Dolphins have been declared the world's second most intelligent creatures after humans, with scientists suggesting they are so bright that they should be treated as "non-human persons"... The researchers argue that their work shows it is morally unacceptable to keep such intelligent animals in amusement parks or to kill them for food or by accident when fishing...
Froma Harrop: Let House Prices Do What They Must (creators.com)
To paraphrase Yogi Berra, the bubble's not over till the last drop splatters. That is certainly the case with the housing bubble. Home prices that seemed to be strengthening over the summer have again slipped, according to the S&P Case-Shiller index. Neither low interest rates nor a fat tax credit for homebuyers has changed this reality.
Peter Berger: Poor Elijah's 2010 Education Wish List (irascibleprofessor.com)
Poor Elijah never put much stock in New Year's resolutions. Every so often he tried to make one or two, but he always had a hard time finding anything new to be resolute about. Growing up he needed intravenous milkshakes just to get within shouting distance of the bottom of the growth curve, so dieting never made much sense. In eighth grade he resolved to stop driving his teachers crazy, but once he realized how unfair this was to his fellow students, he canceled his plan on humanitarian grounds.
TAMAR LEWIN: Earful Over Cheeky University Essay (nytimes.com)
With the Jan. 2 deadline for applications fast approaching, the dean of admissions at the University of Chicago sent out a sample essay last week to thousands of high school seniors in hopes "that it lightens your mood, reduces any end-of-the-year stress and inspires your creative juices in completing your applications."
Scott Burns: Fearless Forecast, 2010 (assetbuilder.com)
Well, now. We've made it, just barely, through another year. But it was really close, so I'm keeping my supply of candles, dehydrated meals, bottled water and extra propane for the outdoor grill/emergency kitchen.
Gaby Wood: "Edmund White: Interview and book extract" (guardian.co.uk)
Edmund White was there at the Stonewall riots, there again at the onset of Aids, and his intellectual friends ranged from Jasper Johns to Susan Sontag. Gaby Wood meets the celebrated author and we print extracts from 'City Boy,' his engrossing new memoir.
Paul Gaita: "The contender Q&A: Jackie Earle Haley" (latimes.com)
Jackie Earle Haley's career trajectory - from '70s child and teen star ("The Bad News Bears," "Breaking Away") to relative industry outsider to Oscar nominee for his turn in "Little Children" - has continued its upward path since his return to the profession.
Roger Ebert: MR. HULOT'S HOLIDAY (NO MPAA RATING; 4 stars)
The first time I saw Jacques Tati's "Mr. Hulot's Holiday," I didn't laugh as much as I thought I was supposed to. But I didn't forget the film, and I saw it again in a film class, and then bought the laserdisc and saw it a third and fourth time, and by then it had become part of my treasure. But I still didn't laugh as much as I thought I was supposed to, and now I think I understand why.
zEN mAN (observing former Fox news pundit Brit Hume bloviating about Tiger Woods being a Buddhist (not a Christian) and further opining that the philandering king of the links needs to find Jesus in order gain redemption......"bull shit Brit" is in reality forgetting the essential element of Buddhism known as Nirvana......."kiss my Buddhist ass Brit")
Liberace, known as "Lee" to his friends and "Walter" to family, was born in West Allis, Wisconsin, a Milwaukee suburb, to Frances Zuchowska, a Pole, and Salvatore ("Sam") Liberace, an immigrant from Formia, Italy. He had a twin who died at birth and he was born with a caul, which in his family, as in many societies, was taken as a sign of genius and an exceptional future.
Source
Marian the teacher was first, and correct, with:
Liberace
Baron Dave ("I have Tinkerbelle issues, but I don't let it ruin the whole park for me." -- Wings) wrote:
I know Liberace was known as "Lee" to his friends, and I'm going to guess at the "Walter" part. He looks sort of like a Walter.
mj said:
My method being the wild guess
Since wild guesses are my method, Mr. Strasberg (sp?). What kind of name is Lee for an Eastern European Jew (shades of Jonathon Livingston Segal . . . no, that's not a typo.)
