'TBH Politoons'
Thanks, again, Tim!
Weekly Review
HARPER'S WEEKLY REVIEW
March 11, 2003
The Bush Administration found it necessary to deny that
torture will be used against Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the Al
Qaeda leader captured in Pakistan last week, but confirmed
that "routine techniques" such as sleep and light
deprivation and withholding food and water and medical
attention might be used.
Officials confirmed that during the
questioning of Abu Zubaydah, an Al Qaeda leader who was shot
several times when he was captured, American interrogators
withheld pain killers; and they confirmed that terrorism
suspects are routinely forced to stand or kneel in
"uncomfortable positions" for long periods wearing black
hoods in the extreme cold and heat.
Officials confirmed that
during the interrogation of Omar al-Faruq, another senior Al
Qaeda operative, sleep and light deprivation and prolonged
isolation were used, that Faruq was fed very little, and
that he was exposed to temperatures ranging from 10 to 100
degrees. In the end, he decided to talk.
Another Guantanamo
Bay detainee attempted to commit suicide; it was the
twenty-first such attempt.
Military officials were
conducting a criminal investigation into the deaths of two
Afghan men at the American air base at Bagram, Afghanistan;
evidence suggested that the men had been beaten to death
while in U.S. custody.
Someone in the Bush Administration
told a reporter that the president took the extraordinary
step of sitting still by himself -- "in solitude,
undisturbed" -- for ten whole minutes before he walked
purposefully down a long hall on a red carpet to his first
prime-time press conference in more than a year, where he
told the world that he was prepared to launch an invasion of
Iraq within days. He was described as "a leader impervious
to doubt."
Asked about the danger of undermining
the authority of the United Nations, Bush replied: "I want
to work -- I want the United Nations to be effective. It's
important for it to be a robust, capable body. It's
important for its word to mean what they say."
Bush asserted
that Saddam Hussein "has trained and financed Al Qaeda-type
organizations," and he said that his job "is to protect
America. And that's exactly what I'm going to do. People can
ascribe all kind of intentions. I swore to protect and
defend the Constitution. That's what I swore to do. I put my
hand on the Bible and took that oath. And that's exactly
what I am going to do."
Bush mentioned the September 11
attacks eight times.
Some commentators were surprised by
Bush's odd, passionless tone; there was speculation in the
Washington Post that the president was on drugs.
Continued at www.harpers.org/weekly-review
-- Roger D. Hodge
In The Chaos Household
Last Night
'Outer Limits' foggy this morning.
Missed a picture in Michael Dare's missive, so had to update the page yesterday. Having survived 2 years of heavy
Raffi-gandization, was just grateful that 'Baby Beluga' wasn't mentioned.
Had a bunch of mail, but, I'm running late (so what else is new?) - will pick up tomorrow.
The science project is coming along slowly (it's due next Monday), and we spent too much time trying to print some pretty pictures - that I have to go try to re-print. Argh.
Tonight, Wednesday, CBS starts the evening with a FRESH 'Star Search', followed by '60 Minutes II', and '48 Hours'.
Scheduled on a FRESH Dave, with guest host Elvis Costello are Kim Cattrall, Mitch Hedberg, and Eddie Izzard.
Scheduled on a FRESH Craiggers are Eric Idle, Laura Harring, and Dishwalla.
NBC starts with a FRESH 'Ed', and follows with a RERUN 'West Wing', and then a
RERUN 'Law & Order'.
Scheduled on a FRESH Jay are Fran Drescher, Cuba Gooding Jr., and the Streets.
Scheduled on a FRESH Conan are Frankie Muniz, Geri Halliwell, and Veronica Vera.
Scheduled on a FRESH Carson Daly are Adrien Brody and t.A.T.u.(the Russian [fake] lesbian musical duo).
ABC has a RERUN 'My Wife & Kids', then a FRESH 'George Lopez', followed by the
Series Premiere of 'All American Girl'.
Scheduled on a FRESH Jimmy Kimmel are Lorenzo Lamas, Matt Stone & Trey Parker, Smilez & Southstar, and this week's guest host Jeff Ross.
The WB has a RERUN 'Dawson's Creek', followed by a FRESH 'Angel'.
Faux has a FRESH 'That 70's Show', a FRESH 'American Idol', a FRESH
'Bernie Mac', and a FRESH 'Cedric the Entertainer'.
UPN offers a RERUN 'Enterprise', and a RERUN 'Twilight Zone'.
Comedy Central offers the Series Premiere of 'Tough Crowd With Colin Quinn' at 11pm (est).
TV Land has the 'TV Land Awards: A Celebration of Classic TV'. John Ritter hosts, and the show was taped 2 March.
