'TBH Politoons'
Recommended Reading
from Bruce
Annalee Newitz: Techsploitation: This Is Not Progress (AlterNet.org)
The information age could have happened 2,000 years ago but didn't. What we need to learn from the past -- and correct -- to keep from plunging into another Dark Ages.
Germaine Greer: The Plain English Campaign have given me a 'Golden Bull' award
It seems that I've at last won an award. Hitherto, on the rare occasions when I've been shortlisted for anything, I've been obliged to play the gallant loser. This time I've been granted an award outright, by the Plain English Campaign. (guardian.co.uk)
Charlie Brooker: When it comes to psychics, my stance is hardcore: they must die alone in windowless cells (guardian.co.uk)
I've never fully understood the public's docile acceptance of psychics, or why, when it comes to their supposed abilities, the burden of proof is assumed to lie with the sceptic, as opposed to the sort of shrieking idiot who claims to be able to contact the spirit world.
Give liberally: Beth Quinn's gift guide for that special liberal in your life
Got a liberal on your shopping list? What better way to say I love you than with some good, old-fashioned, sentimental Bush-bashing.
Mark Morford: Gift Ideas For Dirty Contrarians (sfgate.com)
When you care enough to give smart kinky non-PC randomness this holiday season
Beth Quinn: Unleashed: The Collected Dog Columns
Sample columns about dogs available here.
Civil Unions Don't Work (youtube.com)
What Happened to Roz's Wedding Bands
Annalee Newitz: Techsploitation.com
Purple Gene Reviews
'The Closer' (And More)
Selected Readings
from that Mad Cat, JD
In The Chaos Household
Last Night
Sunny and seasonal.
2007 Stanley Kramer Award
'An Inconvenient Truth'
The Producers Guild of America will honor the eco-documentary "An Inconvenient Truth" with the 2007 Stanley Kramer Award, which recognizes "work that dramatically illustrates provocative social issues."
The honor will be presented to the film's producers during the group's 18th annual awards ceremony, set for January 20 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Century City. It is named after the late director of such edgy films as "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" and "On the Beach."
Producers on the Al Gore-starring "Truth" include Laurie David, Lawrence Bender and Scott Z. Burns.
'An Inconvenient Truth'
Pulls Plug On Radio Show
Jerry Springer
Jerry Springer has ended his syndicated radio show after nearly two years, saying he's too busy with other projects that developed after his stint on ABC's "Dancing With the Stars."
Springer made no mention in the opening minutes Tuesday that the show would be his last, instead launching into a critique of what he called resident Bush's "runaway presidency that has so destabilized the Middle East while at the same time endangering America."
Although it was the last of his live shows, reruns will be aired the rest of the week while he gets ready for his daughter's wedding Saturday, Springer said.
Springer said it was the wedding that led him to go on "Dancing With the Stars," so he could learn to waltz with Katie. He became an audience favorite, and that led to many other business opportunities, he said.
"Radio is a full-time job, and I honestly don't devote the time that I should to radio," he said. "I can't do the job if I'm not going to do it seriously."
Jerry Springer
Reality Won't Affect Fake Reality Show
`Survivor'
Some real-life unrest in Fiji won't have an impact on the tribal councils of "Survivor," CBS said Wednesday.
CBS is filming another edition of its popular game on an island in Fiji, where a military ruler led a coup against the country's elected government. Most of the action was confined to the nation's capital, Suva.
CBS has pulled some production staff out of Suva and, except for some minor issues with travel and delivery of supplies, the show has not been affected, said CBS entertainment spokesman Chris Ender.
`Survivor'
US Government Turns To
Disney
Faced with a decline in the number of overseas visitors and unpopular entry requirements, the U.S. government is turning to the Walt Disney Co. and other theme park operators to brighten the country's battered image.
With security much tightened since the attacks of September 11, 2001, the visa and entry processes are so unpopular that the country was ranked as the world's most unfriendly to visitors in a survey last month of travelers from 16 nations.
