Satan Says "Happy Halloween"
This Satan Really Loves Halloween: "Fresh.Christian. Meat.... I Want Your Soul Youth Pastor!"
October 31, 2006
Bollywood Thriller
Just in time for Halloween. Thanks Stephanie!
October 30, 2006
Letterman vs O'Reilly: Round 2
This is why we love Letterman:
October 27, 2006
To Do: Halloween And PS1
Matthew Barney's Vaseline portrait of Julianne Moore as a Mirabella magzine zombie.
Saturday, Ocober 28: Get your Halloween on:
Flavorpill has some great suggestions:
Reading: Halloween
Post-It Note Reading Series Halloween Spectacular: Haunted AppliancesMusic: Halloween
The Danger presents the Carnival of Illusion feat. Hungry March Band w/ Nervous Cabaret, Subatomic Sound System, and DJs Wolf + Lamb, Justin Carter, Spinoza, and ProbusDJ: Halloween
Brooklyn Chainsaw Massacre feat. Kool Herc w/ Frankie Bones and Disco DMusic: Halloween
Rituals feat. the Sun Ra Arkestra w/ Gary Lucas and PHONO Halloween feat. Basteroid w/ Plastique de Reve and Frank MartiniqDJ: Halloween
Special Edition Halloween Rub feat. the Rub DJs w/ Scott Melker and TittsworthDJ: Halloween
Made Event presents Lee Burridge Halloween BallDJ: Halloween
Direct Drive presents Halloween Death Boat Bash! feat. Panacea w/ Tyson, Juju, Joe Nice, and Dave Q
Sunday October 30
Art Opening at PS1:
Defamation of Character, The Gold Standard, and Music Is a Better Noise
** Plus, Alan Vega of Suicide will perform
More info here
Timberlake Parody: "Bringing Paxil Back"
This is funny. (Click to view)
October 26, 2006
Satan Is Alive And Well
From Yahoo Music
Ronnie James Dio to reunite with Black Sabbath bandmatesA press release was issued today announcing that Ronnie James Dio, who replaced Ozzy Osbourne in Black Sabbath during the early '80s, is reuniting with Sabbath's Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward to form a new group.
The band is tenatively named Heaven And Hell, after the first Sabbath album featuring Dio's vocals, issued in 1980.
According to the press release, "after various promoters have approached their respective management, the guys have started taking all of this very seriously, as they have wanted to reunite for some time now...If all goes well, Heaven And Hell should be hitting the road in early 2007."
As for original Sabbath singer Ozzy Osbourne's opinion on this new venture, this statement was issued by his camp:
"Tony Iommi and Ronnie Dio are working on a project together which has nothing to do with Black Sabbath. There is only one Black Sabbath. Ozzy, Tony, Geezer, and Bill will be touring late next year along with a new Black Sabbath album. However, Ozzy wishes Tony and Ronnie much success in their project together."
1984: An Acting Oddity
From Defamer: In 1984, or so the YouTube blurb legend goes, the late, great Stanley Kubrick "placed ads throughout the U.S. for young aspiring actors to send in audition tapes" for his upcoming project, Full Metal Jacket. Whether or not the director ever saw this submission--and we think the less we tell you about it the better--we cannot say. It does make one wonder, however, how things might have turned out differently had Kubrick plucked Brian Atene from obscurity and groomed his budding protégé to star in later films like Eyes Wide Shut
O'Death Featured In "The Burg'
Williamsburg's own sitcom, The Burg, just released their latest episode. It's pretty darn funny. And best of all, it features the music of FREEwilliamsburg favorites, O'Death. Click above to watch. The people behind the show were featured in this week's New York Observer. Here's our favorite part:
Most of the cast lives in Manhattan. (Follow the irony snake as it swallows its tail.) Still, they manage to inhabit their roles. “One thing you need to know about our show,” said Ms. Broad, “is that for costuming, we take what we’re normally wearing and make it two degrees uglier.”
October 25, 2006
Michael J. Fox responds to Limbaugh's claims that he was "exaggerating the effects of the disease"
In case you missed it, here's the disgusting story from the Washington Post
Possibly worse than making fun of someone's disability is saying that it's imaginary. That is not to mock someone's body, but to challenge a person's guts, integrity, sanity.To Rush Limbaugh on Monday, Michael J. Fox looked like a faker. The actor, who suffers from Parkinson's disease, has done a series of political ads supporting candidates who favor stem cell research, including Maryland Democrat Ben Cardin, who is running against Republican Michael Steele for the Senate seat being vacated by Paul Sarbanes.
"He is exaggerating the effects of the disease," Limbaugh told listeners. "He's moving all around and shaking and it's purely an act. . . . This is really shameless of Michael J. Fox. Either he didn't take his medication or he's acting."
Michael J. Fox responds to Limbaugh's oxycontin-induced claims here.
October 24, 2006
It's A Mandate
51% of American voters want Bush impeached.
28% say doing so is High Priority.
[from Newsweek via Wonkette]
Borat -The First 4 Minutes Of His Movie
October 23, 2006
The Sinner Meets The Righteous
We've been meaning to mention Lauren Sandler's fantastic new book, Righteous: Dispatches from the Evangelical Youth Movement. It's a wonderful overview of the emerging 'disciple generation' that introduces readers to our nation's leading evangelical youth leaders and their followers. From the scary (Ryan Dobson), to the misogynistic (Mark Driscoll), to the bizarre (Stephen Baldwin), to the progressive (Jay Bakker), Sandler covers all her bases with humor, insight, and grace. Well, maybe not grace. Lauren is a card-carrying secular humanist destined to spend an eternity in hell removed from God's grace, just like us. (You can read an excerpt of Righteous here and purchase a copy here.)
