Recommended Reading
from Bruce
Video: Hi, I'm a Tea Partier (Posted by Greg Laden)
5 Reasons Americans Are So Wrong About Major Economic Facts (theatlantic.com)
According to a new Bloomberg poll, six in ten Americans think most of the money spent to rescue banks will be lost forever. Six in ten think the economy shrunk over the past year. One in two think federal income taxes have gone up in the past two years. Wrong. Wrong. And wrong.
Connie Schultz: We've Seen Worse (creators.com)
Please, I'm begging: Stop! Stop forwarding e-mails about how this is the worst time in the history of America.
Christopher Beam: Sane Clown Posse (slate.com)
Jon Stewart tells America's youth it's OK to care.
Scott Burns: The Wealthy Vampire (assetbuilder.com)
There is something troubling at Barnes and Noble. The store offers plenty of books on investing. But there is not a single book on investing for vampires. Books about the lives, exploits, and existential problems of vampires abound. But there is no practical advice.
roger ebert's journal: To NSFW or not to NSFW?
I hesitated just a moment before including Miss June 1975 in my piece about Hugh Hefner. I wondered if some readers would find the nude photograph objectionable. Then I smiled at myself. Here I was, writing an article in praise of Hefner's healthy influence on American society, and I didn't know if I should show a Playmate of the Month. Wasn't I being a hypocrite? I waited to see what the reaction would be.
"Woody Allen, The Art of Humor No. 1": Interviewed by Michiko Kakutani (The Paris Review; from 1995)
As New Yorkers know, Woody Allen is one of its more ubiquitous citizens-at courtside in Madison Square Garden watching the Knicks, at Michael's Pub on Monday evenings playing the clarinet, on occasion at Elaine's Restaurant at his usual table. Yet he could hardly be considered outgoing: shy on acquaintance, he once expressed an intense desire to return to the womb-"anybody's." In fact, his career is one of prodigious effort in a number of disciplines-literature, the theater, and motion pictures. "I'm a compulsive worker," he once said. "What I really like to do best is whatever I'm not doing at the moment."
Betsy Sharkey: "Movie review: 'The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest'" (latimes.com)
The saga of Lisbeth Salander, Stieg Larsson's damaged but intelligent heroine, comes to a fitting end in the capable hands of director Daniel Alfredson.
Mike Leigh: buddha of suburbia (guardian.co.uk)
After 'Happy-Go-Lucky,' Mike Leigh swore off middle-class drama - but he's broken his promise. He tells Xan Brooks about the personal issues that made him return.
Marian Liu: Zombie killer Bruce Campbell stalks convention (The Seattle Times)
Q: How do you feel about being a B-movie hero?
A: I don't have any problems being in that world, because I find it to be pretty fun. ... "A" movies are a little more boring to me. ... Of course, the guy gets the girl ... But with "B" movies, we have more latitude. ... We can kill the lead guy and have the bad guy win. ... The funny thing is that "B" movies have had enough influence on "A" movies that the "A" movies are now "B" movies with a big budget. Because, look, if you dress up like a bat, and fly around a city called Gotham - I got news for you, that's a "B" movie.
Roger Ebert: Review of "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs" (3 ½ stars)
"Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs" is the best of the three films about our friends in the inter-species herd of plucky prehistoric heroes. And it involves some of the best use of 3-D I've seen in an animated feature. It also introduces a masterstroke that essentially allows the series to take place anywhere: There is this land beneath the surface of the earth, you see...
David Bruce: Wise Up! Authors (athensnews.com)
Judy Blume has written a number of books about the lovable boy called Fudge, who is based on her son Larry when he was young. Judy and a grown-up Larry once ate dinner with a little boy whose father read to him from the Fudge books each night. The little boy's father said to the little boy, "Do you know who this is? This is Judy Blume, who writes the Fudge books." The little boy's jaw dropped. Judy then said about Larry, "And guess who this is?" Larry said, "I was Fudge." The little boy's jaw dropped further.
David Bruce has 39 Kindle books on Amazon.com with 250 anecdotes in each book. Each book is $1, so for $39 you can buy 9,750 anecdotes. Search for "Funniest People," "Coolest People, "Most Interesting People," "Kindest People," "Religious Anecdotes," and "Maximum Cool."
Hubert's Poetry Corner
"Walking Eagle"
The Weekly Poll
New Question
The 'Conspiracy Theory... or Fact?' Edition...
"The Vietnam War was fought over a bet that Howard Hughes lost to Aristotle Onassis."