Alan J answered:
Liberace
~ Tony In Philly replied:
The Inimitable Liberace.
Happy New Year!
bgrddad responded:
Liberace
Sally said:
POOR JoeS, thinking this was the last day of BCE, he just couldn't take it... Marty, you must send out the equivalent of a St Bernard dog (with the barrel of brandy on it's neck) out to his home to revive him!!
"JoeS, come home, all is forgiven..." Kidding aside, I know how he felt... What a lovely surprise to see Marty saved on the brink!!
Now, about the Question Dejour:
The late entertainer, Liberace, was known as, "Lee" to his friends and "Walter" to his family.
PS: Back in the 1950s, Liberace had his own TV show. Wearing his boring black tuxedo, he would sit at his grand piano (complete with its candelabra on the top) and serenade his fans. The older ladies (including my own mother) adored him. I sure wish I had a nickel for every time my mother would say, "Now there's the kind of man you should marry!" Being 14 or 15 at the time, I'm sure I rolled my eyes and made some mildly snarky reply. He seemed so OLD to me at that time. Little did we know...
Charlie answered:
Liberace. Thus presumably Elvis called him "Lee."
MAM noted:
Liberace (Wladziu Valentino Liberace) was known as "Lee" to his friends and "Walter" to family.
When I saw there was a trivia question for today, I was so glad to see that the 'E' page will go on. Hope the readers will continue to support the page with $'s. It is well worth it.
Liberace
And, Joe S answered:
Lee Liberace. I used to watch Liberace every week back in the early 50s. I think I was about 10 or 11 years old then. I really enjoyed the show.
I'll tell you another thing I enjoy, Bartcop Entertainment! I'm so happy you survived this crises Marty, BCE is my favorite place on the Internet. I check BCE before I check my e-mail.
Yesterday, Joe S's e-mail bounced as spam, so here is his re-send with Monday's answer:
Answer: Lots.
See I'm burned out. I don't have the energy to look up the correct answer. I'm just preparing myself for life without The Trivia Question of the Day. Life will be so boring. What about the stuff from Bruce? Gone. What about stuff from that Mad Cat, JD? Gone. What about my Trivia buddies, Sally, MAM, Charlie, Marian the teacher, and all the rest? Gone. What about the stuff from BadtotheboneBob? Gone And what about Marty? What about Marty who made all this possible? Gone. I'm just hoping enough of you slackers parted with some of your beer money to keep the BCE afloat past today. If not you'll make me feel like this, just sick.
CBS begins the night with a FRESH'NCIS', followed by a FRESH'NCIS: The 2nd One', then a FRESH'The Good Wife'.
Scheduled on a FRESHDave are Amy Adams, Zachary Levi, and Vampire Weekend.
Scheduled on a FRESHCraig are Patricia Heaton, Carey Mulligan, and Yonder Mountain String Band.
NBC starts the night with a FRESH'Biggest Loser', followed by a FRESH'Leno' (Kim Kardashian and Jillian Michaels).
Scheduled on a FRESHConanare Queen Latifah, Chris Pratt, and Juston McKinney.
Scheduled on a FRESHJimmy Fallon are Michael Cera, Ana Gasteyer, and Shwayze.
On a RERUNCarson 'The Scab' Daly (from 10/29/09) are Derek Luke, Anastasia Ashley, and Black Lips.
ABC opens the night with a FRESH'Scrubs', followed by a FRESH'Better Off Ted', then another FRESH'Scrubs', followed by another FRESH'Better Off Ted', then a FRESH'the forgotten'.
Scheduled on a FRESHJimmy Kimmel are David Arquette, Abbie Cornish, and Jim Brewer.
The CW offers a RERUN'90210', followed by a RERUN'Melrose Place'.
Faux fills the night with LIVE'College Football - FedEx Orange Bowl', then pads the left coast with local crap.
MY recycles an old 'Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?', followed by another old 'Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?', then an old 'Deal Or No Deal', followed by another old 'Deal Or No Deal?'.