The book is a great companion piece to our book, The Sinner's Guide to the Evangelical Right and tonight author Robert Lanham will be doing a reading with Sandler in New York. Coincidentally, Sandler and Lanham both live in Williamsburg. Very strange, given the similarity of their books. Here's tonight's info:
Robert Lanham & Lauren Sandler at The Half King
October 23 at 7pm, FREE
505 West 23rd Street
NEW YORK, NY
INFO: http://www.thehalfking.com/calendar/2006/sandler.htm
DIRECTIONS: http://www.thehalfking.com/directions/
October 20, 2006
To Do: Frank Black, Jen Dunlap, Zombiecon, And Bushwick Open Studios
Jen Dunlap
Friday October 20th
• Start it off with FREE BEER and art: Jen Dunlap at Riverfawn
MORE INFO HERE
Then:
• Frank Black at Warsaw
Warsaw, 261 Driggs Ave.
718.387.0505
8 p.m. $25.
From Paper: For those of us that long for the Pixies like the deserts miss the rain, we will always find solace in the solo performances of Frank Black who led the Pixies from 1986 to 1992 (and most recently during their neverending reunion tour) with his powerful vocals and cryptic lyrics. With this year's release of his new studio album, Fast Man Raider Man, Black takes things down a notch with some veritable slow jams.
OR:
• If you've overdosed on Frank and The Pixies, why not go see Sophia Coppola's Marie Antoinette which opens tonight.
Saturday October 21th
• Bushwick Open Studios
Price: Free
Time: 12:00pm - 10:00pm
From FREENYC: Under 30 year old artist (and art students) are heading out to Bushwick in droves and using the marketing savvy to declare Bushwick the next big artists community. See if their touting the next big thing or the next big hype as dozens of studios open their doors today for a neighborhood wide art crawl. Expect a good bit of drunken madness in the mix as well. MORE INFO
And don't miss:
• ZOMBIECON
where: TBA
price: FREE
From Flavorpill: Halloween's a mere ten days away and the undead are rallying for NYC's second annual Zombiecon. Last year, the cavalcade of creepy cadavers shuffled past the posh shoppers on 5th Avenue and lurched into the ice rink at Rockefeller Center -- this year, horror-heads interested in terrorizing tourists can email the organizers for the location and other top-secret updates of this year's faux-gore-fest. Decaying duds are a must and some local barkeeps deeply discount their, um, spirits to assuage the walking dead. Zombies always make time to eat squares who aren't cool enough to get dead and have already swarmed the cable cars and Apple Store in San Francisco. Good thing there's not a fancy new Apple Store in New York. Oh wait... MORE INFO HERE
Top General: Rumsfeld "Leads In A Way That The Good Lord Tells Him"
So are they listening, as they claim, to the commanders on the ground or to the "divine" voices they hear in their heads? [From the AFP]
The top US general defended the leadership of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, saying it is inspired by God."He leads in a way that the good Lord tells him is best for our country," said Marine General Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Rumsfeld is "a man whose patriotism focus, energy, drive, is exceeded by no one else I know ... quite simply, he works harder than anybody else in our building," Pace said at a ceremony at the Southern Command (Southcom) in Miami.
Rumsfeld has faced a storm of criticism and calls for his resignation, largely over his handling of the
Iraq war.But he got a strong show of support from the military establishment at Thursday's ceremony, where Navy Admiral James Stavridis took over Southcom's command from General Bantz Craddock.
"He comes to work everyday with a single-minded focus to make this country safe," said Stavridis who was a senior aide to Rumsfeld before taking on the Southcom job.
"We're lucky as a nation that he continues to serve with such passion and such integrity and such determination and such brilliance," said Stavridis, 51.
As head of Southcom, Stavridis will be responsible for military cooperation with Latin American countries, and will be in charge of the Guantanamo US military base in Cuba where more than 400 "war on terror" detainees are being held.
Craddock, who was named supreme commander of allied forces in Europe, hailed the role Southcom has played.
"Today I believe that we can say we were successful in our efforts and contributed to ensuring our nation's security through support on the global war on terror, and encouraged regional cooperation to enhance the security and stability in the region," he said.
The Sound Of Desperation
GOP to Air Ad Warning of Terror Attacks
You can see the disgusting new ad here.
October 19, 2006
Worst. Congress. Ever.
The hilarious and talented Matt Taibbi penned a fantastic cover story for Rolling Stone this month: "The Worst Congress Ever." If you haven't read it yet, here it is:
There is very little that sums up the record of the U.S. Congress in the Bush years better than a half-mad boy-addict put in charge of a federal commission on child exploitation. After all, if a hairy-necked, raincoat-clad freak like Rep. Mark Foley can get himself named co-chairman of the House Caucus on Missing and Exploited Children, one can only wonder: What the hell else is going on in the corridors of Capitol Hill these days? READ IT ALL
Related: Public's opinion of GOP hits record low
October 18, 2006
Blogger Claims Antigay GOP Senator, Larry Craig, Enjoys Man-Love In DC Bathroom Stalls
Yes, this is the same Larry Craig (above middle) who has repeatedly voted to deny gays basic human rights: [Hat Tip Jesus General]
* Voted YES on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage. (Jun 2006)And here are the allegations: [via Blogactive]
* Voted NO on adding sexual orientation to definition of hate crimes. (Jun 2002)
* Voted NO on expanding hate crimes to include sexual orientation. (Jun 2000)
* Voted YES on prohibiting same-sex marriage. (Sep 1996)
* Voted NO on prohibiting job discrimination by sexual orientation. (Sep 1996)
I have called on Senator Larry Craig to end his years of hypocrisy by leveling with Idahoans about who he really is. I am also calling upon several prominent Idaho social conservative leaders to ask them how they square their anti-gay positions with their support for this leader.I have done extensive research into this case, including trips to the Pacific Northwest to meet with men who have say they have physical relations with the Senator. I have also met with a man here in Washington, D.C., who says the same -- and that these incidents occurred in the bathrooms of Union Station. None of these men know each other, or knew that I was talking to others. They all reported similar personal characteristics about the Senator, which lead me to believe, beyond any doubt, that their stories are valid.