Anyone have any opinions?
Or reviews?
(See below for addresses)
The Clash, Police, Righteous Brothers, AC/DC, Elvis Costello
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
The annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony featured the spirit of 1970s British punk, some anti-war sentiments and probably the loudest noise ever heard at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel.
In what's often the case at the glittery ceremony, the honor also brought together a long-estranged group, in this case the Police.
The British trio played publicly Monday for the first time in 18 years, singing the reggae-tinged "Roxanne," the obsessive hit, "Every Breath You Take" and "Message in a Bottle."
They were inducted by No Doubt singer Gwen Stefani, who praised their "fruit salad" of sound. Stefani showed a picture of herself as a chubby 13-year-old, getting a backstage autograph from Sting.
Hopes for another big reunion were dashed when Joe Strummer, lead singer of the Clash, died on Dec. 22.
The surviving members were saluted by guitarist the Edge of U2 and Tom Morello of Audioslave, who both recalled being awed by a Clash concert when they were teenagers.
The Clash, whose original lineup broke up shortly after recording "Should I Stay or Should I Go?" burned bright and fast.
Bass player Paul Simonon said he missed "my big brother Joe."
A third potential reunion, of Elvis Costello and his longtime backing trio, the Attractions, was scuttled by bad blood. Costello currently tours with two of its members, but has long feuded with bass player Bruce Thomas.
Handed his trophy, Thomas said, "thanks for the memories. That's it," and walked off stage and out the door.
Costello marked his departure with a lewd gesture.
Australian hard rockers AC/DC made the staid Waldorf Astoria paint peel with thunderous versions of "Highway to Hell" and "You Shook Me All Night Long," the latter joined by Aerosmith lead singer Steven Tyler.
Singer Billy Joel inducted Bobby Hatfield and Bill Medley — the Righteous Brothers, whose smooth hits "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" and "(You're My) Soul and Inspiration" graced radio in the mid-1960s.
For more, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductions
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Strike Over
Broadway Musicians
After a four-day walkout that cost the city $10 million, Broadway musicians settled the first strike on the Great White Way in nearly 30 years Tuesday by agreeing to cut the number of orchestra players a show must hire.
The breakthrough came during an all-night negotiating session set up by Mayor Michael Bloomberg as the walkout by about 325 musicians began costing theaters, restaurants and hotels vital tourism
dollars in a city already ailing financially.
Broadway's economic contribution to the city is estimated at more than $4 billion yearly.
At the center of the dispute was the number of musicians required for a Broadway orchestra. The union agreed to reduce the minimum in the 13 largest theaters to 18 or 19 musicians,
down from 24 to 26 in the very biggest houses.
Although the new contract is for four years, the minimum number will remain in effect for a decade, said Bill Moriarity, head of Local 802 of the American Federation of Musicians.
Union members will vote on the offer later this week, most likely Saturday.
Broadway Musicians
The Information One-Stop
Moose & Squirrel
Replacement Drummer Replaced
The Doors 21st Century
Stewart Copeland, the former drummer for the Police who was recruited as the drummer for a Doors reunion, has filed a complaint against Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger because they hired a replacement drummer.
In the complaint, filed Friday (March 7) in Los Angeles Superior Court, Copeland claims breach of oral contract and asks for damages in excess of $1 million. The complaint asserts that Copeland's contributions
to the reunion brought rave reviews and added credibility to the group.
Copeland performed with Manzarek, Krieger, and new singer Ian Astbury -- formerly of the Cult -- at several dates over the last year, including Ontario, Canada; Fontana, California; and the House of Blues in
Los Angeles. They also performed in Las Vegas and on the Tonight Show.
Copeland was replaced by L.A. drummer Ty Dennis for a January 31 press event in Los Angeles. At the time, Manzarek said that Copeland was recovering from an elbow injury he suffered when mountain biking in
November. Speaking about upcoming shows, he said that "If Stewart can do it, fine. If he can't do it, Ty'll do it."
The band's original drummer, John Densmore, has also taken legal action against Manzarek and Krieger, seeking an injunction against them using the Doors name. At a February 7 Doors concert in Los Angeles,
advertisements and merchandising read "The Doors 21st Century."
The Doors 21st Century
Singer and actress Madonna appears in one of the photographs in the current issue of 'W Magazine,' shot by photographer Steven Klein. The issue features a 44 page layout on Madonna.
Photo by Steven Klein
Death Not Suicide
Phil Spector
Suicide has been ruled out in the death of an actress found shot at the home of music producer Phil Spector, authorities said Tuesday.