A&E has 'Criminal Minds', another 'Criminal Minds', 'Psychic Kids: Children Of The Paranormal', followed by a FRESH'Paranormal State', then another FRESH'Paranormal State'.
AMC offers the movie 'The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen', followed by the movie 'Pitch Black', then the movie 'Terminator 2: Judgment Day'.
BBC -
[12:00 PM] Cash in the Attic - Ep 7 Casino (Brain)
[1:00 PM] Cash in the Attic - Ep 14 Landucci
[2:00 PM] Antiques Roadshow - Episode 2
[3:00 PM] Antiques Roadshow - Episode 16
[4:00 PM] Antiques Roadshow - Episode 4
[5:00 PM] Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares - Ep. 2 Glass House
[6:00 PM] Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares - Ep 2 D-Place
[7:00 PM] BBC World News America
[8:00 PM] Britain's Missing Top Model - Episode 6
[9:00 PM] Last Restaurant Standing - Episode 1
[10:00 PM] BBC World News America
[11:00 PM] Britain's Missing Top Model - Episode 6
[12:00 AM] Last Restaurant Standing - Episode 1
[1:00 AM] Britain's Missing Top Model - Episode 6
[2:00 AM] Last Restaurant Standing - Episode 1
[3:00 AM] Friday Night with Jonathan Ross - Ep 3 Sir David Attenborough, Eva Herzigova, Jay-Z, Peter Andre
[4:00 AM] How Clean Is Your House? US - Episode 10
[4:30 AM] How Clean Is Your House? - Episode 10
[5:00 AM] BBC World News
[6:00 AM] BBC World News (ALL TIMES EST)
Bravo has 'Tabatha's Salon Takeover', another 'Tabatha's Salon Takeover', still another 'Tabatha's Salon Takeover', followed by a FRESH'Tabatha's Salon Takeover'.
Comedy Central has last night's 'Jon Stewart', last night's 'Colbert Report', 'Scrubs', another 'Scrubs''South Park', another 'South Park', still another 'South Park', and yet another 'South Park'.
Scheduled on a FRESHJon Stewart is George Lucas.
Scheduled on a FRESHColbert Report is Riley Crane.
FX has the movie 'Snakes On A Plane', followed by the movie 'The Fast & The Furious', then the movie 'Wrong Turn'.
IFC -
[6:20 AM] Rank
[8:00 AM] The Lesser Evil
[9:45 AM] Dinner Rush
[11:30 AM] Short Film Showcase
[12:25 PM] Rank
[2:05 PM] The Lesser Evil
[3:45 PM] Dinner Rush
[5:30 PM] C.S.A.: The Confederate States of America
[7:00 PM] Fast Food Nation
[9:00 PM] Arrested Development
[9:30 PM] Arrested Development
[10:00 PM] The Jon Dore Television Show
[10:30 PM] Modern Toss
[11:00 PM] Dinner With the Band
[11:30 PM] Monty Python's Flying Circus
[12:00 AM] Southern Comfort
[1:50 AM] Wrong
[2:00 AM] The IT Crowd
[2:30 AM] Monty Python's Flying Circus
[3:00 AM] Arrested Development
[3:30 AM] Arrested Development
[4:00 AM] The Jon Dore Television Show
[4:30 AM] Modern Toss
[5:00 AM] Dinner With the Band
[5:30 AM] Monty Python's Flying Circus (ALL TIMES EST)
Sundance -
[04:05 AM] A Woman Under the Influence
[06:40 AM] Blood, Sweat + Gears
[08:15 AM] Jump Tomorrow
[09:55 AM] A Woman Under the Influence
[12:25 PM] Capturing the Friedmans
[02:15 PM] East of Havana
[03:40 PM] I Love Sarah Jane
[04:00 PM] Jump Tomorrow
[05:45 PM] Bob Le Flambeur
[07:30 PM] Man Shops Globe: Man Shops Globe: Season 1, Episode 6 - UK
[08:00 PM] The Talent Given Us
[09:45 PM] Harvie Krumpet
[10:15 PM] Black Book
[12:45 AM] Lost in Beijing
[02:45 AM] Is Your House Killing You?: Is Your House Killing You?: Episode 3
[03:15 AM] Eco Documentaries - Season 2: Garbage Warrior
[04:45 AM] Bob Le Flambeur (ALL TIMES EST)
SyFy has 'Star Trek: TNG', another 'Star Trek: TNG', still another 'Star Trek: TNG', and 'ECW'.
