only the work will remain - so make it good.
Michael Kinsley: MINE IS LONGER THAN YOURS (newyorker.com)
What's more, of all the gifts that life and luck can bestow-money, good looks, love, power-longevity is the one that people seem least reluctant to brag about. In fact, they routinely claim it as some sort of virtue-as if living to ninety were primarily the result of hard work or prayer, rather than good genes and never getting run over by a truck.
Jarret Keene: Wrote to Recovery (ucsonweekly.com)
Beth Lisick can make you laugh when you least expect it, and take on the world around her is refreshing.
Len Righi: For The Raveonettes, 'Lust Lust Lust' rekindles fans' love (The Morning Call; Posted on Popmatters.com)
Public opinion has been fickle for The Raveonettes. The Danish duo's 2002 EP, "Whip It On," and 2003 CD, "Chain Gang of Love," had hipsters swooning over the discs' blend of spooky vocalizing, fuzz-guitar feedback and primitive rhythmic rumble that decades before had spawned cults for The Jesus & Mary Chain, The Cramps and The Velvet Underground.
Evan Rytlewsk: "Low: The Notoriously Quiet Band Sharpens Its Teeth" (expressmilwaukee.com/)
For more than a decade, snickering naysayers dismissed the Wrath of Low as a novelty: a slowcore group fronted by a harmonizing husband and wife that often perform for cult-like, seated audiences.
Chris Riemenschneider: Old chums Mick Jones and Tony James finally form a band together (Star Tribune; Posted on popmatters.com)
From the street, the gig seemed very punk-rock. Or at least it looked like the guys were in it for the right reason: to have fun. You could see Jones and James swap appreciative smiles every time they turned around.
DAN NISHIMOTO: "CALL AND RESPONSE: It Ain't No Joke" (popmatters.com)
Hip-hop, like most other arts, intentionally pays humor less mind because, hey, it's not supposed to be taken seriously! But seriously.
Mark Slutsky: David Schwimmer on 'Run Fat Boy Run' (montrealmirror.com)
"I had no idea my first film would be a London comedy!" Schwimmer says, laughing.
Create a Flower Garden (procreo.jp)
Click anywhere, or click and drag.
YouTube Storytelling Contest (Video)
Hosted by Jim Hightower.
Selected Readings
from that Mad Cat, JD
In The Chaos Household
Last Night
Sunny early on, rainy night.
35 Recipients Announced
67th Annual George Foster Peabody Awards
Thirty-five recipients of the 67th annual George Foster Peabody awards for broadcasting excellence in news and entertainment were announced by the University of Georgia ahead of a ceremony in New York City on June 16.
Peabodys went to "Wounds of War - The Long Road Home for Our Nation's Veterans," a series of reports by ABC News correspondent Bob Woodruff, and to "CBS News Sunday Morning: The Way Home" for Kimberly Dozier's piece about two women veterans who lost limbs in Iraq.
Awards also went to Discovery's "Planet Earth," which used HDTV technology to showcase natural wonders of the world; "Independent Lens" for "Billy Strayhorn: Lush Life," a portrait of Duke Ellington's musical collaborator; "NATURE: Silence of the Bees," an inquiry into the decline in the world's honeybee population from Thirteen/WNET; and WGBH-Boston's "Design Squad," an engineering competition for young people.
Awards for entertainment series went to "30 Rock," Tina Fey's send-up of TV sketch shows and her own network, NBC; and "Project Runway," Bravo's fashion-designer competition.
For the rest - 67th Annual George Foster Peabody Awards
Marks Milestone Show
Jimmy Kimmel
Ben Affleck might be history. Jimmy Kimmel is trying for video magic with someone else to mark the 1,000th episode of his late-night talk show Thursday.
"This morning I woke up with Richard Simmons in my bedroom for something we're preparing for the show. I don't want to give too many details, but suffice it to say that Sam Elliot and Richard Simmons were hovering over me," Kimmel told The Associated Press earlier this week.
Whether the taped bit can top Kimmel's video duel with girlfriend Sarah Silverman remains to be seen. Kimmel himself marvels at the online popularity of the comic films, one in which Silverman and Matt Damon sing of their faux hot love affair and the other with Kimmel striking back by claiming a romance with Damon's pal Affleck.
There's a chance Silverman might contribute to the 90-minute "Jimmy Kimmel Live" anniversary special, airing at 11:35 p.m. EDT Thursday on ABC (a half-hour ahead of its usual start time). Eva Longoria Parker and Kid Rock are among the scheduled guests.
Jimmy Kimmel
More Likely To Vote For McSame
Male Rock Fans
If you are male and a Led Zeppelin fan, chances are you may be leaning toward voting Republican in the U.S. presidential election, according to a survey of rock radio fans released on Wednesday.
The Jacobs Media's Media/Technology Web Poll IV of more than 27,000 respondents cited stronger than expected interest in the November 2008 election among fans of rock, classic rock, and alternative radio stations.
It also found that John McCain, the Republican candidate for U.S. president, was the top pick for the Oval Office for men and classic rock partisans -- those people who tune in to stations playing music from the "original classic rock era" of 1964 to 1975, comprised of bands like Led Zeppelin, The Who and Pink Floyd.