Perhaps this is what Dobson was referring to when he said that more antigay-voting GOP Congressmen will be 'outed' this week.
Don't miss this flashback video from 1992 where Larry Craig denies similar allegations [hat tip BlogActive]
Federal Law Blocks Congressman Studds' Gay Husband From Pension
Congressman Studds
"Compassionate Conservatism" at its best: [from Lowell Sun via Think Progress]
Gerry Studds, the nation's first openly gay congressman, pushed the country to another landmark development when he died Saturday: the federal government for the first time will deny death benefits to a congressman's gay spouse.The federal government does not recognize the 2004 Massachusetts' marriage between Studds and Dean Hara, and won't provide a portion of Studds' $114,337 annual pension to his surviving spouse.
The federal law, defined by the Defense of Marriage Act, not only trumps the Bay State's gay marriage law but reveals its limitations.
"A gay spouse will not receive any sort of pension or annuity or anything like that," said Chad Cowan, a spokesman for the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, which administers the congressional pension program under federal law.
"It's not anything that anybody in our office has seen before," he added.
Wives and husbands of deceased lawmakers have for years found financial comfort in their ability to collect more than half of the generous.
October 17, 2006
James Dobson: More Gay GOP Congressmen Will Be Outed
Our brother site, evangelicalright.com has the story.
October 16, 2006
America's Dumbest Congressmen
Radar ranks the 10 biggest fools on the Hill.
10. Sen Jim Bunning (R-KY)
9. Rep Patrick Kennedy (D-RI)
8. Sen Conrad Burns (R-MT)
7. Rep Cynthia McKinney (D-GA)
6. Rep Jean Schmidt (R-Ohio)
5. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA)
4. Rep. JD Hayworth (R-Ariz.)
3. Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.)
2. Rep. Donald Young (R-AK)
1. Rep. Katherine Harris (R-Fla.)
The Wonderful World Of Turkish Remakes
Star Trek
From The Wave: The Turkish Enterprise’s dress code has got to cause problems. The female personnel are forced to wear miniskirts that end four inches above the bottom of their asses, and when they turn around to work on the spray-painted cardboard computers, they have no secrets. I’m sure this leads to situations where the navigator loses his concentration and says, “Miss Uhura, we are crotching a course for the panties sector, coordinates your whole ass hanging out. Repeat: panties, panties, panties. ”
E.T.
From The Wave: Elliot climbs out of bed and limps through the mangled ruin of his house to find E.T. in a doorway. There’s an awkward silence as the two stare at each other, which is suddenly and insanely broken when E.T. launches a blast of smoke from its crotch.
The Wizard of Oz
From The Wave: The introduction of the Scarecrow marks the point where the movie goes from queer to FABULOUS! Why the Turks chose to make Scarecrow gay will forever remain another Turkish film enigma. But they don’t stop at just making him gay, the scarecrow is so stereotypically homosexual that Dorothy’s eyes almost burst into flames.
Superman
Corny, but still better than the latest American remake of Superman.
More Turkish remakes after the jump
The Exorcist (more here)
Instead of wasting time with all that head-spinning nonsense, the possessed girl just punches people in the balls.
Star Wars
Where C3PO looks like Robbie the Robot with a police siren on his head.
[Thanks Quiqley]
The Gay Old Party Comes Out
Mark Dybul being sworn into the State Department with his partner
In case you missed it, Frank Rich's column in the NY Times yesterday is essential reading. We especially liked the part about "altoid boy."
From NY Times via TruthOut
Paging Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council: Here’s a gay Republican story you probably did not hear last week. On Tuesday a card-carrying homosexual, Mark Dybul, was sworn into office at the State Department with his partner holding the Bible. Dr. Dybul, the administration’s new global AIDS coordinator, was flanked by Laura Bush and Condi Rice. In her official remarks, the secretary of state referred to the mother of Dr. Dybul’s partner as his “mother-in-law.”Could wedding bells be far behind? It was all on display, photo included, on www.state.gov. And while you’re cruising the Internet, a little creative Googling will yield a long list of who else is gay, openly and not, in the highest ranks of both the Bush administration and the Republican hierarchy. The openly gay range from Steve Herbits, the prescient right-hand consultant to Donald Rumsfeld who foresees disaster in Iraq in Bob Woodward’s book “State of Denial,” to Israel Hernandez, the former Bush personal aide and current Commerce Department official whom the president nicknamed “Altoid boy.” (Let’s not go there.)
If anything good has come out of the Foley scandal, it is surely this: The revelation that the political party fond of demonizing homosexuals each election year is as well-stocked with trusted and accomplished gay leaders as virtually every other power center in America. “What you’re really seeing is the Republican Party on the Hill,” says Rich Tafel, the former leader of the gay Log Cabin Republicans whom George W. Bush refused to meet with during the 2000 campaign. “Across the board gay people are in leadership positions.” Yet it is this same party’s Congressional leadership that in 2006 did almost nothing about government spending, Iraq, immigration or ethics reform, but did drop everything to focus on a doomed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.
The split between the Republicans’ outward homophobia and inner gayness isn’t just hypocrisy; it’s pathology. Take the bizarre case of Karl Rove. Every one of his Bush campaigns has been marked by a dirty dealing of the gay card, dating back to the lesbian whispers that pursued Ann Richards when Mr. Bush ousted her as Texas governor in 1994. Yet we now learn from “The Architect,” the recent book by the Texas journalists James Moore and Wayne Slater, that Mr. Rove’s own (and beloved) adoptive father, Louis Rove, was openly gay in the years before his death in 2004. This will be a future case study for psychiatric clinicians as well as historians.So will Kirk Fordham, the former Congressional aide who worked not only for Mark Foley but also for such gay-baiters as Senator James Inhofe of Oklahoma (who gratuitously bragged this year that no one in his family’s “recorded history” was gay) and Senator Mel Martinez of Florida (who vilified his 2004 Republican primary opponent, a fellow conservative, as a tool of the “radical homosexual agenda”). Then again, even Rick Santorum, the Pennsylvania senator who brought up incest and “man-on-dog” sex while decrying same-sex marriage, has employed a gay director of communications. In the G.O.P. such switch-hitting is as second nature as cutting taxes.