"We have missed an opportunity to make people feel welcome," said Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. "The whole process must be friendlier and more efficient. We must invest in creating a first impression of hospitality and friendliness at our borders."
The theme park experts saw considerable room for improvement, according to some of the participants. They did not want to be named until their recommendations are published in a White Paper assessing what progress has been made on the anniversary of the Rice-Chertoff initiative.
Disney
Moving An Hour Later
'Lost'
Fans of ABC's "Lost" will have to wait later on Wednesday nights to see it. ABC said that its hit mystery will move to a new time slot - Wednesdays at 10 p.m. - when it returns with new episodes on Feb. 7.
It's a move to shore up the drama and keep it away from stiff competition. The CBS drama "Criminal Minds" has blossomed at the 9 p.m. time slot, even beating "Lost' head-to-head the last two times both shows aired original episodes.
Fox also returns in the new year with the results show of the powerhouse "American Idol" in the 9 p.m. slot.
"Lost" will take over for the newsmagazine that, in turn, replaced ABC's failed drama "The Nine." On Jan. 3, ABC will start two sitcoms, "The Knights of Prosperity" and "In Case of Emergency" at 9 p.m. ET on Wednesdays.
'Lost'
Intolerant And Narrow-Minded
Dennis Prager
An Islamic civil rights group Wednesday called on resident Bush to rescind the appointment of a U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum board member who criticized an incoming congressman, Keith Ellison, the first Muslim elected to Congress.
Last week, Dennis Prager, a conservative talk radio host and columnist, criticized Ellison - a Minnesota Democrat, for choosing to use the Quran, rather than the Bible, during his ceremonial swearing-in.
"Insofar as a member of Congress taking an oath to serve America and uphold its values is concerned," Prager wrote in an Internet column, "America is interested in only one book, the Bible. If you are incapable of taking an oath on that book, don't serve in Congress."
The museum board said this week that Prager's comments did not reflect the museum's position, but added that the board "is not self-appointed," and lacked the power to remove him.
Dennis Prager
Baby News
Cheney - Poe
Mary Cheney (R-Opportunist), the openly gay daughter of U.S Vice-President Dick "Go Fuck Yourself" Cheney and his wife, Lynne, is pregnant.
Mary Cheney, 37, and her partner of 15 years, Heather Poe, 45, are expecting a baby, said Lea Anne McBride, a spokeswoman for the vice-president. The baby is due in late spring. "The vice-president and Mrs. Cheney are looking forward with eager anticipation to the arrival of their sixth granddaughter," McBride said.
Mary Cheney was an aide to her father during the 2004 campaign, as was Elizabeth, and now is vice-president for consumer advocacy at AOL.
Cheney - Poe
Wedding Called Off
Gina Lollobrigida
The wedding between Italian actress Gina Lollobrigida and her longtime Spanish boyfriend has been called off, news reports in Italy and Spain said Wednesday.
Lollobrigida, 79, had been scheduled to marry Javier Rigau y Rafols, 45, of Barcelona, Spain, on Jan. 27 in Rome. The couple, who met at a party in Monte Carlo, Monaco, had been dating for 22 years.
"Javier is desperate. Ever since we have announced this wedding, he has been tormented with lies and slander," Lollobrigida was quoted as saying by the ANSA news agency.
"He can't take it anymore," Lollobrigida was quoted as saying. "For now there is no wedding and that's it."
Gina Lollobrigida
Beast Faces Charges
James Barbour
A Broadway actor, who played the beast in the musical "Beauty and the Beast," pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges that he had sexual contact several times with a 15-year-old girl.
James Barbour, 40, was charged with five counts of criminal sex acts and sexual abuse against the teen back in 2001. She came forward earlier this year before the five-year statute of limitations expired.
