Recommended Reading
from Bruce
Paul Krugman's Column: The Texas Unmiracle (New York Times
… what you need to know is that the Texas miracle is a myth, and more broadly that Texan experience offers no useful lessons on how to restore national full employment.
Scott Burns: The Coming American Spring (assetbuilder.com)
The coming American Spring is going to be tough. Many eggs need to be broken if we are to save our country. It will start to happen when we begin to tell the politicians they have done enough for us. That we want no more. Things will start to turn around when the first politician doesn't fake it.
Ted Rall: Down and Out at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
In this single-issue environment, any idiot could have been a successful president. All Obama had to do was express sympathy and understanding while announcing a bunch of jobs initiatives. Not hard. Weirdly, though, Obama has focused on everything else except jobs: …
Matt Miller: Why the center-left is fed up with Obama (The Washington Post)
Here's the thing. I know Tea Party Republicans were behind the debt-ceiling standoff that wreaked needless damage on confidence in the United States. I wrote weeks ago of Standard & Poor's outrageous nerve in threatening a downgrade when America's ability to pay its debts can't possibly be in doubt. In short, I know who the real villains are at this volatile moment. So why am I so mad at Barack Obama?
Robert Reich: Why the President Doesn't Present a Bold Plan to Create Jobs and Jumpstart the Economy
But for now the President is being badly advised. The magnitude of the current jobs and growth crisis demands a boldness and urgency that's utterly lacking. As the President continues to wallow in the quagmire of long-term debt reduction, Congress is on summer recess and the rest of Washington is asleep.
Marc Dion: It Comes on You Slowly: Marriage, Drugs and the Debt Crisis (Creators Syndicate)
You can read recent American history and see shaky ideas and shaky credit taking hold, becoming an addiction, taking every nickel and consuming jobs, houses, college funds, union cards, dental care, factories, whole blocks of cities and then the cities themselves, until, sick and desperate, we sell ourselves to tea party pimps and contemplate stealing from Medicare. Last stop. Detox or die.
Social Class as Culture (Disinformation)
People who come from a lower-class background have to depend more on other people. "If you don't have resources and education, you really adapt to the environment, which is more threatening, by turning to other people," Keltner says. "People who grow up in lower-class neighborhoods, as I did, will say,' There's always someone there who will take you somewhere, or watch your kid. You've just got to lean on people.'"
Sandy Banks: It's easy to ignore the spies in our midst (LA Times)
Those daily deal coupons seem fun and harmless, but experts say marketing firms are in an 'arms race' to collect data about who we are and how we live. Right now, there are few limits on what they can do.
America's 'food deserts' (The Week)
Fast food is generally cheaper, and doesn't need to be prepared and cooked, so it's more convenient. Studies have also shown that the huge jolt of fat, salt, and sugar fast food delivers can be almost as addictive as hard drugs (see below). Then there's the advertising factor: Fast-food companies spend about $4.2 billion a year marketing their products as life's ultimate rewards …
"The Chitlin' Circuit: And the Road to Rock 'n' Roll" by Preston Lauterbach: A review by David Kirby
It's 1951, and a group of teenagers who call themselves the Kings of Rhythm are motoring up Highway 61 from the Mississippi Delta, their instruments tied to the top of the car. A 19-year-old named Ike Turner is driving, and he and the band are on their way to Memphis when they hit a bump that sends their equipment flying. Turner and the others hail from Clarksdale, where poor folks make instruments out of wire and broomsticks, so when they discover a fracture in their amplifier, they just patch it and shoulder on.
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."
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From The Creator of 'Avery Ant'
BadtotheboneBob
I Have A Cat
I have a cat that needs adopting, too
Any takers? His only fault is he refuses to return his empties...
BadtotheboneBob
Thanks, B2tbBob!
Selected Readings
from that Mad Cat, JD
In The Chaos Household
Last Night
Marine layer is thinning out. Sigh.
Travel Tests Freedom
Aung San Suu Kyi
Thousands of well-wishers lined roadsides in Myanmar to welcome opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi as she tested the limits of her freedom Sunday by taking her first political trip into the countryside since being released from house arrest.
The military-dominated country's government had warned that the democracy icon's journey could trigger riots, but it took place peacefully in two towns north of the main city of Yangon.