As for Mr. Foley, he is no more representative of gay men, whatever their political orientation, than Joey Buttafuoco is of straight men. Yet he’s a useful creep at this historical juncture because his behavior has exposed and will continue to expose a larger dynamic on the right. The longer the aftermath of this scandal continues, with its maniacal finger-pointing and relentless spotlight on the Republican closet, the harder it will be for his party to return to the double-dealing that has made gay Americans election-year bogeymen (and women) for so long.
The moment Mr. Foley’s e-mails became known, we saw that brand of fearmongering and bigotry at full tilt: Bush administration allies exploited the former Congressman’s predatory history to spread the grotesque canard that homosexuality is a direct path to pedophilia. It’s the kind of blood libel that in another era was spread about Jews.
The Family Research Council’s Mr. Perkins, a frequent White House ally and visitor, led the way. “When we elevate tolerance and diversity to the guidepost of public life,” he said on Fox News Channel, “this is what we get -- men chasing 16-year-old boys around the halls of Congress.” A related note was struck by The Wall Street Journal’s editorial page, which asked, “Could a gay Congressman be quarantined?” The answer was no because “today’s politically correct culture” -- tolerance of “private lifestyle choices” -- gives predatory gay men a free pass. Newt Gingrich made the same point when he announced on TV that Mr. Foley had not been policed because Republicans “would have been accused of gay bashing.” Translation: Those in favor of gay civil rights would countenance and protect sex offenders.
This line of attack was soon followed by another classic from the annals of anti-Semitism: the shadowy conspiracy. “The secret Capitol Hill homosexual network must be exposed and dismantled,” said Cliff Kincaid of Accuracy in Media, another right-wing outfit that serves as a grass-roots auxiliary to the Bush administration. This network, he claims, was allowed “to infiltrate and manipulate the party apparatus” and worked “behind the scenes to sabotage a conservative pro-family agenda in Congress.”
There are two problems with this theory. First, gay people did not “infiltrate” the party apparatus — they are the party apparatus. Rare is the conservative Republican Congressional leader who does not have a gay staffer wielding clout in a major position. Second, any inference that gay Republicans on the Hill conspired to cover up Mr. Foley’s behavior is preposterous. Mr. Fordham, the gay former Foley aide who spent Thursday testifying under oath about his warnings to Denny Hastert’s staff, is to date the closest this sordid mess has to a whistle-blower, however tardy. So far, the slackers in curbing Mr. Foley over the past three years seem more straight than gay, led by the Buffalo Congressman Tom Reynolds, who is now running a guilt-ridden campaign commercial desperately apologizing to voters.
A Washington Post poll last week found that two-thirds of Americans believe that Democrats would behave just as badly as the Hastert gang in covering up a scandal like this to protect their own power. They are no doubt right. But the reason why the Foley scandal has legs — and why it has upstaged most other news, from the Congressional bill countenancing torture to North Korea’s nuclear test — is not just that sex trumps everything else in a tabloid-besotted America. The Republicans, unlike most Democrats (Joe Lieberman always excepted), can’t stop advertising their “family values,” which is why their pitfalls are as irresistible as a Molière farce. It was entertaining enough to learn that the former Christian Coalition leader Ralph Reed wanted to go “humping in corporate accounts” with the corrupt gambling lobbyist Jack Abramoff. The only way that comic setup could be topped was by the news that Mr. Foley was chairman of the Missing and Exploited Children’s Caucus. It beggars the imagination that he wasn’t also entrusted with No Child Left Behind.
Cultural conservatives who fell for the G.O.P.’s pious propaganda now look like dupes. Tonight on “60 Minutes,” David Kuo, a former top official in the administration’s faith-based initiatives program, is scheduled to discuss his new book recounting how evangelical supporters were privately ridiculed as “nuts” in the White House. If they have any self-respect, they’ll exact their own revenge.
We must hope as well that this crisis will lead to a repudiation of the ritual targeting of gay people for sport at the top levels of the Republican leadership in and out of the White House. For all the president’s talk of tolerance and “compassionate conservatism,” he has repeatedly joined Congress in wielding same-sex marriage as a club for divisive political purposes. He sat idly by while his secretary of education, Margaret Spellings, attacked a PBS children’s show because an animated rabbit visited a lesbian couple and their children. Ms. Spellings was worried about children being exposed to that “lifestyle” -- itself a code word for “deviance” -- even as the daughter of the vice president was preparing to expose the country to that lifestyle in a highly promoted book.
“The hypocrisy, the winking and nodding is catching up with the party,” says Mr. Tafel, the former Log Cabin leader. “Republicans must welcome their diversity as the party of Lincoln or purge the party of all gays. The middle ground -- we’re a diverse party but we can bash gays too -- will no longer work.” He adds that “the ironic point is that the G.O.P. isn’t as homophobic as it pretends to be.” Indeed two likely leading presidential competitors in 2008, John McCain and Rudy Giuliani, are consistent supporters of gay civil rights.
Another ironic point, of course, is that the effort to eradicate AIDS, led by a number of openly gay appointees like Dr. Dybul, may prove to be the single most beneficent achievement of this beleaguered White House. To paraphrase a show tune you’re unlikely to hear around the Family Research Council, isn’t that queer?