Sheriff's Capt. Frank Merriman said authorities believe the shooting was a crime, and he disputed news reports that said Spector would soon be cleared.
"No one involved in this investigation said that," Merriman said. "My opinion is that somebody is orchestrating this to plant seeds of doubt with potential jurors."
Longtime friend Marvin Mitchelson said Spector sent an e-mail to him and others Monday suggesting that investigators would soon clear him and that Lana Clarkson's death was "an accidental
suicide." Mitchelson said he has not talked with Spector about the e-mail.
No charges have been filed, and Spector was released on $1 million bail. His attorney, Robert Shapiro, did not immediately return a call Tuesday.
Phil Spector
HBO Hits Back
James Gandolfini
Round two of "The Sopranos" wars opens Tuesday when HBO is expected to sue James Gandolfini, claiming he would cost the network $100 million by failing to show up for the fifth season of the popular and highly profitable mob drama.
"We are exposing the frivolous nature of (Gandolfini's) claims in our answer and cross-complaint," said attorney Bert Fields, who represents the premium cable channel.
Gandolfini sued HBO last week claiming that under his contract, he does not need to perform unless he is notified of an additional season 10 days after it is ordered by HBO. The claim that Gandolfini was not notified in a
timely fashion that there would be a fifth season is based on a report in the Wall Street Journal on July 17, 2001, that HBO had ordered a fifth season and had agreed to pay series creator David Chase $20 million.
The actor's complaint also alleges that Gandolfini's contract violates California law limiting personal service contracts to seven years.
"Gandolfini's a resident of New York, HBO is in New York, and the contract is governed by New York law," Fields said. As for the notice provision, Fields said Gandolfini got timely notice under the contract and that an
article in the Wall Street Journal isn't what sets the time clock running. "It looks like we're heading for a train wreck here," Fields said.
James Gandolfini
Seen In Manhattan
Barbara Bush
Barbara Bush steamed up a Manhattan hotspot Friday night. The resident's Yalie daughter, 21, boogied at Bilboquet on East 63rd Street clad in a tummy-baring top and low-slung pants that
our red-blooded witness says exposed "six inches of belly, including her belly button." Barbara also exchanged back rubs with a male friend with "wavy, longish dark hair." Barbara and her
friends were accompanied by four Secret Service agents, and were seen leaving in an SUV with Connecticut plates.
Barbara Bush
MTV's 3rd 'mtvICON'
Metallica
MTV is celebrating the two-decade career of Metallica by naming the heavy metal group as its third "mtvICON."
The Grammy-winning band will be the subject of a tribute by other artists and celebrities on May 3 in Los Angeles; the event will premiere on MTV three days later.
MTV has previously honored Janet Jackson and Aerosmith.
Metallica
Metallica Web site
In The Kitchen With BartCop & Friends
War Could Force Tourney Off CBS
March Madness
CBS officials said on Tuesday the NCAA basketball championship tournament could find itself in unfamiliar territory alongside reruns of "Star Trek" and "The Cosby Show" in the event of war
with Iraq -- or even on rival network ESPN.
If CBS, owned by Viacom Inc., were forced to run wall-to-wall news coverage of the war, the network might have to move some or all of the 63 "March Madness" NCAA tournament games to sister
Viacom cable channels like TNN and TV Land.
Viacom said it would not run games on music-oriented cable networks MTV or VH1, which it also owns, because of concerns about airing beer ads and other adult-focused commercials in front of the younger audiences at those networks.
The NCAA men's basketball tournament is one of the most popular U.S. sporting events, known for upsets and nail-biting finishes. The tourney is scheduled to begin on March 20 and continue through the end of the month.
Shifting games from network television to niche cable channels would be a complicated undertaking. CBS has already sold 95 percent of its commercial time for the tournament, and would likely
have to compensate advertisers if the games were moved to cable, where ratings would likely be lower.
March Madness
An undated hand out image released on March 11, 2003 shows former band members of The Beatles Sir Paul McCartney (L), George Harrison and Ringo Star playing non-Beatles material in their last ever jamming session at an unknown location in June 1994. The EMI record label are to release the rock and roll story called The Beatle Anthology on DVD featuring the unseen footage of the last jamming session on March 31.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Soon To Be A Cartoon
Howard Stern
Howard Stern is in talks with TNN for an animated series that would focus on his high school years, according to the industry trade magazine Television Week.
Stern's tortured existence as a high school nerd has been a part of his on-air schtick for years, but this would be the first time outside of his radio show and the autobiographical
film "Private Parts" that Stern would lend his voice to a new project.
The show is tentatively titled "Howard Stern: Teen Years" but he referred to it last week on his radio show as "Howard Stern The High School Years."
The show seems to be a good fit for TNN (The National Network) a cable channel that's now charged-up with pro-wrestling and loads of "Star Trek" repeats and has been struggling to
redefine itself as something of a Lifetime channel for men 18-34.
Much of Stern's regular radio show audience are men aged 18 to 34 years old.
Howard Stern
Host of 'Tough Crowd'
Colin Quinn
The formula for "Tough Crowd" is familiar: Four guests yammering about current affairs, plus a host to stir the pot. So what makes it different from "Politically Incorrect"?
"Our show is all comedians," host Colin Quinn explains. "`Politically Incorrect' (which left ABC's airwaves in June) actually had real experts every once in a while. We have NO experts!"
Airing Monday through Thursday at 11:30 p.m. EST on Comedy Central, "Tough Crowd" begins its run this week, after an eight-show tryout in December whose far-flung topics included: should you spank your
child, why is it so uncool to be white, the myth of male monogamy, the looming war with Iraq, and, of course, the French.
It's a homey scene for Quinn, who gets to invite his comic cronies (among them Sarah Silverman, Denis Leary, Janeane Garofalo, Sue Costello and Patrice O'Neal) to join him on-camera for what they might be doing anyway at some club's corner table.
"The only place I hear the truth is in comedy clubs," Quinn was saying over a pre-show cup of tea at the Comedy Cellar, a Greenwich Village club where he's performed for years. "Comedians are sarcastic,
juvenile! Everything's a joke to the third level. But whatever their other problems, comedians don't lie."
Colin Quinn
Shuns Comparisons to 'Columbo'
Tony Shalhoub
Tony Shalhoub appreciates comparisons between his new TV series, "Monk," and "Columbo" — but says it was never his intention to mimic the 1970s detective show starring Peter Falk.
"I've heard that word `Columbo' so many times, I refer to it now as the `C word,'" the 49-year-old actor said, drawing laughs Monday from a crowd at the South by Southwest film festival.
"I don't want `Monk' to be `Columbo.' I want `Monk' to be `Monk,'" he said. "I don't want to redo `Columbo' — it was done so brilliantly. Why did they remake `Psycho'? Why don't they
repaint the Sistine Chapel while we're at it?"
Shalhoub was in Austin with his directorial debut, 2002's "Made-Up," which is being shown as part of the festival's retrospective upon its 10-year anniversary. Other movies that screened
previously that are back this year include the documentary "The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg" and "Dancer, Texas Pop. 81."
Tony Shalhoub
South by Southwest film festival Web site
Formerly 'The Vidiot'
Cited For Unregistered Car
Diana Ross
Diana Ross has been cited by Greenwich police for driving an unregistered car.
Ross was stopped Sunday afternoon when a police officer noticed the registration sticker on the black Ford Taurus' license plate had expired, the Greenwich Time reported Tuesday.
Ross, who has a home in Greenwich, said she rarely drives the car because it's owned by her Los Angeles booking agency, police said.
The 58-year-old singer was issued an infraction that carries a $78 fine.
Diana Ross
An Australian East Coast Freetail Micro Bat snacks on a worm in Sydney, Australia, Monday, March 10, 2003. Weighing in at eight grams (0.28 onces), and stretching 3 centimeters (1.18 inches)
from head to tail, the tiny nocturnal mammal is the smallest native bat in Australia and is often mistaken for a moth.
Photo by Rob Griffith
Group Pays Homage to Moms of Slain Stars
Christopher Wallace Memorial Foundation
Six years after rapper The Notorious B.I.G. was slain, the grief is still fresh for his mother, Voletta Wallace.
Her pain was eased in the weeks after her son's death, however, by the outpouring of support she received from fans and friends, Wallace said.
So she decided to follow that example by honoring the mothers of other musicians who died untimely deaths — Aaliyah, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopez, Tupac Shakur, Jam Master Jay, Big Pun, Big L and
Freaky Tah — at "B.I.G. Night Out," a benefit for the Christopher Wallace Memorial Foundation.
She sent a card to Aaliyah's mother, Diane Haughton, after the singer-actress was killed in a plane crash in August 2001. She also extended sympathies to the mother of slain rapper Freaky Tah, Herminia Rogers.
At the benefit Tuesday night in Manhattan, Wallace was meeting most of the mothers for the first time. She said she had no advice for them, but wanted to celebrate their courage.
For the rest,
Fined $100G Over Book
David Wells
The New York Yankees read David Wells' autobiography, and then they threw the book at him.
The pitcher was fined $100,000 Monday by the team for an autobiography filled with revelations of drinking, drug use and disparaging talk that the Yankees felt tarnished their image.
