'Best of TBH Politoons'
Reader Assist
'The Stinkers'
Recommended Reading
from Bruce
Camille T. Taiara: Terrorist TV? (The SF Bay Guardian)
Knute Berger: Gonzogate (Seattle Weekly)
John Rodat: The Clothes-and Gel and Lotion-Make the Man (Metroland)
Poor Elijah (Peter Berger): Jefferson's General Religion (The Irascible Professor)
Cheryl Eddy and Kimberly Chun: A curmudgeon's guide to the Academy Award nominees (The SF Bay Guardian)
Reader Comment
Gull, not gull
"A seagull braces from the cold as it stands with only one leg in the snow in front of the Capitol Building in Washington, February 24, 2005. A slow-moving snow storm is expected to dump 3-to-5 inches of snow for the D.C. area today, with a winter storm warning in effect."
==
That's not a gull. The wings are missing! Gulls have large wings, which are visible when they are at rest.
I think that's a Mockingbird. Note the sharp-pointed insect-eating bill, unlike the downcurved, large, foraging bill of a gull.
Paul
Thanks, Paul!
Purple Gene Reviews
Oakland Fire Department
Purple Genes' review of the Oakland Fire Departments' fire fighting effort on 2/24/05 at Bayo St in Oakland:
I found out last night that Barbara Boxer, the superb US Senator from Marin County is moving………….to Oakland…… My Town. Just after finding out I heard a siren outside…..I looked out the window and …Oh My god…smoke and fifty foot flames right across the street….Shit…..this is real bad. It looks like a huge shed in a back yard surrounded by trees!!!! I grabbed my camera and ran out the front door…..
Selected Readings
from that Mad Cat, JD
In The Chaos Household
Last Night
A bit on the cloudy side, but no rain.
Have no idea of what the commotion was about last night, but the ambulance & fire truck remained in the middle of the street til around 4am.
Oscar Producer Calls Delay 'Terrible Idea'
Gil Cates
Oscar organizers on Friday blasted television network ABC for broadcasting the star-filled Academy Award telecast with a time delay, dismissing it as a "terrible idea" and a concession to political correctness.
The choice of comedian Chris Rock as host has the network, owned by The Walt Disney Co. and the only broadcaster to air the show in the United States, nervous about offensive language hitting the U.S. airwaves.
"I do not like a time delay," Oscar show producer Gil Cates told reporters on the famed red carpet leading to the awards venue, the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood.
"I'm very happy I'm not the person who has to push that button and decide the difference between something that may be out of step in terms of what the culture thinks is appropriate and something that's political," Cates added. "My feeling is it's a terrible idea but it's ABC's network."
Gil Cates
Protest Cancellation of 'Enterprise'
'Star Trek' Fans
"Star Trek" fans from around the world gathered at the gates of Paramount Studios in Hollywood on Friday to protest the impending cancellation of the television series "Star Trek: Enterprise."
Carrying signs reading "It's Not Just a Show, It's a Responsibility" and "18 Years of Loyalty and This Is the Thanks I Get?," more than 100 people massed at the gates of Paramount, where "Enterprise" is produced, to show support for a franchise that has perhaps the most loyal fan base in the world.
The UPN network, which like Paramount is a unit of Viacom Inc., said earlier this month it would end "Enterprise" in May after four seasons on air. But the fans are not letting it go quietly.
'Star Trek' Fans
Still Likes Being Recognized
Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali, one of the best-known athletes of the past century, still gets a kick out of being recognized by a kid at a fast-food window.
"Muhammad is in awe when we go through the McDonald's drive-through and the teenager who is 16 knows who he is and thinks he is cool and awesome," said Ali's wife, Lonnie Ali. "It just really brightens him up. He loves connecting with the next generation."
An audience of admirers, including celebrities, will pay up to $1,000 a ticket to attend the Butterfly Ball Saturday night in Atlanta to honor Ali as part of Black History Month. Proceeds will support the Muhammad Ali Center, scheduled to open in November in Louisville, Ky.
Muhammad Ali
FCC Rejects Indecency Complaint
'Angel'
A love scene from the canceled TV show "Angel" that showed a female character turning into a vampire and biting her partner's neck did not overstep federal indecency rules, the Federal Communications Commission ruled Friday.
It was one of two scenes from a November 2003 episode of "Angel" that were not "sufficiently graphic or explicit to render the program patently offensive" by contemporary standards, the FCC said in denying an indecency complaint from the Parents Television Council.