October 13, 2006
To Do: Haunted House NYC, Paraskavedekatriaphobia, and Art Under the Bridge Festival
Haunted House NYC
Friday November 13
Paraskavedekatriaphobia
when: 6:30-10PM
where: Like the Spice Art Studio, 224 Roebling St between South 2nd and South 3rd, Brooklyn
price: FREE
From Whatsupny: Free Beer, Wine, Music and much more
Paraskavedekatriaphobia is a show that explores the phobias and fears that plague our existence. Whether it's small irrational fears, or the mental constructs that com-mandeer our total sense of reality. MORE INFO
Also, it's Friday the 13th, the perfect day to visit a Haunted House
Saturday November 14
Art Under the Bridge Festival
when: Sat 10.14 & Sun 10.15 (1-6pm)
where: DUMBO
price: FREE
FROM FLAVORPILL: A panoply of artistic endeavors, the Art Under the Bridge Festival transforms all of gritty-hip DUMBO into a venue for local and international artists. There's art in the parks, on the street, in the East River, on the water taxis, and on every loading dock in between. Stalwart foundations such as Smack Mellon and DUMBO Arts Center have shows of their own, while local galleries like Artcore-NYC and Howard Schickler compete with the artists showing at the open studios for the most eclectic displays of talent. VIDEO_DUMBO runs all weekend and includes programs highlighting artists from Beirut, Mexico City, Seoul, and Montreal. A rare confluence of professional, semi-professional, and amateur talent, the festival puts earnest enthusiasm before all else. MORE INFO
October 12, 2006
Battle of The Album Covers
Thanks Kevin
Resign? Hastert Should Be Forcibly Removed
Bush yesterday on Dennis Hastert:
"The speaker's strong statements have made it clear to not only . . . the party members, but to the country, that he wants to find out the facts...All of us want to find out the facts... Denny is very credible, as far as I'm concerned. He's . . . done a fine job as speaker."
Bush is obviously more concerned with protecting his GOP buddies than upholding the integrity of Congress. The best the GOP can do to defend him these days is say at least he "didn't kill anybody."
As Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill., chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, stated on ABC's "This Week:"
If a high school principal had not disciplined a teacher acting improperly with a student the community would demand the principal's ouster.
Cat Power May Appear In Chanel Campaign
From NME.com [Thanks Carlos]
Cat Power has been linked to a fashion collaboration after Chanel's Karl Lagerfeld expressed his admiration for her.The singer, real name Chan Marshall, attended the launch of 'Les Musiques Que J'Aime' in Paris, a new CD compiled by Lagerfeld.
"I saw her in New York in front of the Mercer Hotel and she was smoking and I said, 'Only a woman - she - can look glamourous while smoking," Largerfeld told Fashionweekdaily of how the pair met.
In response, Marshall confirmed the story, telling Women's Wear Daily: "I was outside waiting, sitting on a pile of Louis Vuitton luggage, drinking water, with an apple and a cigarette in my hand, my cell phone, oh, and two guitars and out comes Karl. He walks up, looks at me and says, 'Only a woman can look glamourous when smoking.' And I lowered my glasses and pointed to (the bags under my) eyes and said, 'With these'?
Following Cat Power's appearence at the CD launch, the fashion industry is now suggesting she may appear soon in Chanel's campaign, possibly involving one of the label's jewellery collections.
Meanwhile, Cat Power returns to the UK on November 1 to play the Roundhouse in London.
Speaking of Cat Power, RBALLY has two of her live shows available for download.
— Cat Power at Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA (May 14, 1999)
— Cat Power at Chez La Cigale Paris (Nov 2005)
— Cat Power - A Nacht-Mix Lounge Concert (Nov 1998)
October 11, 2006
Jon Stewart Exposes 'Liberal Conspiracy' Behind Foleygate
Jon Stewart was at his best last night, exposing the lack of ANY evidence behind the Democrat's alleged "October Surprise." Our favorite quote from the segment:
Wolf Blitzer: "Do you have any evidence at all that the Democrats or others might have been behind the timing of this scandal? Yes or No?"Random GOP Bobblehead: "Do you have any evidence that they weren't involved?"
October 10, 2006
There's Hope
Muppet Manah Manah and DJNoNo's "Muppetry of the Penis" mashup mix
Since Google just acquired YouTube, we figured we'd post an example of the type of random, copyrighted time-wasters we'll soon be missing. [hat tip Brooklyn Vegan]
On another note, Radio Clash is hosting DJNoNo's "Muppetry of the Penis" mashup mix. Here's the first ESSENTIAL track:
Download: Kayne Mahna
October 09, 2006
PT Restaurant
image from City Search
There's a new restaurant in the 'hood: PT Restaurant. Anyone been? Let us know what you think.
Califone: Roots and Crowns
From Roots and Crowns: "Spider's House"
We've said it before and we'll say it again... Califone is one the most underated bands in indie rock. Their latest release, Roots and Crowns is—no surprise here—a fabulous record. Pitchfork has a great review of it here. They call it "one of the most quintessentially American records imaginable."
October 06, 2006
To Do: Ratatat, Oyster Festival, DFA, and The Naked Heroes
Free Bud and The Naked Heroes at Matchless, On Saturday
On Friday
• Ratatat at the Guggenheim
when: Fri 10.6 (9pm-1am)
where: Guggenheim Museum (1071 5th Ave, 212.423.3500)
price: $20
From Flavorpill: Brooklyn duo Ratatat garnered well-deserved hype for their eponymous debut album, but no one was sure how they would top those soaring tracks. People started to get downright nervous when word trickled out that their sophomore LP would be titled Classics and would feature (shudder) guitars. Fortunately, the boys hitched up their pants — and added a keyboardist to their guitar/drums arsenal -- and turned the dial to "epic": expect a hazy mirage of unabashedly dizzying, layered tunes to fill the Guggenheim's rotunda. Pink Skull's Julian S. Process kicks things off, manipulating electro-psych cuts for fans of "drugs and disco."
On Saturday:
• DUMBO's Guiness Oyster Music Festival
Oysters, Music, And Guiness! What more could you ask for. More info here.
AND
• Free Budweiser and music at Matchless, featuring The Naked Heroes. Starts at 8pm, no cover. More info here.