--Jerry Fletcher (Mel 'Sugar Tits' Gibson) - Conspiracy Theory
As you will see at the following website... Conspiracy Planet - The Alternative News & History Network
There's no end to the topics covered. Some are new, some not so much. Some are interesting. Some are outrageous. Some are frightening. Some are merely entertaining... but, make no mistake, each one is believed by someone, somewhere.
Do you have a favorite 'Conspiracy Theory' that you believe in, find hilarious or just would like to know more about?
Send your response to
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From The Creator of 'Avery Ant'
Reader Suggestions
Michelle in AZ
Selected Readings
from that Mad Cat, JD
In The Chaos Household
Last Night
Sunny, hot & dry.
Guesting On Betty White's Show
Mary Tyler Moore
TV Land announced Tuesday that Mary Tyler Moore will guest star on the second-season premiere of Betty White's hit comedy, "Hot in Cleveland." TV Land says the episode will air in January.
Moore's guest appearance will be the first time she and White have acted on screen together since "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" went off the air more than three decades ago. On that classic sitcom, Moore was an assistant news producer at a TV station, while White played the host of a homemaking show.
On "Hot in Cleveland," White plays a landlady to three eccentric best friends from Los Angeles who move to Cleveland. It also stars Valerie Bertinelli, Jane Leeves and Wendie Malick.
Mary Tyler Moore
Hollywood Walk O' Fame
Dern-Ladd Family
It was a family affair for Laura Dern, her father Bruce Dern and mother Diane Ladd.
The acting dynasty was honored Monday during a ceremony on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, marking the first time that three stars were dedicated to family members at the same time.
The family made Hollywood history before, when Laura and Diane received Oscar nominations in 1992 for their roles in "Rambling Rose." It was the first time a mother and daughter received nods together.
Diane has also received Oscar nominations for "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore" and "Wild at Heart," while Bruce was nominated for "Coming Home."
Dern-Ladd Family
British Documentary Award
Banksy
Street artist Banksy has landed a top documentary award - and immediately covered the trophy with graffiti.
The art star was rewarded with a prize at the British Documentary Awards, presented by the Grierson Trust.
And during a taped acceptance speech he held up his statuette to show he had added his own personal touch - by spray-painting the eyes and cheeks.
The secretive artist's film Exit Through The Gift Shop was named most entertaining documentary at the annual awards, which took place at the BFI Southbank in London.
Banksy joked: "This is a very proud moment for me. I've always dreamt of winning a Grierson Award ever since I first heard about them two weeks ago."
Banksy
Honoured By Vienna
Seiji Ozawa
Conductor Seiji Ozawa, recovering from cancer, on Tuesday became the first Japanese to be made an honorary member of the prestigious Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.
As the orchestra toured Japan, its chairman Clemens Hellsberg handed the 75-year-old maestro a certificate of honorary membership in a ceremony at Tokyo's Suntory Hall.
"As a token of our love for Mr. Ozawa, we present you with this honour," Hellsberg said. "We wish that this honour will help you, the maestro, get better as much as possible."
Ozawa -- who was musical director of parent organisation the Vienna State Opera for eight years until last June -- appeared on the verge of tears onstage and said he had learned much from the orchestra.
Seiji Ozawa
Rehab
Demi Lovato
Demi Lovato, one of Disney's biggest names, checked herself into a treatment center to deal with "emotional and physical issues," her representatives said in a statement Monday night.
The statement did not specify the 18-year-old's problems, but said Lovato checked herself into a facility to address the concerns.
A person familiar with the situation previously told The Associated Press that Lovato entered treatment for problems including an eating disorder and cutting herself. The person, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly due to the sensitivity of the matter, later clarified the statement, saying Lovato had dealt with those issues in the past.
Lovato, who is star of Disney's "Camp Rock" movies and the sitcom "Sonny With a Chance," was on an international tour as a special guest of the Jonas Brothers, but left the tour over the weekend to enter an undisclosed facility, according to the statement.
Demi Lovato
Gets Apology
Morgan Freeman
A Los Angeles political firm denies it misled a congressional candidate in North Carolina about a radio ad for the candidate using an actor that sounded like actor Morgan Freeman.
MEI Political said in a statement Tuesday it made clear verbally and in writing to Republican B.J. Lawson's campaign that it was using a voice double of Freeman for the ad.
Lawson apologized Monday to Freeman after falsely claiming the actor had done a voiceover for his campaign. The campaign blamed MEI Political for the incorrect claim about the ad.
