'Best of TBH Politoons'
Jazz From Hills
Trimmed Bush and Hedges
Reader Comment
Re: Renee Zellweger
Marty,
PLEASE ADD THIS AS A CAPTION TO RENEE'S PICTURE!!!
I'd like to know how she is enjoying her star on the HOLLYWOOD walk of fame. After all, her latest release "Cinderella Man", directed by Ron Howard was filmed entirely in Toronto, Canada, using labor heavily subsidized by the Canadian government.
How ironic it is that a story of a man literally fighting to provide for his family at the height of the depression should be filmed in a foreign country costing Americans hundreds of middle class jobs and contributing to the dangerous trade imbalance which now deeply concerns our economic experts.
I.A.T.S.E. affiliated property craftspersons say boycott this film and these actors.
Please just call me -
"out of work Propmaker."
Gladly, Propmaker!
Recommended Reading
from Bruce
Nat Hentoff: An Ally From Hell (villagevoice.com)
During George W. Bush's campaign to spread the spirit-and eventually the letter-of freedom and democracy to other lands, he has made some nightmarish allies.
Laura Flanders: What Really Happened at Guantanamo Bay? (AlterNet; Air America)
A former detainee talks openly about what he saw and heard, from abuse of prisoners to offensive treatment of the Qu'ran. And it couldn't be further from what the Bush administration is telling us.
Jim Hightower: KEEPING AN IRON GRIP ON IRAQ'S DEMOCRACY (AlterNet.org)
Why put this iron clamp on a supposed Iraqi democracy? Because the Bushites don't trust the new leaders or the idea of real democracy.
Dan Murphy: Photographs that Damn (Christian Science Monitor. Posted on alternet.org)
Arabs view the photos of Saddam Hussein in his underwear as yet more evidence that the United States is a global bully.
Andrew Varnon: Poking the White Underbelly (valleyadvocate.com)
"We poke a sharp stick at the soft, white underbelly of the right-wing scheme machine, giving you a little peek at the right-wing playbook for privatizing, polarizing and paving the United States of America."
Bill Berkowitz: Getting its Buzz On (WorkingForChange)
BuzzFlash.com: informative, saucy and acerbic Internet news site is must-see stop on information highway
Greg Lindsay: An Open Letter to Journalism School Grads ( mediabistro. Posted on Alternet.)
What do you get for your $30K+ J-school diploma? A set of unrealistic expectations and a view from one small slice of the media pie.
Charles Karel Bouley II: We'll always have Paris (Advocate.com)
On Pride day in Los Angeles, the Grand Marshal will be heralded down the street and it'sŠParis Hilton?
Mark Hertsgaard: Ped Dispenser (grist.org)
John Francis, a 'planetwalker' who lived car-free and silent for 17 years, chats with Grist
So Many Republican Hypocrites, So Little Time
PA-Sen: Senator Rick Santorum Out of Line
Slavery in America
Cory!! Strode On Graphic Novels
'Star Wars'
I know, I haven't been reviewing as often as I should, but with work, I haven't even been READING as much as I should. Normally, I get all the comics I buy weekly read by the time I pick up new ones (comic books come out every Wednesday, and I pick mine up on Friday), but we're working on opening a new kind of group home, so I've been in meetings and then have to go back and actually WORK, leaving little comic book time.
Why don't these people understand my priorities?
The good thing was that I was able to see the new Star Wars movie opening night before anyone could e-mail me and tell me all about it. It was better than the other Prequels, but as I left the theater, I wanted a Star Wars story that was as good as I remember the first three being. There are an amazing number of Star Wars comic books that have been printed over the years, starting with a regular monthly comic from Marvel that ran from a few months before Star Wars came out, until 1986, when it was finally canceled for poor sales after 107 issues.
After that, the Star Wars license faded a bit. There weren't new Star Wars novels coming out, no new toys and no comics. In 1989, Marvel announced that they were bringing back Star Wars comics later that year, but nothing happened until Dark Horse Comics announced they had gotten the license for Star Wars comics in 1991, and announced they would be printing a 6 issue story set after "Return of the Jedi" called "Dark Empire."