AND
• DFA presents James Murphy w/ the Juan Maclean, Tim Sweeney, and Marcus Lambkin
Studio B (259 Banker St, Bklyn, 718.389.1880)
$8 / $5 advance
DFA presents James Murphy w/ the Juan Maclean, Tim Sweeney, and Marcus Lambkin to celebrate the release of their upcoming record. More info here.
On Sunday:
• Go see Jesus Camp. It rules.
Or
• Hang out with Wiccans, Food Court Druids, and Harry Potter fanatics at Medieval Festival:
Time: 12:00pm - 6:00pm
Location: Fort Tyron Park (directions)
Cost: Free
From FREE NYC: Summary: Celebrate your love for wizards, dragons, and fair maidens as Fort Tryon Park is transformed into a medieval market town decorated with bright banners and processional flags. "Visitors are greeted by authentic medieval music, dance, magic, and minstrelry, as well as jugglers and jesters. The afternoon concludes with a thrilling joust between four knights on horseback. Costumed vendors will be on hand to demonstrate and sell a wide variety of medieval crafts as well as food and drink." MORE INFO HERE
October 2006 Movie Preview
It's time to get your horror on. You won't go one weekend this month without either a hillbilly cannibal, creepy Japanese kid, booby-trap-happy psycho or, worst of all, a Flicka remake.
October 6
THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE: THE BEGINNING
WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Leatherface Begins
WILL IT SUCK?
Well, you've got the director of Darkness Falls and the writer behind The Longest Yard remake. I'm not sure who appears to be less qualified here.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Serious competition. Employee of the Month will hit nearly the same demo, as will Grudge 2 the following week. Still, this has the name recognition going back further than either. $81mil
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
Most Pointlessly Restricted Trailer. When the teaser first appeared on the film's Web site, you could only watch it between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. It was approved for general audiences!
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THE DEPARTED
WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Scorsese remakes Infernal Affairs with Jack Nicholson, Leo DiCaprio and Matt Damon.
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is ve-he-ery good, and why not? I'll tell you why not. In spite of Scorsese and Nicholosn and DiCaprio and Damon (and Martin Sheen, Ray Winstone, Mark Whalberg, Anthony Anderson and Alec Baldwin), this is from the screenwriter behind Kingdom of Heaven which, while not being Sorority Boys is still, y'know, Kingdom of Heaven. Regardless, everyone seems to have brought their A-game.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
They've front-loaded the hell out of the cast and come about as close as you can get to a bankable Scorsese film on this one. $78mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
Early buzz would indicate yes. And it's no coincidence that the unprecedented direction of Nicholson by Scorsese is generating some of that buzz. Of course, both the Academy and the Director's Guild have been nothing but teases to Scorsese so far, so look for nods without satisfaction.
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ALEX RIDER: OPERATION STORMBREAKER
WHAT'S THE PITCH?
British Agent Cody Banks
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is mixed, but you have to hand it to the casting -- most eclectic bunch (until Bobby comes out later). Ewan McGregor, Mickey Rourke, Bill Nighy, Sophie Okonedo, Alicia Silverstone, Missi Pyle, Sarah Bolger, Damian Lewis, Robbie Coltrane, Stephen Fry and Andy Serkis as Mr. Grin.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Ah, the kids. The kids are gonna go see Texas Chainsaw or Employee of the Month. $8mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
No, but when is Sophie Okonedo gonna get another good role?
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EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH
WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Dane Cook tries to become the alpha male for Jessica Simpson by becoming the title.
WILL IT SUCK?
Here's the thing. Dane cook is a very funny man. However, I don't think his comedy will translate into actual situations. Half the fun of watching his stand up is watching him invent from nothing. In the actual situation, I doubt half his stories would seem as funny. That having been said, the director/co-writer co-wrote Sorority Boys, so I'm sure we have nothing to worry about.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Normally I'd say this is a lock, but it's looking like there's a little bit of Cook backlash going on, because the advance enthusiasm for this flick seems to be down. $40mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
No, but I'd love to see Cook present.
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...SO GOES THE NATION
WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Remember that whole election thing back in '04, especially -- what's that state? oh, yeah -- Ohio? Yeah. It's about that.
WILL IT SUCK?
It may seem like a bit of a stretch for directors Adam Del Deo and James D. Stern to go from Year of the Yao to this, but early word has it that this is fair and balanced, and not in a Fox News kind of way.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
With the exception of An Inconvenient Truth, political docs have just not been hot this year. Of course, a story about elections could hardly be better timed. $250,000.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
Has about as good a chance as any political doc this year.
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October 13
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THE GRUDGE 2
WHAT'S THE PITCH?
The Grudge, Too
WILL IT SUCK?
Pretty much the same team as before, with Amber Tamblyn taking over for Sarah Michelle Gellar, who dies in, like, the first ten minutes (not a spoiler - watch the trailer). How cool would it be if they were sisters in TV life? Joan of Arcadia/Buffy crossover. Now that I'd watch.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Has to deal with Texas' second frame, but this has the advantage of being PG-13. $101mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
No, but how creepy would it be if naked albino Japanese ghost children showed up every now and then? "And the award for best costume design goes to -- Holy shit! What the fuck was THAT?!?!" I really hope they do that now.
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MAN OF THE YEAR
WHAT'S THE PITCH?
What would happen if Jon Stewart ran for President and won -- except that I think that Jon Stewart is actually funnier than Robin Williams, who's playing the Jon Stewart role here.
WILL IT SUCK?
This film's closest analogues are Good Morning Vietnam and Wag the Dog, as both were, like this film, directed by Barry Levnison and featured politics and/or Robin Williams. Barry did not write either of those films. He did, however, write this one and, um, Toys which also starred Robin Williams, but he also wrote Diner and Avalon. I guess what I'm saying here is that the jury's still out.