The survey found women and fans of alternative radio, featuring '80s and '90s rock, tend to be Democratic, while men and classic rockers lean Republican.
Male Rock Fans
Fans Give Blood In Protest
'Moonlight'
Fans of CBS' "Moonlight" are so passionate about the vampire drama that they're willing to sacrifice their own blood to keep the rookie series on the air.
Teaming with the Red Cross and online protest rally point YouChoose.net, "Moonlight" viewers are organizing a nationwide blood drive to garner network support for a second season. They claim that more than 3,000 fans have pledged to donate a pint each.
"Moonlight" star Alex O'Loughlin has been so moved by fans' efforts that sources close to the series said he is becoming a spokesman for the Red Cross. The spokesmanship position will be announced this week.
For all the dramatic effort fans are expending to rescue the show, here's the kicker: "Moonlight" isn't in any imminent danger of cancellation. Although modestly rated (7.5 million viewers to date), the show is considered very likely to receive a pickup for the fall. Additionally, "Moonlight" still has four original episodes set to air when it returns April 25, so there's plenty of time for CBS to mull its fate.
'Moonlight'
Surpasses Elvis In No. 1s
Mariah Carey
With her 18th chart-topper "Touch My Body," Mariah Carey has passed Elvis Presley for the most No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, and is now second only to the Beatles.
But while the diva was in full celebration mode after learning of her latest milestone, she was also quick to put her accomplishment in perspective.
"I really can never put myself in the category of people who have not only revolutionized music but also changed the world," Carey told The Associated Press on Tuesday via phone from London. "That's a completely different era and time ... I'm just feeling really happy and grateful."
Carey's single is the new No. 1 single on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart: The song also is No. 1 on the trade magazine's digital download chart thanks to a precedent-setting 286,000 downloads in its debut week. She had been tied with Presley with 17 No. 1 singles; the Beatles are the all-time leaders with 20 (Madonna also beat a Presley record this week, surpassing the King for the most top 40 hits with her 37th for her hit "4 Minutes."
Mariah Carey
Pulled From Auction
Historic Photo
A primitive image believed to have been made decades before the dawn of photography has been pulled from an upcoming auction to allow further research into its origins, Sotheby's auction house said Wednesday.
The image of a leaf was scheduled to be sold next Monday and was listed in the auction catalogue as "Photographer Unknown."
But Sotheby's said research by a leading photo expert suggested that several early photo experimenters could have made the image, including Thomas Wedgwood, James Watt and Humphry Davy, who worked in the medium decades before what is believed to be the birth of photography in 1839.
Sotheby's said it decided to pull the lot because the upcoming auction had generated "a spirited and lively dialogue" among photo scholars "about the possible origins for the 'Leaf."'
Historic Photo
5th-Grader Finds Mistake At Smithsonian
Kenton Stufflebeam
Is fifth-grader Kenton Stufflebeam smarter than the Smithsonian? The 11-year-old boy, who lives in Allegan but attends Alamo Elementary School near Kalamazoo, went with his family during winter break to the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History in Washington.
Since it opened in 1981, millions of people have paraded past the museum's Tower of Time, a display involving prehistoric time. Not one visitor had reported anything amiss with the exhibit until Kenton noticed that a notation, in bold lettering, identified the Precambrian as an era.
Kenton knew that was wrong. His fifth-grade teacher, John Chapman, had nearly made the same mistake in a classroom earth-science lesson before catching himself.
So Kevin Stufflebeam took his son to the museum's information desk to report Kenton's concern on a comment form. Last week, the boy received a letter from the museum acknowledging that his observation was "spot on."
Kenton Stufflebeam
Investor Testifies About Wiretaps
Anthony Pellicano
Hedge fund manager Adam Sender was angry -- at the man with whom he had invested $1.1 million and at himself for believing it would lead to a successful film company and another venture. So after a year of searching in vain for Aaron Russo, Sender hired private detective Anthony Pellicano.
In the federal courtroom where Pellicano and four co-defendants are charged with various counts of wiretapping and racketeering there has been plenty of testimony about what the government alleges is Pellicano's scheming with clients to get dirt on behalf of the angry ex-wife, the neurotic filmmaker, the burned benefactor.
Now comes the vindictive investor, Sender, who confirmed he spent $800,000 -- half a million to Pellicano, the rest to lawyers -- to recoup $1.1 million from Russo, a one-time manager of Bette Midler, who had a respectable career managing entertainers and producing movies then turned to politics in the 1990s. Russo died last year.
In other testimony, two ex-wives testified about alleged Pellicano wiretaps. Sandra Carradine testified that she hired Pellicano and knew he was wiretapping her ex-husband, actor Keith Carradine. Lisa Gores said she was on the receiving end of a wiretap during a period when she had an intimate relationship with Tom Gores, the brother of her husband, technology billionaire Alec Gores. Here's a clue your husband is having you investigated by a private detective, according to Lisa Gores' testimony: He brings up the name of a long-ago friend (whom you never mentioned.) And he suddenly asks if you were ever arrested. (You were -- with the friend.)