Assistant District Attorney Maxine Rosenthal, speaking at the hearing, said prosecutors were aware of a second case where Barbour allegedly had sexual contact with another underage girl, in California.
In a written statement signed April 4, 2006, and made public Wednesday by Rosenthal, Barbour said sexual contact with the girl was initiated by her when he had dinner with the teen and her boyfriend.
James Barbour
Alley Re-Named
The Flaming Lips
The Oklahoma City Council has designated an alley in the city's Bricktown area in honor of The Flaming Lips.
The city council also voted Tuesday to name two streets in the burgeoning entertainment and restaurant district in honor of country singer Vince Gill and jazz great Charlie Christian, both Oklahoma City natives.
Lead singer Wayne Coyne said the honor means a lot to The Flaming Lips, who got their start in Oklahoma City in 1983.
The Flaming Lips
Braves Balmy Winter
Ice Tree
A Christmas tree carved from 30 tonnes of ice has been erected in Austria and officials hope it won't melt away during a record run of mild weather at the start of winter.
Gert Hoedl, an internationally known ice sculptor, fashioned the 5.4-metre (18-foot) tree out of a huge block of ice imported from Belgium. It went on display in the provincial city of Klagenfurt on Tuesday, officials said.
Temperatures have stayed well above freezing into the onset of winter, with flowers blooming on snow-starved slopes of Alpine ski resorts and bears struggling to hibernate.
Ice Tree
Santa's Sidekick (In Auistria)
Krampus
As Christmas nears, Austrian children hoping for gifts from Santa Claus will also be watching warily for "Krampus," his horned and hairy sidekick.
In folklore, Krampus was a devil-like figure who drove away evil spirits during the Christian holiday season.
Traditionally, he appeared alongside Santa around December 6, the feast of St. Nicholas, and the two are still part of festivities in many parts of central Europe.
Now, a prominent Austrian child psychiatrist is arguing for a ban on Krampus, who still roams towns and villages in early December.
Krampus
Reality In Muncie
Celebrity Cops
Erik Estrada and other lesser celebrities have been sworn in as reserve officers of the city police department here, allowing them to carry badges and guns as part of a reality television series.
About 200 people packed into a Muncie City Hall auditorium for the Tuesday ceremony to swear in the former "CHiPs" star, along with La Toya Jackson, Jack Osbourne, Wee Man and Trish Stratus.
A producer coaxed the crowd into cheering loudly for the camera, and parts of the ceremony had to be repeated several times for the TV cameras.
The CBS show, "Armed and Famous," being filmed in this east-central Indiana city, population 66,000, follows the celebrities as they enforce the laws alongside city police officers.
Celebrity Cops
Painting Sells For 1,000 Times Asking Price
Peter Paul Rubens
One art lover in Sweden paid 1,000 times over the starting bid for a painting billed as the work of a student of Peter Paul Rubens after learning the Flemish baroque master may have painted it himself.
Bids for the painting at an auction on Tuesday started at 15,000 Swedish crowns ($2,195), but a buzz that this was a real Rubens set the price soaring to 16.6 million ($2.43 million), the second-most ever paid for a painting in Sweden.
The sellers, a couple in their 70s from Sweden's west, put the painting up for auction in Uppsala because they no longer had room for it, according to Sweden's Dagens Nyheter newspaper.
Peter Paul Rubens
Best Film - National Board of Review
'Letters From Iwo Jima'
"Letters From Iwo Jima," the second half of Clint Eastwood's two-part look at World War II, is the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures' pick as the best film of 2006.
Martin Scorsese was the organization's choice for best director for "The Departed."
Top acting honors went to Forest Whitaker as Idi Amin in "The Last King of Scotland" and Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth II in "The Queen." The awards for supporting performances went to Djimon Hounsou in "Blood Diamond" and Catherine O'Hara in "For Your Consideration."