What really gives me hope is seeing Williams on The Daily Show a while back. Once he started talking politics, he was on a roll. Like most comedians, the more he cares about a topic, the better he is. I almost wish they'd just release another Evening with Robin Williams instead. Chris Rock is a fantastic political comedian, but that didn't make Head of State any better.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Williams may not be the draw he once was, but if all he's gotta compete with is Dane Cook, there's a whole generation who doesn't even know who that is. $72mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
Barry may direct Robin to another nod someday, but not today.
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THE MARINE
WHAT'S THE PITCH?
John Cena vs. Robert Patrick. Now does that really seem fair?
WILL IT SUCK?
It should be no surprise that the next breed of action hero is coming out of the WWE. Not that that's happened yet. Or will. I mean, you've got The Rock and...um...Kane? At least Robert Patrick looks like he's having fun.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
This will all come down to Cena's following. $16mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
I'm not sure they'll remember it after they leave the theater.
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INFAMOUS
WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Capote, Too.
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is mixed, with critics disdaining it more than audiences, but few are comparing it favorably to that other film.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
There's not much competition, but there's not much desire to see this story retold, either. $4mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
It would have to get muuuuuch better reviews to stand out against its predecessor.
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DRIVING LESSONS
WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Ron Weasley and Maude
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is good, and the writer (who directs for the first time here) also wrote The Last King of Scotland, which is also getting love. And I wasn't kidding about that Weasley crack. Grint's mom in Potter-ville (Julie Walters) plays Maude to his Harold here.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
The Potter crowd and the indie crowd, not so much the same. $2mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
If the film does better than I suspect, Walter's performance could get some notice.
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October 20
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FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS
WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Story of the photograph that changed the course of WWII. Well, at least according to the trailer.
WILL IT SUCK?
This project just keeps unfolding like a flower. First, you get Eastwood and Spielberg co-producing, with Eastwood helming. Throw in Paul Haggis and William Broyles, Jr. on pens. Then let drop with a sequel of sorts, the same story told from the Japanese point of view, Letters from Iwo Jima, due to come out in December. Finally, throw in an ad campaign that makes it seem like the photo kept us in a war that was growing increasingly unpopular for our own good. Given the progressiveness of so many aspects of this project, the latter part seems like a marketing decision.
The short version is, Eastwood's on a tear right now, and the last time he teamed with Haggis, we got Million Dollar Baby.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
The Prestige is probably it's biggest competition, but that just doesn't have the same Support Our Troops feel. $101mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
Normally here I'd just say, "Remember the part about the last time Eastwood teamed with Haggis?" However, if Letters really does come out in December, all bets are off, because who knows how the Academy will parse that.
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THE PRESTIGE
WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Batman and Wolverine play dueling magicians.
WILL IT SUCK?
This is from Christopher Nolan, who doesn't suck. If that weren't enough, David Bowie plays Tesla (the scientist, not the band, though that would be pretty awesome, too).
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Flags will not be kind, but this has a hot cast and fans of Batman Begins have to be happy about the reteaming of Bale, Nolan and Caine. $68mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
While this doesn't feel like Oscar bait, there are certainly enough worthy actors to make a go of it.
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THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS -- 3-D
WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Same as before, but you wear glasses this time.
WILL IT SUCK?
I think you pretty much know already whether or not you like the movie. The only question is whether or not it will be enhanced by a 3-D re-mastering, although they apparently messed with the soundtrack, too, which makes me nervous. What little I've seen of the new wave of 3-D in general is pretty damn impressive, so it'll probably be worth it, especially since the glasses finally look cool.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Flicka's a bit of an issue, but the real problem is that, by nature, this is kind of a limited release. Still, a lot of parents are going to want their kids to see this. $26mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
Are re-releases even eligible? If so, I think Gone With the Wind would have a lot more Oscars.
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MARIE ANTOINETTE
WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Kirsten Dunst as the famous queen, with an 80's new wave soundtrack.
WILL IT SUCK?
In the greatest of ironies, the movie that was famously panned at Cannes was nominated for that festival's Palme D'Or and won that festival's Cinema Prize of the French National Education System. All other buzz is equally promising. Writer/director Sofia Coppola won a lot of good will with Lost in Translation, so I'm pot committed to at least her next two films.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Some of these movies really oughtta move to next weekend, which has been virtually evacuated for Saw III. In this case, though, I think the limited releases indie route would be more advantageous. Still, there is that good will thing I mentioned before. $35mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
I think some Geisha-style nods (Costume, Art Direction) aren't out of line, but a second directing or writing nod might be a bit much to ask. Dunst is, however, on the medium-list for Best Actress.
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FLICKA
WHAT'S THE PITCH?
As in My Friend...
WILL IT SUCK?
And how. The writers did another couple of animal flicks -- Mighty Joe Young and Planet of the Apes. And if you're still not convinced, they also did Mercury Rising, The Beverly Hillbillies and Superman IV. Incidentally, if you ever wondered what they had to put in the credits if animals were harmed during the making, it's something like the film included "an at-risk segment unauthorized by American Humane, resulting in injury or death of an animal," which PETA wants put in due to a couple on set accidents that resulted in just that, except that the AHA was on hand.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
It's not so much competition as a lack of awareness that might hurt this film. $12mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
If Alison Lohman could not get nods for White Oleander or Matchstick Men, she ain't getting one for this.
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RUNNING WITH SCISSORS
WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Adaptation of the best-selling Augusten Burroughs novel about a kid who grows up raised by his mother's therapist.
WILL IT SUCK?
Do you like Nip/Tuck, cos' the writer/director done did a lot of that. His next film is called Why Can't I Be Audrey Hepburn, which makes me smile.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
This is arguably the second biggest indie release of the month, what with the property, Annette Bening, Brian Cox, Alec Baldwin, Gwyneth Paltrow and Evan Rachel Wood and the heat on tell-alls right now (although that last part is largely hype, imho). $16mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
Look for Adaptation, and some supporting nods for Bening, Wood, Cox, Baldwin and possibly Joseph Fiennes.