TBS:
On a RERUNLopez Tonight (from 11/19/09) are Ted Danson, Bill Engvall, and Orianthi.
Professor Antonio Vazquez Alba "Brujo Mayor", also known as Mexico's Grand Warlock, shows his cards after a news conference where he made predictions for 2010 in Mexico City January 4, 2010.
Daniel Aguilar
For the first time since 2002, U.S. consumers spent more to see Hollywood movies in theaters last year than buy them on DVD and Blu-ray discs, industry figures showed on Monday, and that trend is expected to continue.
In recent years, Hollywood has come to rely on the high profit margin from DVD sales to underwrite the large cost of producing and marketing films, but with DVD sales dwindling, the movie industry is reexamining its business models.
Adams Media Research reported on Monday that U.S. box office receipts boomed to $9.87 billion in 2009 and overtook DVD and Blu-ray sales of $8.73 billion.
The movie disc business peaked in 2004 with U.S. sales of $12.1 billion. With the film industry increasingly relying on the small but growing sectors of on-demand television and online distribution, movie disc sales are not expected to rebound to those peak figures from six years ago.
A News Corp unit has agreed to sell movie review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes to movie information site Flixster, combining massive databases of movies, reviews and trailers, the companies said on Monday.
News Corp, which owned Rotten Tomatoes through a division called IGN Entertainment, will retain a minority stake in the merged company.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The database will have more than 250,000 movies, 2.3 billion user reviews, half a million reviews by critics and more than 20,000 trailers and videos.
People walk acoss the frozen surface of the Lake of Menteith in Scotland as the sun sets on Monday Jan. 4, 2010. Due to extreme temperatures over the last few weeks the lake has frozen over and the ice being measured this morning was 6 inches thick.
Photo by Andrew Milligan
Emile Hirsch is on his way to Africa to climb the continent's highest peak.
The "Milk" and "Into the Wild" star is joining Jessica Biel, Lupe Fiasco, Isabel Lucas and Elizabeth Gore for a weeklong trek up Mount Kilimanjaro. The Summit on the Summit expedition, which begins Thursday, aims to use star power to help raise awareness about the need for clean water worldwide.
The 24-year-old Hirsch says the climb combines "an epic adventure with an educational process on the global water crisis." Fans can follow the climb online and donate as little as a dollar to provide clean water to those who need it.
Nearly six months after Walter Cronkite's death, his voice is leaving the "CBS Evening News."
His introduction of anchor Katie Couric was replaced Monday by a voiceover featuring actor Morgan Freeman.
"As comforting as it is to look back on the great career that Walter had, we're looking forward now and we just felt it was the right time to make the move that at some point had to be made," said CBS News and Sports President Sean McManus. "This seemed like the appropriate time since Walter's passing to make the move."
Having Freeman on board gives CBS the flexibility to record different intros when Couric has special reports and is on location, he said.
Vaughn's spokesman, Alan Nierob, said Monday the 39-year-old "Couples Retreat" and "Swingers" actor wed 31-year-old real estate agent Kyla Weber in a small private ceremony Saturday outside Chicago. He said the nuptials were attended by family and close friends. It is the first marriage for both Weber and "The Break-Up" and "Four Christmases" leading man.
A publicist for Artie Lange says the comedian and radio personality has been hospitalized.
In an e-mail sent Monday to The Associated Press, publicist Hilary Hansen declined to elaborate, saying, "Artie has chosen to keep all information on this matter between him and his doctor."
The 42-year-old Lange, best known as Howard Stern's radio sidekick, has been absent from Stern's Sirius radio show for a month. On Monday's show, Stern said Lange isn't leaving the program and called him "a tremendous contributor."
Roman Polanski's long-delayed criminal case will return to a courtroom for a hearing later this week, a court official said Monday.