Anthony Pellicano
Reduces TV Stations' News Staffs
CBS
CBS-owned TV stations in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago are reducing their news staffs. The cuts include two well-known anchors in Los Angeles, five on-air veterans in San Francisco and one of Chicago's highest-paid anchors.
According to a person who works at one of the CBS-owned stations and requested anonymity said longtime anchors Ann Martin and Harold Greene will leave when their contracts expire in May. Others, including reporters Jennifer Sabih and Jennifer Davis, were laid off Monday.
In San Francisco, KPIX-TV is letting go 14 newsroom employees, including anchor and reporter Rick Quan, and reporters Manny Ramos, Bill Schechner, Tony Russomano and John Lobertini, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Tuesday.
In Chicago, cost-cutting at WBBM-TV has claimed at least 18 jobs including that of anchor Diann Burns, who earned $2 million a year, lead sportscaster Mark Malone, and Mary Ann Childers, an anchor-turned-health correspondent.
CBS
New York Court Dismisses Another Lawsuit
'Borat'
A lawsuit filed by a man seen running away from comedian Sacha Baron Cohen in his hit "Borat" film was dismissed by a federal judge on Wednesday.
Jeffrey Lemerond, who appeared in the trailer and a 13-second clip in "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan," sued 20th Century Fox, a unit of News Corp., in federal court in Manhattan in June.
Lemerond claimed the filmmakers unlawfully used his image after he was seen in the movie on New York's streets running from the fictional Kazakh television reporter, "fleeing in apparent terror, screaming for Mr. Cohen to 'go away,'" court documents said.
But U.S. District Judge Loretta Preska said the film fell under a broad exception to that claim because it was "newsworthy." She said while the film appealed "to the most childish and vulgar in its viewers," it attempted "an ironic commentary of 'modern' American culture."
'Borat'
A Bigger Bigfoot
Tom Payne
Tom Payne has a new and bigger Bigfoot to replace the carving that was stolen from outside his chiropractic clinic and was recovered only after the feet had been amputated.
Payne is replacing Sasquatch Sam, mounted outside his clinic for more than five years, with the top choice of spectators who watched three local chainsaw artists carve new versions at his office Saturday and Sunday.
The contest was conceived by the Pemco Insurance marketing department, partly for the company's "A Lot Like You" advertising campaign featuring characters such as "Bumper Sticker Idealist," "Recumbent Bike Commuter," "Smug Hybrid Driver," "Super-Long Coffee Orderer," "Ponytailed Software Geek" and - in this case - "Roadside Chainsaw Woodcarver."
The winning carving was made by Charlie Hubbard, 58, of Gig Harbor, whose 9-foot work was taller than the pieces made by George Kenny of Allyn and Mark Herrington of Wilkeson and featured a big grin beneath neatly parted hair.
Tom Payne
Cable Nielsens
Ratings
Rankings for the top 15 programs on cable networks as compiled by Nielsen Media Research for the week of March 24-30. Day and start time (EDT) are in parentheses:
1. "Kids' Choice Awards" (Saturday, 8 p.m.), Nickelodeon, 4.25 million homes, 7.45 million viewers.
2. "The Hills" (Monday, 10 p.m.), MTV, 3.48 million homes, 4.79 million viewers.
3. "WWE Raw" (Monday, 10 p.m.), USA, 3.43 million homes, 5.28 million viewers.
4. "SpongeBob SquarePants" (Saturday, 11:30 a.m.), Nickelodeon, 3.21 million homes, 4.38 million viewers.
5. "America's Best Dance Crew" (Thursday, 10 p.m.), MTV, 3.177 million homes, 4.94 million viewers.
6. "SpongeBob SquarePants" (Saturday, 12 noon), Nickelodeon, 3.176 million homes, 4.67 million viewers.
7. "WWE Raw" (Monday, 9 p.m.), USA, 3.15 million homes, 4.85 million viewers.
8. "SpongeBob SquarePants" (Saturday, 9:30 a.m.), Nickelodeon, 3.07 million homes, 4.18 million viewers.
9. Movie: "High School Musical 2" (Friday, 8 p.m.), Disney, 3.01 million homes, 4.40 million viewers.
10. "Law & Order: SVU" (Thursday, 9 p.m.), USA, 3.00 million homes, 4.11 million viewers.
11. "SpongeBob SquarePants" (Saturday, 11 a.m.), Nickelodeon, 2.986 million homes, 3.96 million viewers.
12. "Back at the Barnyard" (Saturday, 10 a.m.), Nickelodeon, 2.985 million homes, 4.21 million viewers.
13. "SpongeBob SquarePants" (Saturday, 12:30 p.m.), Nickelodeon, 2.978 million homes, 4.29 million viewers.
14. "SpongeBob SquarePants" (Saturday, 7:30 p.m.), Nickelodeon, 2.966 million homes, 4.47 million viewers.
15. "Law & Order: SVU" (Thursday, 10 p.m.), USA, 2.91 million homes, 3.63 million viewers.
Ratings
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