The last time the democracy icon traveled out of Yangon to meet supporters, assailants ambushed her entourage. She escaped harm but was detained and placed under seven years of house arrest, from which she was only released last November.
On Sunday, Suu Kyi opened public libraries in Bago, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of Yangon, and the nearby town of Thanatpin, where she addressed hundreds of supporters in a 10-minute speech calling for unity and asking people to continue to support her political party.
After half a century of army rule, the country formerly known as Burma organized elections late last year and officially handed power to a civilian administration in March. But critics say the new government, led by retired military figures, is a proxy for continued military rule and that little has changed.
Aung San Suu Kyi
"History Of"
Henson's Puppets
Anyone curious to see how "The Muppet Show" might have spoofed MTV's "Jersey Shore" won't have to wait much longer.
On Monday, Bunim/Murray and Henson Alternative -- the adult arm of the Jim Henson Company -- announced that it will co-produce "History Of," an irreverent scripted program in which pop-culture events will be re-enacted by Henson puppets.
This does not necessarily mean the world famous Muppets, who are super-busy getting ready for their November return to movie theaters. But we dare to dream of seeing Miss Piggy doing her best Snooki impression.
Chris Regan, a former writer for "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart," has signed on to be showrunner. "History Of" will feature surprise celebrity cameos.
Henson's Puppets
Taking Time Off
Lawrence O'Donnell
MSNBC host Lawrence O'Donnell is taking time off from his show, "The Last Word With Lawrence O'Donnell," following the death of his mother, Frances O'Donnell, on Sunday, the network confirmed to TheWrap. Fellow MSNBC host Chris Hayes will fill in for O'Donnell.
The network didn't say how long O'Donnell would be on leave.
Hayes will address O'Donnell's absence on Monday's "Last Word," with the statement, "The most devoted fan of this show is not watching tonight. Lawrence's mother, Frances O'Donnell, died Sunday morning in her home surrounded by her children and grandchildren. Mrs. O'Donnell was 93."
O'Donnell began "Last Word" in January, replacing departed "Countdown" host Keith Olbermann.
Lawrence O'Donnell
Baby News
Haven Garner Warren
US actress Jessica Alba has given birth to her second child, a girl named Haven, and took to Facebook for the announcement.
Husband "Cash (Warren) and I are so excited to announce the birth of our daughter, Haven Garner Warren," the "Sin City" star wrote on her account.
"She was born on Saturday, weighed 7lbs (3.2 kilograms), and was 19 inches (48.3 centimeters) long. Healthy and happy! Big Sister Honor couldn't be more excited about the new addition to our family."
Her first daughter Honor was born in June 2008.
Haven Garner Warren
Wedding Tweet
Reid - Kehayov
Tara Reid is a married woman.
The 35-year-old actress announced on Twitter that she was wed over the weekend.
In a post on her official Twitter page Saturday, she wrote, "Just got married in Greece I love being a wife." Earlier that day, she tweeted that she was engaged.
Reid wrote in a separate post that her husband's name is Zack Kehayov. She also posted a photo of a tropical beach scene with the caption "life is perfect" and another of her in a bikini with the caption "loving life."
Reid - Kehayov
Didn't Want "Reverse Kramer"
Dave Chappelle
Dave Chappelle appeared on a San Francisco area radio program Friday morning to promote a weekend concert, but spent much of the interview explaining his sometimes contentious stage presence, especially his demeanor during a July 22 charity performance at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Florida.
The reclusive "Chappelle's Show" star said that he didn't even get a chance to begin his routine that night because attendees in the front row began heckling immediately and that he was worried that it would become a "reverse Kramer" situation -- a reference to the bigoted tirade "Seinfeld" alum Michael Richards launched into at a comedy club in 2006. Instead, he stayed on stage for 46 mostly silent moments.
"Someone said I melted down or I had a nervous breakdown," said Chappelle. "I wasn't nervous at all. The thing is, it was an Indian casino and I felt that they were trying to get a reverse Kramer shot of me. In other words, I came out on stage and the YouTube extravaganza began -- everyone's pulling their camera phones out. And that's cool for the first couple of minutes. And then the whole front row starts heckling me and apparently the whole front row was the Seminole Indians, whose casino it was, so security didn't want to tell them to be quiet.