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SLEEPING DOGS LIE
WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Woman shares a dirty secret with her fiancé which, if you were paying any attention at all during Sundance, you already know what it is.
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is kind of "meh," which is a step up from Bob Goldthwait's last writing/directing gig, Shakes the Clown.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
I don't know that it's improved its station all that much by moving here from last month. $3mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
There is no category for this secret.
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October 27
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SAW III
WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Jigsaw gives it all up to compete in a pie-making contest. Just kidding, he tortures a bunch of fuckers, like usual.
WILL IT SUCK?
Interesting pedigree here. James Wan, director and co-writer of the original Saw is back as a co-writer with Darren Lynn Bousman, director of the sequel, back at the helm. The consistent thread here is co-writer Leigh Wannell, who worked on all three. All of this means that this one will probably be no better or worse than the other two.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Borat maybe poses a threat the following week, but, let's be honest, there's a reason they greenlit a sequel during Saw II's opening weekend. $105mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
No, but Tobin Bell is one helluva character actor.
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CATCH A FIRE
WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Kind of like a South African In the Name of the Father, if Daniel Day Lewis had decided to join the IRA after getting out of prison.
WILL IT SUCK?
After a kick-ass 2002 (Rabbit Proof Fence and The Quiet American), Philip Noyce disappeared off the radar. Now he's back with Tim Robbins and Derek Luke in a story that smacks of more of his now trademark political tension. I'd be more nervous about the fact that the writer's previous credit is Captain Corelli's Mandolin if it weren't for the strong buzz this has received.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
I'm not sure how many people will be turned off by the trailer, which is vaguely terrorist-recruit-y, and the title, which makes it sound like a sports film, but the bigger concern is that not very many people know about this to begin with. $19mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
Overdue nods for Luke and Noyce are a possibility. Seriously, how did Luke get overlooked for Friday Night Lights?
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BABEL
WHAT'S THE PITCH?
It all starts with two kids and a gun. Next thing you know there's an international incident and several misunderstandings and tragedies that could probably be averted if we all spoke the same language.
WILL IT SUCK?
Probably not. Early buzz is good. Apparently this is one of the few films to make it through the festival circuit unscathed this year. Plus, we're talking Alejandro González Iñárritu here, son. That's Amores Perros. That's 21 Grams. Same writer, too. Plus, he's back with Gael Garcia Bernal and you know what happens when he gets his act on. Oh, and they kind of liked it at Cannes.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
The indie race starts to heat up here. You've got the second frame of Running, the first frame of President and, the following week, the best-buzzed Almodovar film in years. But this film has something none of those other indies has. Brad Fucking Pitt. Still, it'll be tight. $22mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
Bernal and Inarritu could be in for some Academy lovin'.
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DEATH OF A PRESIDENT
WHAT'S THE PITCH?
Fake doc about the assassination of George W. Bush. Yeah, I'm sure that won't be controversial at all.
WILL IT SUCK?
Giddy as the prospect might make some, the early buzz isn't so great.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Without a critical concensus, it's going to be hard justifying this as anything but catharsis, which will be good for a few bucks, but won't make for a long run. $2mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
Since this was originally a British TV-movie, I'm not sure it's eligible, but even if it were, it's probably a little too hot for the Academy.
Next Month: Borat, James Bond and Tenacious D. Plus, a new film from that Aaronofsky kid.
—Dave Thomas
October 05, 2006
Radical Right On Foleygate: Investigate The "October Surprise" Orchestrated By The Media And The "Homosexual Networks"
Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council (no relation to Anthony Perkins of Psycho)
Our brother site evangelicalright.com has the story.
October 04, 2006
Hastert: Foley Scandal Is A Liberal Conspiracy To 'Get To Me' And 'Affect Our Election'
October 03, 2006
Legislators And Media That Knew Foley Was A Sexual Predator And Aided In His Cover-Up
Rep. J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.)
Rep. Thomas M. Reynolds (R-N.Y.)
IN OTHER NEWS
— Rep. Tom Reynolds uses children as human shields to keep avoid being hit by Foleygate shrapnel. [hat tip Kevin]
— Even the conservative Washington Times thinks Hastert should resign.
— Tony Snow thinks making sexual propositions to teenage boys is no big deal.
— George Bush -- president, hero, family values warrior, and good Christian -- defends Dennis Hastert's decision to protect a sexual predator.
— Finally, Dobson blames the gays and the Internet despite his steamy man-crush on Gov. Romney.
Johnny Cash and Tom Waits
RBally has two essential shows posted. One is a repost of a Tom Waits show at the San Diego Folk Festival, April 19, 1974.
And the other is an amazing Cash show: Johnny Cash and the original Tenessee Two - Country Style, USA, 1958
Thanks RBally!
October 02, 2006
This Is Funny: George Bush, Destined For Destiny
Click above to see the quicktime video. It's part of the promotional website for a new a new book that looks hilarious: Destined for Destiny: The Unauthorized Autobiography of George W. Bush. [Thanks Katie]
ABC on Foley/GOP Sex Scandal: Republicans Knew & Did Nothing
Hastert is done. The religious right is silent. And the American public knows that Foley's behavior was more than "simply naughty e-mails." Watch the above for a great overview of the shitstorm.
David Cross Really Doesn't Like Jim Belushi
From a 2003 interview:
I read something you wrote online that seems to indicate you might not be a Jim Belushi fan.
He's one of those guys that any real man can't help but idolize. He's living the life. He does it - he's pure. Whenever you see a guy in a commercial high-fiving with a beer in his hand, watching the sports game - that's like a fake version of Jim Belushi. He's the real deal. He's the shit. That guy is reinventing music; he's reinventing comedy; he's an angel; he's one of the nicest, most magnanimous people you'll ever meet; extremely pleasant to be around; very giving; very warm; intellectually original and creative and inspiring. I just try to give him a shout out whenever I can.
hat tip, The Apiary