"I'm glad it's over," Wells said after a spring training appearance against Cleveland in Winter Haven, Fla. "I've got to move on and go out there and pitch."
The 39-year-old left-hander, often prone to outlandish statements during a major league career that began in 1987, did not elaborate much but issued a statement apologizing to owner George Steinbrenner, team employees, major league baseball and teammates.
After a weekend of negotiations, Wells agreed not to contest the fine. The Yankees originally proposed that Wells be fined 10 days' pay of his $3 million salary, which comes to nearly $165,000, but Wells' agent, Gregg Clifton, objected.
The money will be split equally among three charities chosen by the team: the Boys and Girls Clubs of New York, the Baseball Assistance Team and the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.
For a lot more, David Wells
Lawyers Quit Lawsuit Over Home Sale
Liza Minelli
Two lawyers for actress Liza Minelli walked out on their famous client on Monday saying their relationship "has completely broken down" over a case involving a posh Beverly Hills home claimed by Minelli's stepmother
and a couple who tried to buy it last year.
The pair were representing Minelli in a civil lawsuit filed last August by Merhdad Saghian and Stephanie Jarin, who claimed the actress-singer backed out of her agreement to sell the home to them for $2.75 million.
Minelli's 94-year-old stepmother, Lee Minelli, lived in the Beverly Hills house for 40 years and said her late husband's will allowed her to stay, according to her lawsuit.
Lee Minelli, who was married to Liza's father, sued her stepdaughter in April 2002 for elder abuse and breach of contract for allegedly selling the house, cutting off the electricity and firing the staff to force her to leave.
The parties were unable to settle the matter in arbitration scheduled last year by the judge. The parties are due back in court on March 20 for a hearing on whether to send the case to binding arbitration, according to court files.
Liza Minelli
In Memory
Stan Brakhage
Stan Brakhage, prominent avant-garde filmmaker and distinguished professor at the University of Colorado at Boulder, died Sunday at his home in Victoria, British Columbia, at the age of 70.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 23, in room 141 of the Fine Arts building on the CU-Boulder campus.
Brakhage retired from CU-Boulder last summer after a 20-year teaching career. Before joining the CU-Boulder faculty he taught at the Chicago Art Institute.
Boulder served for years as home, workplace, and inspiration for experimental ("...called 'experiment' by those who don't understand it") filmmaker Brakhage, who traveled the world as an honored theorist, lecturer and
artist. After years of travel, contact with the avant-garde, a stint of commercial film work, and even a brief episode running a theater in Central City, he came to reject commercial cinema.
"There is virtually no art of the film to be found in any formalized motion picture producing system I know of and probably never will be," he stated in his document "Metaphors on Vision." In his works, Brakhage postulated
the camera/eye as first-person protagonist in a "lyrical cinema" that reflects his unique sensibilities.
His foray into the world of avant-garde cinema began in Colorado in the late 1940s and early 1950s at South High School in Denver. Brakhage went on to make nearly 400 films and was honored with numerous awards.
His 1964 film "Dog Star Man," filmed largely in Boulder Canyon, was one of the first 10 films to be selected for the Library of Congress National Film Registry. In 1986 the American Film Institute awarded Brakhage its
Maya Dean Award. He also received awards from the Denver Film Festival and the Telluride Film Festival.
In 1990, he received the prestigious MacDowell Medal, ranking him with previous recipients Robert Frost, Georgia O'Keeffe and Aaron Copland. He was the first film artist to receive the medal.
Brakhage received several grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, several Rockefeller Scholarships, a Guggenheim Fellowship and an honorary doctorate from the San Francisco Art Institute. His work also appeared
in several retrospectives by the New York Museum of Modern Art.
He worked in many abstract forms, including scratching black leader (blank film), collage (gluing objects to film) and hand painting frames of 16 mm film.
Last fall, Brakhage moved to Victoria, British Columbia, with his wife, Marilyn. He died following an eight-year battle with cancer.
"With his passing, the world of filmmaking has lost a source of inspiration and vision and, here at CU-Boulder, we have lost a friend," said CU-Boulder Provost Phil Distefano.
Stan Brakhage
Thanks, Tim H!
The Bronx Zoo's newest baby male gorilla born Nov, 1, 2003 plays with his mom at the Bronx Zoo in New York Friday, March 7, 2003. Through the Zoo's promotion called What's New at
the Zoo and AOL Online, people were allowed to vote on a name for the baby gorilla. Over 430,000 members voted and chose 'Zola' which means 'quietness' in Swahili.
Photo by Dennis DeMello
'The Osbournes'
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