It was a huge sales success, and was Dark Horse's best selling comic in the company's history. Soon afterwards, the Star Wars novel series began, and the toy lines started up again, and Dark Horse started putting out more Star Wars mini-series. Now, if you go into the book store, you'll find an entire section of Star Wars graphic novels, including a series of 7 trade paperbacks that reprint the Marvel comic series in its entirety. With so many books out, how can you tell the good ones from the ones that aren't quite so good?
Simple. Go for the first one, the one that started it all, Dark Empire. Writer Tom Veitch and artist Cam Kennedy put together a story that picks up on the dangling plot threads from the movies and use it to create a story that is better than any of the Prequels, and even Return of the Jedi, in my opinion.
Set just a few months after the end of "Return", the remnants of the Empire have used the cloning technology left over from the Clone Wars to recreate the Emperor, and they strike as the Republic is trying to put together a galactic government after being a rebellion for so long. Veitch avoids the downfalls that the Prequels fell into, however, by having the Grand Galactic Plot simply be a background for the characters Star Wars fans really care about, Luke, Leia and Han Solo, to continue their story.
The art is unconventional, and British Artist Cam Kennedy has an angular style that can be hard for readers to warm to, but he gives the story a harsher, darker quality than people are used to with Star Wars, but fits the darker tone of the story being told. The coloring also tends to work in a single pallet for certain pages as panels, with was an odd stylistic choice and made some causal readers wonder about the choices made. My feeling is that it lends the story as more "independent" feel, almost as if it were a Star Wars movie made to be shown at Sundance, which gives the story an impressionistic feel that fits the tone, but I can certainly understand why some readers would be initially put off by it.
The trade paperback feels a bit incomplete, and does continue in a sequel (Dark Empire II), but for a Star Wars fan, THIS is the story we wanted to read instead of the prequels. Some of the ideas in this comic were used in the first Star Wars novel sequels by Timothy Zahn, but I feel that the creative team on this pair of graphic novels were stronger than Zahn's prose work. For a Star Wars fan, or someone who feels let down by the prequels, this gets a solid 5 out of 5, and if you are a casual Star Wars watcher, it's still the sequel that should have been made, and gets a 4 out of 5.
A final note, I have gotten a number e-mails on this column and did not receive them until this week, due to some e-mail issues (my overaggressive web server shunted them to a spam folder), so I'll be getting back to people this week. I do welcome feedback and suggestions, so ff there are any graphic novels (or even comic book series) you would like me to cover, don't hesitate to e-mail me at lousyratbastard@solitairerose.com
Cory!! Strode (The Best Dressed Man In Comics) has written comic books, novels, jokes for comedians, Op Ed columns, the on-line comic strip
www.Asylumon5thstreet.com and has all kinds of things on his website
www.solitairerose.com
Purple Gene Reviews
Ann Coulter
Selected Readings
from that Mad Cat, JD
In The Chaos Household
Last Night
Sunny & seasonal.
Another plumber showed up this morning, reset the faucet & stopped the leak. He then replaced the pipe from the sink to the street.
On one of his trips through the house he said he smelled gas & asked if he could take a look at the furnace while he was under the house. He asked for a spray bottle filled with water and a little liquid soap.
It's a floor furnace, and gas goes to the pilot light in a little flexible pipe. He sprayed the pipe and bubbles happened.
The bubbles meant the little flexible pipe had a hole in it, so he replaced it, too.
That little hole could have been the source of more grief than I want to imagine.
Any annoyance I had with the first plumber is long gone, and in a way I'm glad he came & fucked up - otherwise, there'd still be a little hole getting bigger in a gas line that culminates in a fire source in my living room.
Spotted in Ohio
Dave Chappelle
Dave Chappelle's South African "spiritual retreat" has apparently reached its conclusion.
The Comedy Central stalwart, whose disappearance, alleged mental breakdown and sane and crack-free reemergence have been well chronicled, has reportedly returned to Yellow Springs, Ohio, where he makes his home for part of the year.
Residents of the small town have spotted the Chappelle's Show namesake running errands around town and generally going about his business since last week.
Dave Chappelle
Private Service
Hunter S. Thompson
Plans for a public ceremony celebrating the life of Hunter S. Thompson have been canceled in favor of a private memorial service.
The Aug. 20 ceremony, which will include the scattering of the author's ashes on his Aspen-area ranch, will coincide with the six-month anniversary of Thompson's death, said Doug Brinkley, one of the planners of the memorial.
He said a public symposium will be organized within the next 18 months that will include experts and a scholarly look at Thompson's works, life and legacy.
Flying Dog Brewery, which is creating a new beer in Thompson's honor, said sales of Gonzo Imperial Porter will help fund construction of the "gonzo fist" tower.
At 9.5 percent, the Gonzo beer has nearly double the alcohol content of average brews.
Hunter S. Thompson
Series Uncovers Rare-Coin Scam
Toledo, Ohio
When someone at The Blade in Toledo, Ohio, heard that a local coin dealer named Tom Noe might be doing some business with the state, Jim Drew, the Blade's Columbus bureau chief, started asking around. After all, what business does a coin dealer -- one who is also one of the most prominent non-elected Republicans in the Toledo area -- have with the government?
After calling several state agencies to ask whether they were doing business with Noe, Drew found out that the Bureau of Workers' Compensation had invested $50 million of taxpayer money with a rare-coin business run by Noe, a major donor to the Republican administration in Ohio, and a "Pioneer" Bush fund-raiser. And so began the Blade's local probe, which has now drawn national attention and shows no signs of coming to an end.
"I've been in the business for 11 years here and 18 years total," said reporter Mike Wilkinson. "I've never worked on a story like this that's had this much impact and has been this much fun."
In late 2004, after the initial tips, the investigation picked up steam as Wilkinson set out to survey about 20 states to see if any of them had ever invested in coins. When it turned out none had, the story seemed even more odd.
For a lot more, Toledo, Ohio
Feds Shut Down Network
'Star Wars'
U.S. law enforcers said on Wednesday that they have shut down a computer network that distributed illegal copies of "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith" before it appeared in movie theaters.
Federal agents executed 10 search warrants and seized the main server computer in a network that allowed people to download nearly 18,000 movies and software programs, including many current releases, the FBI and Homeland Security Department said.
The Elite Torrents network, relied on a technology called BitTorrent that allows users to quickly download digital movies and other large files by copying them from many computers at once.
Visitors to the Web site on Wednesday saw a notice that read, "This site has been permanently shut down by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement."
Agents executed search warrants in Arizona, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kansas, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin. No arrests have been made, but the investigation continues, ICE spokeswoman Jamie Zuieback said.
'Star Wars'
Tupac's Mother to Open Arts Center
Afeni Shakur
Afeni Shakur was in a cocaine haze in 1990 when she heard that her son's rap career was taking off.
That's when Afeni realized cocaine was ruining her life. She had lost track of her son - a tough feat considering that all eyes were about to be on Tupac.
Afeni kicked her habit, and by the time Tupac was killed in 1996 at the height of his fame, they had rekindled their relationship. Now Afeni's life is consumed with keeping Tupac's legacy alive - and her latest effort is the June 11 grand opening of the Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts.
The $4 million project is focused on helping at-risk youth. It revolves around a six-acre campus in the Atlanta suburb of Stone Mountain that includes an art gallery, rehearsal area, offices, gift shop and a "peace garden." There are plans to add a museum, community meeting space and classrooms. A bronze statue of Tupac will be unveiled in one of the peace garden's fountains in September.
Afeni Shakur
Reality Contest To Replace Hutchence
'RockStar: INXS'
A new US reality show beginning in July will offer contestants the chance to become the new frontman for Australian rock band INXS and embark on a world tour.
The CBS television network said the show, "RockStar: INXS," would premiere on July 11 with former Red Hot Chili Peppers' guitarist Dave Navarro as host.
The thrice-weekly broadcast format, devised by reality TV king Mark Burnett of "Survivor" fame, will involve 15 participants living together in a house in Hollywood Hills.
The last person standing will become the lead singer of INXS, replacing the late Michael Hutchence.
'RockStar: INXS'
Judge Orders To Appear In Court
Tom Sizemore
A judge on Wednesday ordered actor Tom Sizemore to appear in court next week to explain possible probation violations.
Sizemore failed to notify his probation officer after moving and has not enrolled in a drug treatment facility, prosecutor Sean Carney said.
Sizemore, 43, was sentenced in March to 17 months in jail and more than four months in drug treatment for repeatedly failing drug tests while on probation.
In Superior Court on Wednesday, the actor asked Judge Paula Mabrey to let him travel to Thailand for work. The judge did not rule on that request but ordered Sizemore back in court June 2 to answer the parole violation allegations.
Tom Sizemore
Sues NBC Over Broadcast Ban
Motley Crue
Hard-living American rockers Motley Crue are suing NBC television over the network's decision to ban the group following frontman Vince Neil's use of an expletive during a live broadcast.
The suit, filed in Los Angeles federal court, claims that the ban impinged on the band's rights to free speech and also impacted record sales because of reduced media exposure, the New York Times reported Wednesday.
The network ban was imposed after Neil inserted an expletive into his New Year's greeting to drummer Tommy Lee during a December 31 performance on "The Tonight Show."
Motley Crue
Bans Film & Music Downloading
Sweden
Sweden passed a law banning the sharing of copyrighted material on the Internet without payment of royalties, in a bid to crack down on free downloading of music, films and computer games.
The law, which was approved by a large majority in parliament, will go into effect on July 1. Those who violate the law will be ordered to pay damages.
The new copyrighting law will also apply to photocopies of whole books, which is common at Swedish universities where many students consider required reading material too costly.
Sweden
Kickboxer Turned Singer
Nong Toom
A transsexual Thai kickboxer whose rags-to-riches story was made into an acclaimed film will make her theatrical debut in Singapore next month, she said.
Parinya Charoenphol, whose film and lipstick-wearing in the ring won the hearts of millions in Thailand and around Asia, is set to make her debut in a one-woman show called "Boxing Cabaret".
The 22-year-old, better known as Nong Toom, said the show with a mix of Broadway and traditional and contemporary Thai dance would open in Singapore on June 17 and be brought to Thailand in August.
The show is in five acts or "rounds" -- separated by bells, as in a Muay Thai kickboxing fight -- and covers Nong Toom's life before and after her 2002 sex change operation, men, Muay Thai and love.
Nong Toom
In Memory
Ismail Merchant
Filmmaker Ismail Merchant, who with partner James Ivory became synonymous with classy costume drama in films such as "A Room With A View" and "Howards End," died Wednesday. He was 68.
Merchant, who was born in Bombay but spent most of his life in the West, had been ill for some time and recently underwent surgery for abdominal ulcers, according to Indian television reports.
Merchant and Ivory, an American, made some 40 films together and won six Oscars since forming their famous partnership in 1961 with German-born screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala.
Their hits - especially E.M. Forster adaptations like "A Room With a View" (1985) and "Howards End" (1992) that won three Oscars apiece - helped revive the public's taste for well-made, emotional period drama.
Merchant first traveled to the United States in 1958 to study for a business degree at New York University but soon became involved in the film world.
He met Ivory in a New York City coffee shop in 1961. Their first film together, "The Householder," was based on a novel by Prawer Jhabvala, and its 1963 premiere was held at the residence of then-U.S. Ambassador to India John Kenneth Galbraith.
Among Merchant-Ivory's other success were "Shakespeare-Wallah," "The Europeans," "Mr. & Mrs. Bridge," "The Bostonians," "Maurice" and "Quartet." They made one bomb, "Slaves of New York," in 1989.
Merchant and Ivory departed in recent years from the flawlessly appointed period films for which they were famous.
They offered their take on French farce in 2003 with "Le Divorce," starring Kate Hudson and Naomi Watts.
They also were at work on "The Goddess," a musical about the Hindu goddess Shakti, starring a singing, dancing Tina Turner. Also to be released is "The White Countess," a period drama set in China and starring Ralph Fiennes, Vanessa Redgrave and Natasha Richardson.
Merchant was unmarried and had no children.
Ismail Merchant