Superior Court spokesman Allan Parachini said Judge Peter Espinoza will convene a hearing on Polanski's case for Wednesday afternoon.
It's the first time the 32-year-old sex case will be back in court since a state appeals court last month rejected Polanski's bid to have it dismissed. The appeals court, however, suggested the case could end quickly if Polanski's attorneys agreed to sentencing in absentia or he drops his opposition to being extradited to the United States.
Los Angeles County district attorney's spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons said Polanski's lawyers requested an in-chambers conference on the case, but prosecutors objected. Espinoza then scheduled a public hearing; Gibbons said she did not know what would be discussed.
French actress Laura Smet, daughter of rock legend Johnny Hallyday, was hospitalised in Paris Monday after consuming a mixture of medications and alcohol, an emergency services source said.
According to the source, Smet, 26, allegedly attempted suicide in the church at Saint-German des Pres in central Paris and was rushed by firefighters to Val-de-Grace hospital.
Hallyday's own health has been in the news lately after the singer -- known as the French Elvis -- had to undergo two surgeries in Los Angeles to treat complications from a Paris operation on a herniated disc. He has gone to court to determine whether he was the victim of a botched operation.
Smet, whose mother is French actress Nathalie Baye, is the partner of Julien Delajoux, the brother of the Paris surgeon, Stephane Delajoux, who performed the controversial operation on Hallyday.
Child carol singers dressed costumes cross a field on Monday, Jan. 4, 2010 in Lofer, Austrian province of Salzburg. Traditionally carol singers walk from house to house around epiphany to collect money for poor children in other countries.
Photo by Kerstin Joensson
To speak of the latest milestone by "The Simpsons" seems to restate the obvious.
Long before now, enduring life for "The Simpsons" and its brightly jaundiced folk was simply assumed. What began 20 years ago as a fluke then erupted into a pop-culture juggernaut has continued to spin yarns, spawn characters and lampoon society with no end in sight.
On Sunday at 8 p.m. EST on Fox, "The Simpsons" is airing its 450th episode. "Once Upon a Time in Springfield" will be followed by an hourlong documentary from Morgan Spurlock ("30 Days," "Super Size Me"), fancifully titled "The Simpsons 20th Anniversary Special in 3-D on Ice."
During this season, when NBC's "Law & Order" boasts of having tied "Gunsmoke" as TV's longest-running prime-time drama, "The Simpsons" has seized the mantle as TV's longest-running scripted nighttime series - period. Ay, caramba!
Most Americans watch their favourite shows on a TV set, and given a choice more would prefer to star in a Clint Eastwood western than a romantic comedy with George Clooney, according to an online poll.
Nearly 70 percent of adults questioned in the 60 Minutes/Vanity Fair survey said they watch TV when the programmes run in their usual time slots but 20 percent admitted to using a DVR or TiVO.
Not surprisingly, the poll showed younger Americans were more likely to record their top television shows or use the Internet or an iPod to view them.
Eastwood was the top choice with 20 percent of those questioned when asked which type of film they would like to star in, but Clooney and Cameron Diaz were not far behind at 18 percent, followed by an action movie with Will Smith, a comedy with Will Farrell and a drama with actress Meryl Streep.
A female Siberian maral looks at a camera in its open-air cage at the Roev Ruchey zoo in Russia's Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk January 4, 2010. Air temperature in Krasnoyarsk stays near minus 35 degrees Celcius (-31 degrees Fahrenheit) during the day.
Photo by Ilya Naymushin
You have reached the Home page of BartCop Entertainment.
Make yourself home, take your shoes off...
Go ahead, scratch it if it itches.
The idea is to have fun.
Do you have something to say?
Anything that increased your blood pressure, or, even better, amused or entertained?
Do you have a great album no one's heard?
How about a favorite TV show, movie, book, play, cartoon, or legal amusement?
A popular artist that just plain pisses you off?
A box set the whole world should own?
Vile, filthy rumors about Republican hypocrites?
Just plain vile, filthy rumors?
This is your place.
noted:
