Recommended Reading
from Bruce
Adventures In Sex City - The Game
Educational game by Middlesex-Lundon Health Unit.
Kate Dubinski: London, Ont., health unit's sex superheroes prowling bars (QMI Agency)
Sex superheroes Captain Condom and Wonder Vag, characters from a controversial online game created by an Ontario health unit, are now live action. And bar-hopping.
Mark Morford: Swing voters for fun and terror (SF Gate)
Can you imagine what it might be like to still be, at this point, completely undecided between the flawed but rock-solid president, the guy who essentially saved the nation from Bush's Decade of Decimation, ended the Iraq war, killed Osama and championed gay marriage, and the sneering, ultra-rich smarm-master who hates everything you stand for and will basically enact Bush 2.0 all over again, only with sillier underwear and gaudier show horses?
Felicia Sonmez: Charity president unhappy about Paul Ryan soup kitchen 'photo op' (Washington Post)
"We're a faith-based organization; we are apolitical because the majority of our funding is from private donations," Antal said in a phone interview Monday afternoon. "It's strictly in our bylaws not to do it. They showed up there, and they did not have permission. They got one of the volunteers to open up the doors." He added: "The photo-op they did wasn't even accurate. He did nothing. He just came in here to get his picture taken at the dining hall." … Photographers snapped photos and TV cameras shot footage of Ryan and his family washing pots and pans that did not appear to be dirty.
Andrew Tobias: Debate
Whoever "wins" [the 2nd debate], do we want a President who's a good debater - or a good President? A President who said he wouldn't go into Pakistan to kill Bin Laden - or a President who killed Bin Laden? President who would have let the auto industry go bankrupt - or a President who saved it and used the occasion to double fuel efficiency standards that in the long run will cut our gasoline bill in half? Do we want a President who's pledged to cut the estate tax on billionheirs from 45% to ZERO - one of the few pledges, frankly, he's never wavered on - or a President who would rather invest that tax revenue to repair our bridges, modernize our schools, and fund basic research?
Froma Harrop: The Weird Political War Between the Generations (Creators Syndicate)
Never mind that Obamacare is projected to reduce deficits while adding benefits to Medicare, thanks to cost savings within the plan. Never mind the obvious point that if VoucherCare were so wonderful, Romney and Paul Ryan would bestow the pleasure on today's and near-term retirees. Never mind that traditional Medicare within a voucher system would rapidly turn into a ghetto for the very sick, then collapse.
Decca Aitkenhead: "Kat Banyard: 'We were sold a lie on an almighty scale, that equality had been won, the battle was over'" (Guardian)
Britain's leading young feminist talks about the global exploitation of pornography, women's right to an abortion, and the mass lobby of parliament she is leading.
Tim Adams: "Judi Dench: 'I never want to stop working'" (Guardian)
With her seventh Bond film about to hit the big screen, Judi Dench shows no sign, even at 77, of curbing her enormous drive. She talks about painting landscapes, playing M and why she hates to be alone on stage.
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David Bruce has 42 Kindle books on Amazon.com with 250 anecdotes in each book. Each book is $1, so for $42 you can buy 10,500 anecdotes. Search for "Funniest People," "Coolest People, "Most Interesting People," "Kindest People," "Religious Anecdotes," "Maximum Cool," and "Resist Psychic Death."
"Doug's Most Shared Facebook Post" Today
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Reader Suggestion
Michelle in AZ
Bosko Suggests
Have a great day,
Bosko.
Thanks, Bosko!
BadtotheboneBob
Train Stations
From The Creator of 'Avery Ant'
Team Coco
Last Night On Conan
Alex Wagner and Conan discussed this week's debate, and the election in general.
Alex Wagner Breaks Down The Presidential Debate
According to Alex Wagner, it was half catfight and half Thunderdome. Torn weaves and bloody noses!
Also, at 3:15, Conan rants against those live debate sentiment trackers.
Alex Wagner Picks Her Dream Guest
Why does Alex Wagner want to have John Boehner on her show? To split a bottle of Merlot and have a good cry, of course.