MEI's statement says it discussed with Lawson's campaign that Freeman was a Democrat and would probably never do an endorsement for a Republican candidate.
Morgan Freeman
MTV Dance Judge
Melvin Shane Sparks
A Los Angeles hip-hop choreographer who was a judge on MTV's "America's Best Dance Crew" has been ordered to trial on eight sex counts involving an underage girl in the 1990s.
A Superior Court judge ruled after a preliminary hearing Monday that there was enough evidence for 41-year-old Melvin Shane Sparks to stand trial on six counts of lewd acts on a child and two counts of oral copulation of a person under 16. He is scheduled to be arraigned Nov. 15 at the Van Nuys courthouse.
The alleged crimes took place over a nearly three-year period ending in April 1997.
Sparks was arrested Dec. 18 at his Studio City home and he was released on $590,000 bail. Defense attorney Steve Meister says his client is innocent.
Melvin Shane Sparks
Miss California Court Date
Quaids
Randy Quaid and his wife remained in Canada on Tuesday and missed a mandatory arraignment, but their attorney says he may have proof they weren't illegally squatting at a California home where they were recently arrested.
The Quaids are seeking asylum in Canada, saying they fear a group they've dubbed the "Hollywood star whackers." Randy Quaid's attorney said the actor was required to remain there until a Nov. 8 immigration hearing.
Santa Barbara Superior Court Judge Donna Geck agreed not to issue a bench warrant for the Golden Globe-winning actor and not forfeit his $500,000 bond, but the judge did not grant similar leniency to his wife.
Geck issued a warrant for Evi Quaid, and prosecutors said they may eventually seek extradition to return her to the coastal town where the Quaids have faced two criminal court cases and have missed numerous court appearances.
Quaids
Justices Question California Videogame Law
SCOTUS
US Supreme Court justices offered sharp questions Tuesday at a hearing on the constitutionality of a California law banning the sale or rental of violent videogames to minors.
The case, in which lower courts have struck down the 2005 law, offers a test of the free speech clause in the First Amendment to the US constitution.
Justice Antonin 'Fat Tony' Scalia said the law was an attempt to create a "brand new area" in which speech could be restricted due to violence.
"What's next? Drinking? Smoking?" he said during oral arguments at the top US court. "Why is this particular restriction OK and not others ?"
In another exchange, Justice Samuel Alito (R-Wearing Blinders) questioned the lawyer for videogame industry makers and retailers about the right states to protect children from violence in games.
SCOTUS
Debate Over Dolphin Hunt A Sham
"The Cove"
One of the stars of "The Cove," the controversial Oscar-winning documentary about a grisly annual dolphin hunt, on Tuesday boycotted a debate set up by the town made famous in the film, calling it "a sham."
Taiji, a town in western Japan, remains a center of controversy in the wake of the film. Several NGOs camped out around Taiji say at least two dolphin hunts have taken place since the hunting season began in September.
Media had been told in advance of the debate, the first of its kind in the town, that they would be able to film only part of the event. Reuters TV was able to film the whole event.
Organizers asked media to pre-register and only allowed questions submitted in advance to be raised. Several Japanese newspapers were barred from entering the local community center to cover the debate, Japanese media said.
"The Cove"
Argues For New Tax Trial
Wesley Snipes
Actor Wesley Snipes is heading back to court, hoping to convince a central Florida judge he deserves a new trial because he claims the jury was biased.
U.S. District Court Judge William Terrell Hodges will hear arguments Nov. 15.
Snipes argues some jurors decided he was guilty before hearing any evidence and prosecutors hid damaging information about a key witness.
Snipes faces a three-year prison sentence for tax-related crimes. Snipes was found guilty of willfully failing to file federal tax returns.
Wesley Snipes
Faces More Litigation
Lisa Kudrow
What sort of alimony do actors owe their managers upon divorce?
That age-old question is the subject of a heating-up lawsuit involving former "Friends" star Lisa Kudrow. A California appeals court has reignited a claim by Kudrow's former manager that she owes money.
Three years ago, Kudrow terminated Scott Howard, a business manager who had been representing her since 1991. The two operated under an oral deal where Howard provided management services for Kudrow in return for 10 percent commission on her income.
It was a lucrative arrangement for Howard, even after the commission was trimmed to just 5 percent in 2004, when the show ended its 10-year run. At the height of Kudrow's fame, she was getting nearly $1 million an episode for Friends, plus a share of the "backend" earnings of the show in syndication.