The board chose Pedro Almodovar's "Volver" as the year's best foreign film and "An Inconvenient Truth," Al Gore's warning about global warming, as best documentary. In a year that was flooded with animated films, "Cars" was the group's top choice.
'Letters From Iwo Jima'
Swallows Star
Black Hole
A giant black hole displaying horrifying table manners has been caught in the act of guzzling a star in a galaxy 4 billion light-years away, scientists using an orbiting NASA telescope said on Tuesday.
Scientists used NASA's Galaxy Evolution Explorer, an orbiting telescope sensitive to two bands of ultraviolet wave lengths, to detect an ultraviolet flare coming from the center of a remote elliptical galaxy.
"This ultraviolet flare was from a star literally being ripped apart and swallowed by the black hole," Suvi Gezari of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena and lead author of the paper describing the findings in Astrophysical Journal Letters, said in an interview.
Black Hole
Battlefield Improvisations
Silly String & Tampons
In an age of multimillion-dollar high-tech weapons systems, sometimes it's the simplest ideas that can save lives. Which is why a New Jersey mother is organizing a drive to send cans of Silly String to Iraq.
American troops use the stuff to detect trip wires around bombs, as Marcelle Shriver learned from her son, a soldier in Iraq.
Before entering a building, troops squirt the plastic goo, which can shoot strands about 10 to 12 feet, across the room. If it falls to the ground, no trip wires. If it hangs in the air, they know they have a problem. The wires are otherwise nearly invisible.
In other cases of battlefield improvisation in Iraq, U.S. soldiers have bolted scrap metal to Humvees in what has come to be known as "Hillybilly Armor." Medics use tampons to plug bullet holes in the wounded until they can be patched up.
Silly String & Tampons
Basic Cable
Ratings
Rankings for the top 15 programs on cable networks as compiled by Nielsen Media Research for the week of Nov. 27-Dec. 3. Day and start time (EST) are in parentheses.
1. NFL Football: Green Bay vs. Seattle (Monday, 8:30 p.m.), ESPN, 9.3 million homes, 12.69 million viewers.
2. Movie: "The Librarian: Return to King Solomon's Mines" (Sunday, 8 p.m.), TNT, 4.05 million homes, 6.17 million viewers.
3. "WWE Raw" (Monday, 10 p.m.), USA, 3.58 million homes, 5.17 million viewers.
4. Movie: "The Santa Clause" (Monday, 8 p.m.), Disney, 3.56 million homes, 4.82 million viewers.
5. "WWE Raw" (Monday, 9 p.m.), USA, 3.33 million homes, 4.78 million viewers.
6. Movie: "The Christmas Card" (Saturday, 9 p.m.), Hallmark, 3.12 million homes, 4.26 million viewers.
7. Movie: "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" (Sunday, 5 p.m.), HBO Family, 3.04 million homes, 4.78 million viewers.
8. "SpongeBob SquarePants" (Sunday, 9:30 a.m.), Nickelodeon, 2.93 million homes, 4.13 million viewers.
9. "Avatar: The Guru" (Friday, 8 p.m.), Nickelodeon, 2.91 million homes, 4.42 million viewers.
10. Movie: "A Dad For Christmas" (Sunday, 9 p.m.), Lifetime, 2.75 million homes, 3.54 million viewers.
11. "Fairly Odd Parents" (Sunday, 10 a.m.), Nickelodeon, 2.71 million homes, 3.86 million viewers.
12. "SportsCenter" (Monday, 12:03 a.m.), ESPN, 2.71 million homes, 3.28 million viewers.
13. "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody" (Monday, 6:30 p.m.), Disney, 2.68 million homes, 3.56 million viewers.
14. "SpongeBob SquarePants" (Sunday, 9 a.m.), Nickelodeon, 2.66 million homes, 3.45 million viewers.
15. "SpongeBob SquarePants" (Saturday, 9 a.m.), Nickelodeon, 2.65 million homes, 3.83 million viewers.
Ratings
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