"Now, this obviously wasn't the whole audience -- there were thousands of people there. But in the front, I can see and hear everything. I was, like, okay, whatever. But at a certain point, you can't possibly expect me (to continue). There's got to be a little bit of cooperation."
Dave Chappelle
U.S Businesses Complain Of Shakedown
.xxx
In preparation for a new triple-x Internet domain that will launch in December, lawyers for the most storied brands in the United States are scrambling to prevent an x-rated rip-off of an invaluable asset: corporate Web addresses.
The domain operator administering the .xxx domain is accepting early applications from brand owners who want control over their names. ICM Registry says it has received over 900,000 "expressions of interest" from companies that want to preregister their trademarks or block others from snapping them up to create, say, a Barbie.xxx or Coke.xxx.
While some adult-content providers are paying the approximately $200 fee because they want to use the domain, other non-porn brands ranging from MTV Networks and Budget Travel to the Red Cross are preregistering to avoid future legal battles with cybersquatters who register trademarks with the intention of reselling them.
Porn and mainstream businesses alike complain they are being forced to buy domain names they don't want, don't need and won't use -- and compare the process to a hold-up.
.xxx
School District Bans Novel
Sherlock Holmes
A Virginia school district has banned a book on the legendary sleuther for how it portrays the Mormon faith.
Last week, the Albemarle County School Board removed Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's first Sherlock Holmes novel, A Study in Scarlet, from its sixth-grade reading list. Several former middle school students opposed the removal of the Victorian-era text, one calling it "the best book I have read so far," but the mystery novel was nonetheless booted.
Back in May, a parent of a Henley Middle School student complained that the story painted a poor, derogatory picture of Mormons. "A Study in Scarlet has been used to introduce students to the mystery genre," Brette Stevenson said, adding, "This is our young students' first inaccurate introduction to an American religion."
Last Thursday, the school board agreed with the complaint and voted for the story's removal. It will, however, remain a part of high-school curriculum.
Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson made their first appearance in A Study in Scarlet, a short novel published in 1887. The problematic themes revolve around a long flashback set in 1847 Utah. A large group of Mormons, led by Brigham Young himself, are "depicted as raw crackpots, their religion as primitive and vindictive ." The group discovers a man and child on the brink of death by dehydration, and offers to help them - so long as they adopt the Mormon faith.
Sherlock Holmes
Leah Remini, Holly Robinson Peete Likely Out
"The Talk"
Leah Remini and Holly Robinson Peete will most likely be rendered speechless soon.
Remini and Robinson Peete probably won't be returning to CBS's popular daytime offering "The Talk" when it returns to the air for a second season, an individual close to the show confirmed to TheWrap.
While the show has re-upped Sara Gilbert, Julie Chen and Sharon Osbourne, Remini and Robinson Peete's options have yet to be picked up -- and it's likely that they won't be, as executive producer John Redmann explores possible new directions for the series.
"The Talk" returns for its second season on September 6.
"The Talk"
TLC Cancels
'Kate Plus 8'
TLC says it is canceling "Kate Plus 8."
The reality specials focusing on Kate Gosselin, her twin daughters and set of sextuplets morphed into a weekly series in its second season. But TLC announced Monday that its final episode will air Sept. 12.
The show was spun off from the wildly popular "Jon & Kate Plus 8," which co-starred the youngsters' father, Jon Gosselin, at their home in Wernersville, Pa. Their marriage dissolved, and the couple divorced in 2009.
By the end of its run, including "Jon & Kate Plus 8," the series will reach the 150-episode mark. TLC says it hopes to check in with Kate Gosselin and the family periodically with future specials.
'Kate Plus 8'
Trashed By Insane Clown Posse
Charlie Sheen
Perhaps Charlie Sheen should have thought twice about agreeing to go face-to-face with horror-rap duo Insane Clown Posse's infamously rowdy fans -- semi-affectionately known as Juggalos -- this weekend.
Sheen didn't exactly get showered with affection while hosting the annual Gathering of the Juggalos, which was held at Cave-In-Rock, Ill. from Thursday to Sunday -- more like showered with debris.
The ousted "Two and a Half Men" actor -- who's preparing to star in a small-screen adaptation of the Jack Nicholson film "Anger Management" -- encountered a bit of, well, unmanaged anger during his guest stint at the yearly festival.
Serving as host for Saturday's festivities, Sheen was greeted with boos -- and no small number of projectiles being hurled at him from the audience.