Also, Conan spoofed the debate questioner who fumbled over her question:
Nervous Debate Questioner Has A Lot Of Baggage
And we thought Romney was the one with bottomless pockets.
Thanks, Diana!
Selected Readings
from that Mad Cat, JD
In The Chaos Household
Last Night
Still way too hot.
One of the Gulf Fritillary's 'hatched'. Didn't expect that to happen until Friday at the earliest, and more likely, Saturday.
Planned In DC
'Million Puppet March'
More than 1,000 puppeteers and public broadcasting supporters have signed on for a march on the National Mall in Washington three days before the election.
The so-called Million Puppet March being planned online is scheduled for Nov. 3. By Wednesday morning, more than 1,000 participants had responded on Facebook, saying they would attend.
It comes after Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's remarks during a presidential debate calling for the elimination of funding for PBS, which airs the popular children's show "Sesame Street."
Organizers originally called the event a Million Muppet March. But they note that they've changed the name to include sock puppets, hand puppets, marionettes, shadow puppets and mascots.
'Million Puppet March'
65.6 Million Watched Second Debate
Nielsen
With an estimated 65.6 million viewers, the television audience for the second presidential debate between President Barack Obama and Republican Mitt Romney was smaller than the first - but only slightly.
The Nielsen company said 67 million people watched the first debate a week earlier. Tuesday's town hall style debate at Hofstra University was still seen by more than any of Obama's three debates with John McCain in 2008, and had more viewers than any second presidential debate since 1992.
It was shown live on 10 television networks, with the Spanish-speaking Univision and Telemundo airing it on tape delay. The audience was likely larger when viewing on tablets and other computers is considered, but Nielsen does not have those measurements.
NBC had 13.8 million viewers, more than any other network, with ABC second at 12.5 million, Nielsen said.
Nielsen
Big Man of the Year
Steven Van Zandt
The night busted open in New York City as Bruce Springsteen and other Rock and Roll Hall of Famers helped Steven Van Zandt celebrate his Big Man of the Year award.
Darlene Love, Elvis Costello and Dion were among the performers Tuesday night at a rollicking benefit for Little Kids Rock, an initiative that rescues music education amid public school budget cuts.
Springsteen had some fun while presenting the award - gleefully detailing their roommate days and Van Zandt's lack of housekeeping skills.
Amid the musical blowout, Van Zandt and the other stars discussed the arts' role in fueling young minds and shaping character - tasks accomplished through the thousands of musical instruments and the lessons made possible by Little Kids Rock.
Steven Van Zandt
Dad Has Her Back
Sarah Silverman
Sarah Silverman's father is TEARING INTO an Orthodox rabbi who criticized his daughter's life choices ... calling the guy an a-hole ... and warning him -- "You don't f*ck with my family."
Papa Silverman is responding to an open letter published by Rabbi Yaakov Rosenblatt -- in which he goes after the comic for living an un-Jewish life -- which includes choosing her career over having a family.
Sarah's dad, Donald Silverman, issued the following letter back to the rabbi:
"Hey a**hole.
Daughter #1 is a rabbi. Not by your standards. She's reform. How dare she, a lowly woman think god wants her to be a rabbi, created from a mere rib. Her hubby, three times nominated for a nobel peace prize was listed by the Jerusalem Post as the 49th most influential jew in the world built the worlds largest solar field in Israel.
By the way, Sarah was also on the list. I missed your name. Oldest granddaughter is serving in the Israel Defense Forces. I'm sure you also served.Oh I forgot the orthodox don't do that.
Sarah Silverman
Baby Named
Rosalind Arusha Arkadina Altalune Florence Thurman-Busson
Uma Thurman would like loved ones to refer to her daughter as "Luna".
The 42-year-old actress and her partner Arpad Busson welcomed their new arrival on July 15.
Uma and Arpad decided not to reveal the baby's name to the public initially and chose instead to declare it to the world today.
"I would like to announce Uma and Arki's daughter's name for the first time officially: Rosalind Arusha Arkadina Altalune Florence Thurman-Busson, better known to family and friends as Luna," Uma's representative Gabrielle Kachman told People magazine.
Rosalind Arusha Arkadina Altalune Florence Thurman-Busson
Hospital News
Debbie Reynolds
A publicist says Debbie Reynolds is home recuperating after a brief hospitalization.
The "Singin' in the Rain" star needed medical attention last week in Los Angeles after suffering a bad reaction to some medication.
Publicist Kevin Sasaki said Wednesday that Reynolds has been home for a couple of days and is feeling better but still cancelling her appearances for the rest of the year,
The 80-year-old singer and actress, who keeps a busy touring schedule, hopes to be in good enough shape to ride on the Pet Care Foundation's float in the Rose Parade on New Year's Day.
Debbie Reynolds
Baby News
Noah Shannon Green
Actress Megan Fox said on Wednesday that she had given birth to a baby boy, her first child, with husband Brian Austin Green, in September.
The "Transformers" actress, 26, made the announcement on her official Facebook page, saying she wanted to release the news herself.
"I gave birth to our son Noah Shannon Green on September 27th. He is healthy, happy, and perfect. We are humbled to have the opportunity to call ourselves the parents of this beautiful soul and I am forever grateful to God for allowing me to know this kind of boundless, immaculate love," the actress said.
Noah Shannon Green
Judge Sides With DC Comics
Superman
DC Comics will retain its rights to Superman after a judge ruled Wednesday that the heirs of one of the superhero's co-creators signed away their ability to reclaim copyrights to the Man of Steel roughly 20 years ago.
The ruling means that DC Comics and its owner Warner Bros. will retain all rights to continue using the character in books, films, television and other mediums, including a the film reboot planned for next year.
DC Comics sued the heirs of artist Joe Shuster in 2010, seeking a ruling that they lost their ability to try to reclaim the superhero's copyrights in 1992. U.S. District Court Judge Otis Wright II agreed, stating that Shuster's sister and brother relinquished any chance to reclaim Superman copyrights in exchange for annual pension payments from DC Comics.
Shuster and writer Jerry Siegel created Superman, who made his comic book debut in 1938 in Action Comics (hash)1. Both men battled for increased compensation for the superhero throughout their lives and Siegel's heirs have also fought DC for a stake in copyrights to Superman.
Shuster's heirs had argued that the copyright agreements could be terminated under provisions that allowed creators of works made before 1978 a mechanism to reclaim their rights. Wright ruled that the decision by Shuster's sister to accept higher annual payments created a new agreement and the pre-1978 rights no longer applied.
Superman
Arrested In Vegas
Flavor Flav
Rap star Flavor Flav of the group Public Enemy was arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and battery, after his fiancée reported the pair had a fight, Las Vegas police said.
The 53-year-old rap star, whose given name is William Drayton Jr, also threatened the woman's teenage son with a knife, police said in a statement.
Flavor Flav, who was arrested and charged with battery domestic violence and assault with a deadly weapon, was held on bail, according to an online database for Clark County.
Flavor Flav
No Bail
Mark Hotton
A former stockbroker charged with defrauding a fledgling Broadway production was held without bail Wednesday after a prosecutor called him a "considerable threat" to the community.
Mark Hotton, who faces wire fraud charges and accusations that he ruined the finances for the $12 million Broadway adaption of the psychological thriller "Rebecca" with false promises from phantom investors in an elaborate fraud, did not speak as he made his first appearance in U.S. District Court in Manhattan.
Hotton, who lost his stockbroker's license last year, was read his rights by U.S. Magistrate Judge Gabriel Gorenstein, who also described the charges against him during a proceeding that lasted several minutes. If convicted, Hotton, 46, could face up to 40 years in prison.
When the judge asked about bail, Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Diskant launched into an argument for Hotton's detention pending trial, calling him "a risk of flight and a considerable threat to the community."