Lisa Kudrow
Editor Says He's Been Fired
Daily Variety
The editor of Daily Variety says he's been fired. Leo Wolinsky tells the New York Times that he was dismissed Monday, less than a year after joining the venerable movie trade publication. He didn't provide details.
Emails left for officials of the Los Angeles-based publication and its London owner, Reed Business Information, weren't immediately returned Tuesday.
Wolinsky joined Variety last December after more than 30 years with the Los Angeles Times, where he became executive editor.
Variety, which was once on the desk of every movie mogul, is struggling to compete with online rivals and has cut jobs. Its print rival, The Hollywood Reporter, recently changed to a weekly publication and its editor, Elizabeth Guider, stepped down last month.
Daily Variety
Oink. Oink. Oink.
Oh, Silvio
Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi attempted to laugh off a potentially damaging sex scandal with a homophobic joke on Tuesday, as Italy's political crisis deepens and his popularity ratings plunge.
"I'm always working flat out and sometimes I look at beautiful women.... It's better to be passionate about beautiful women than to be gay," Berlusconi said in a speech at the opening of a motorcycle show in Milan.
Prosecutors have opened an inquiry into allegations by a girl that she was paid to attend raunchy parties hosted by Berlusconi at his villa last year when she was under 18, Italian newspapers reported in recent days.
Berlusconi is also accused of making a call to a police station in Milan when the girl was arrested for theft in order to have her released.
Berlusconi's lawyers have strongly denied any sexual relationship between the Italian leader and the girl, Karima El Mahroug, who turned 18 on Tuesday.
Oh, Silvio
Prime-Time Nielsens
Ratings
Prime-time viewership numbers compiled by the Nielsen Co. for Oct. 25-31. Listings include the week's ranking and viewership.
1. "Dancing With the Stars," ABC, 20.41 million.
2. "NCIS," CBS, 20.18 million.
3. NFL Football: Pittsburgh vs. New Orleans, NBC, 18.11 million.
4. "NCIS: Los Angeles," CBS, 15.99 million.
5. "Dancing With the Stars Results," 15.93 million.
6. World Series Game 4: San Francisco vs. Texas, Fox, 15.54 million.
7. World Series Game 1: Texas vs. San Francisco, Fox, 15.01 million.
8. "The Mentalist," CBS, 14.76 million.
9. "World Series Pre-Game Show," Fox, 14.68 million.
10. "The OT," Fox, 14.31 million.
11. "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," CBS, 14.27 million.
12. World Series Game 2: Texas vs. San Francisco, Fox, 14.13 million.
13. "Criminal Minds," CBS, 13.94 million.
14. "Two and a Half Men," CBS, 13.77 million.
15. "Modern Family," ABC, 13.14 million.
16. "The Big Bang Theory," CBS, 13.04 million.
17. "Sunday Night NFL Pre-Kick Show," NBC, 12.69 million.
18. "The Good Wife," CBS, 12.59 million.
19. "Survivor: Nicaragua," CBS, 11.12 million.
20. "Glee," Fox, 11.76 million.
Ratings
In Memory
Shannon Tavarez
Shannon Tavarez, the 11-year-old who starred on Broadway in "The Lion King" and whose battle with leukemia won the hearts of many, including Alicia Keys, Rihanna and 50 Cent, has died.
Shannon died Monday afternoon at Cohen Children's Medical Center in New Hyde Park, on Long Island, of acute myelogenous leukemia, a common type of leukemia among adults, but rare among children.
Shannon, who played the young lion Nala, had received an umbilical-cord blood transplant in August. The procedure was performed as an alternative to a bone marrow transplant. Her doctor, Dr. Larry Wolfe, said that a perfect bone marrow match for Shannon could not be found.
The search for a match was especially daunting because Shannon's mother is African-American and her father is Hispanic, from the Dominican Republic. For bone marrow transplants, minorities and those of mixed ancestry have a more difficult time finding good matches because there aren't as many people from those groups signed up as potential donors. Right now, 83 percent of African-American patients who need marrow transplants don't find matches after six months of searching, according to the National Marrow Donor Program, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping patients receive transplants.
Shannon was forced to quit the show in April. She beat out hundreds of other hopefuls last year to earn her spot playing Nala, the childhood pal and girlfriend of Simba, hero of "The Lion King." She split the role with another girl, performing four shows a week for six months.
Shannon Tavarez
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