Charlie Sheen
Doesn't Love Sara Lee
Kraft
The nation's two largest hot dog makers are taking their legal beefs Monday to federal court in Chicago, where a judge will determine whether Oscar Mayer or Ball Park franks broke false-advertising laws in their efforts to become top dog.
Legal arguments in the long-ranging wiener war between Chicago companies pit Sara Lee Corp, which makes Ball Park franks, against Kraft Foods Inc., which makes Oscar Mayer. The case could clarify how far companies nationwide can go when boasting that their product is better than a competitor's.
Thousands of pages of filings in three years of pretrial litigation by both food-industry giants demonstrate that the stakes are high.
Sara Lee fired the first volley in a 2009 lawsuit singling out Oscar Mayer ads that brag its dogs beat out Ball Park franks in a national taste test. Those tests, Sara Lee argued, stacked the deck against Ball Park in part by altering the way the hot dogs were cooked and served.
Kraft filed its own lawsuit in 2009, alleging Sara Lee ran false and deceptive ads including a campaign where Ball Parks are heralded as "America's Best Franks." The ad further asserts that other hot dogs "aren't even in the same league."
Kraft
Says "Game of Thrones" Scripts Stolen
George R.R. Martin
George R.R. Martin, the fantasy novelist who commands a massive and massively loyal audience as the author of the "A Song of Ice and Fire" series that spawned HBO's "Game of Thrones," has put his minions on a special mission: to help him solve the case of the missing scripts.
Writing on his blog Saturday, Martin announced that two final shooting scripts from season one -- for "Baelor" and "Fire and Blood," the last two episodes -- had been stolen recently en route from Northern Ireland, where the show's second season is currently in production.
Martin had planned to enter the scripts, which are signed by "Game of Thrones" co-creator David Benioff and the episodes' director, Alan Taylor, in a charity auction at WorldCon this week. He said that they would have fetched "significant bucks."
The culprit, he suspects, is a U.S. postal worker, and he is asking for his loyal subjects' help in thwarting the vile cutpurse's plans to profit on the stolen goods.
"The US post office delivered the envelope in a plastic baggie with a pre-printed note apologizing for the 'damage,'" wrote Martin of the theft. "But this was no error in handling. The envelope was torn open at one end, and both scripts were gone, though Dan's letter remained."
George R.R. Martin
Backs Banning Shark-Fin Trade
Bo Derek
Actress Bo Derek won't be ordering shark-fin soup anytime soon.
On Monday, she was joined lawmakers at the California state Capitol promoting a bill that would ban selling, trading or possessing shark fins, which are used in a soup that is considered a delicacy in some Asian cultures.
Sharks that have had their fins sliced off die when tossed back into the ocean.
Derek called shark-finning "a global environmental crisis." She says sharks have been around nearly 400 million years but says "many stocks may be wiped out."
U.S. law restricts the practice but cannot stop it in international waters. The California market for shark-fin soup is the largest outside Asia.
Bo Derek
Did He Survive?
Butch Cassidy
Did Butch Cassidy, the notorious Old West outlaw who most historians believe perished in a 1908 shootout in Bolivia, actually survive that battle and live to old age, peacefully and anonymously, in Washington state? And did he pen an autobiography detailing his exploits while cleverly casting the book as biography under another name?
A rare books collector says he has obtained a manuscript with new evidence that may give credence to that theory. The 200-page manuscript, "Bandit Invincible: The Story of Butch Cassidy," which dates to 1934, is twice as long as a previously known but unpublished novella of the same title by William T. Phillips, a machinist who died in Spokane in 1937.
Utah book collector Brent Ashworth and Montana author Larry Pointer say the text contains the best evidence yet - with details only Cassidy could have known - that "Bandit Invincible" was not biography but autobiography, and that Phillips himself was the legendary outlaw.
Others aren't convinced.
Historians more or less agree that Cassidy was born Robert LeRoy Parker in 1866 in Beaver, Utah, the oldest of 13 children in a Mormon family. He robbed his first bank in 1889 in Telluride, Colo., and fell in with cattle rustlers who hid out at The Hole in the Wall, a refuge in northern Wyoming's Johnson County. He left the area before cattle barons hunted down cattle-rustling homesteaders in the 1892 Johnson County War.
Butch Cassidy
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