Defense lawyer Gerald Shargel cut off the argument, saying he consented to Hotton's detention until he could prepare his own arguments for bail.
Mark Hotton
Writer Withdraws Permission
'Clybourne Park'
The Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright of "Clybourne Park" says he recently withdrew permission for a Berlin theater company to produce the play after learning that one of the actors would perform the roles in blackface.
Bruce Norris, in a letter dated Tuesday to the Dramatists Guild, said that managers at the Deutsches Theater said the female African-American character in the play was be performed by a white actress and producers would "experiment with makeup."
Norris called the use of blackface an "asinine tradition" and urged fellow playwrights to boycott productions of their work by German theaters who employ such tactics. He also urges playwrights to add their name to a petition condemning the ongoing practice of blackface in German theaters.
"Normally I don't meddle in the cultural politics of other countries, but when my work and the work of my colleagues - other playwrights - is misrepresented, I do," Norris writes. "A zero-tolerance position is the only position to take."
'Clybourne Park'
Art Show Killed 9,000 Butterflies
Damien Hirst
The artist Damien Hirst is known to stir up controversy. He's submerged a shark in a tank of formaldehyde, ditto a bisected cow and calf, and in an installation called "In and Out of Love," at the Tate Modern, filled two windowless rooms with live butterflies. The show's over, but the criticism has just begun.
Art critics loved it. But animal-rights activists loathed it. The Telegraph reported that the art exhibit turned out to be a butterfly massacre, with a total of 9,000 butterflies dying by the end of the 23-week run. About 400 butterflies had to be replaced each week as they were stepped on, injured or simply couldn't handle the artificial environment.
The museum defended the show, saying the butterflies were "selected from varieties known to thrive in the conditions created." The exhibit of the influential artist is his first retrospective, and was the most popular show in the museum's history, with about 3,000 visitors a day.
The butterfly project was one of Hirst's first as a student, and re-created for the museum: Pupae were glued to a board attached to the wall. Emerging butterflies would then hatch, fly around, feed on fruit and sugar water, and then die, to be replaced by fully hatched butterflies each week.
Damien Hirst
May Win Awards, But It's A Box Office Loser
"The Master"
"The Master" may turn out to be a big winner come awards season, but after five weeks in theaters it's clear that Paul Thomas Anderson's Scientology-inspired movie is set to lose a lot of money for its billionaire producer, Megan Ellison.
"The Master" was financed by Ellison's Annapurna Pictures for $40 million last year, a staggering sum for an independent film paid entirely by the daughter of Oracle's Larry Ellison, who stormed Hollywood with a checkbook and very good taste in film a couple of years ago.
But the film is winding down its initial run in theaters with about $14 million in box office. Even with the marketing clout of The Weinstein Co. behind it, which will spend $20 million in prints and advertising, the film is estimated to lose about $15 million for its producer, one executive close to the film told TheWrap.
The Weinstein Co. is planning another national release in January to cash in on hoped-for awards notice, and that could bring in another $5 million to $10 million. And the film has not yet opened internationally.
But even if the film wins nominations and awards for its stars, the box office of "The Master" is unlikely to approach the combined $60 million cost in production and marketing.
"The Master"
Tops Forbes' List
Ashton Kutcher
When Ashton Kutcher replaced Charlie Sheen on the hit comedy "Two And a Half Men", he also took his place as television's highest-paid actor, according to Forbes' annual survey released on Wednesday.
Forbes estimated Kutcher earned $24 million from May 2011 to May 2012, while Sheen, now starring in "Anger Management" on cable television following a very public firing from the hit CBS show, didn't even make the top 10.
Earnings runners-up included "House" star Hugh Laurie and Ray Romano of now-canceled "Men of a Certain Age," with $18 million each.
Other highly compensated actors in the top 10 list included Emmy winner Alec Baldwin of "30 Rock," "Last Man Standing" star Tim Allen, "Men" co-star Jon Cryer and "The Big Bang Theory"'s Jim Parsons and Johnny Galecki.
Ashton Kutcher
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