'Angel'
Groups Laud Payola Probe
Recording Artists
Artists' groups are applauding the ongoing investigation by New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer into allegations of payola-like practices in the radio industry. Spitzer's office recently subpoenaed four radio groups, requesting full cooperation with the inquiry.
Clear Channel confirmed Feb. 17 that it has received a subpoena from the attorney general's office and is "cooperating fully with (Spitzer's) investigation into the industry's use of independent promoters and associated allegations of 'pay for play."'
Cox, Entercom and Infinity also have received subpoenas, according to reports. Infinity declined to comment on the report, and officials at Entercom were not immediately available to comment. Cox noted its subpoena in a Feb. 23 Securities and Exchange Commission filing.
Clear Channel, Entercom and Infinity recently have terminated programers over allegations of improper relationships with record companies. The most recent case is Clear Channel's Feb. 17 firing of Sandra Robinson, program director of WGRB (Gospel Radio 1390 AM) Chicago.
Recording Artists
More Compassion, Republican-Style
Wild Horse Slaughtering Law
For the first time in more than a generation, the mustang - the very symbol of the American West - can be slaughtered for horsemeat.
In December, Congress repealed the 34-year-old ban on the slaughter of the wild horses that run free across the West. The move has brought a powerful backlash from activists, who want to reinstate full protection for the mustangs.
Acting on behalf of ranchers who say the horses eat forage needed by cattle, Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont., attached the amendment in December to a spending bill that resident Bush signed into law.
It allows for the sale for slaughter of some older and unwanted horses that are captured during the periodic government roundups aimed at reducing the wild population, now estimated at 33,000 across 10 Western states. About 19,000 of the horses are in Nevada.
Wild Horse-Slaughtering Law
Leading Up to the Oscars
Who's Won What
During Oscar season, it's all about building buzz. Here are the leading contenders and how they've fared thus far:
SIDEWAYS
Best picture: Oscar nomination, Golden GlobeBest picture: Oscar nomination, Golden Globe winner (musical or comedy), New York Film Critics Circle, New York Film Critics Online, Los Angeles Film Critics Association, Boston Society of Film Critics, Chicago Film Critics Association, San Francisco Film Critics Circle, AP Movie Critic Christy Lemire.
Top 10 lists: American Film Institute, National Board of Review of Motion Pictures, Entertainment Weekly, African American Film Critics Association, AP Movie Writer David Germain.
Best ensemble cast: Screen Actors Guild Award.
Best actor, Paul Giamatti: New York Film Critics Circle, Chicago Film Critics Association, San Francisco Film Critics Circle.
Best supporting actor, Thomas Haden Church: Oscar nomination, National Board of Review of Motion Pictures, New York Film Critics Online, Los Angeles Film Critics Association, Boston Society of Film Critics, Chicago Film Critics Association, San Francisco Film Critics Circle.
Best supporting actress, Virginia Madsen: Oscar nomination, National Board of Review of Motion Pictures, New York Film Critics Circle, New York Film Critics Online, Los Angeles Film Critics Association, Chicago Film Critics Association, San Francisco Film Critics Circle.
Best director, Alexander Payne: Oscar nomination, Los Angeles Film Critics Association, San Francisco Film Critics Circle.
Best adapted screenplay, Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor: Oscar nomination, Golden Globe winner, Writers Guild Award winner, British Academy Film Award, National Board of Review of Motion Pictures, New York Film Critics Circle, Los Angeles Film Critics Association, Boston Society of Film Critics, Chicago Film Critics Association, Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association, San Francisco Film Critics Circle.
MILLION DOLLAR BABY
Best picture: Oscar nomination, The New York Times.
Top 10 lists: National Board of Review of Motion Pictures, American Film Institute, Entertainment Weekly, African American Film Critics Association, AP Movie Writer David Germain.
Best actor, Clint Eastwood: Oscar nomination.
Best actress, Hilary Swank: Oscar nomination, Golden Globe winner (drama), Screen Actors Guild Award, Boston Society of Film Critics.
Best supporting actor, Morgan Freeman: Oscar nomination, Screen Actors Guild Award.
Best director, Clint Eastwood: Oscar nomination, Golden Globe winner, New York Film Critics Circle.
Best adapted screenplay, Paul Haggis: Oscar nomination.
THE AVIATOR
Best picture: Oscar nomination, Golden Globe winner (drama), British Academy Film Award.
Top 10 lists: American Film Institute, National Board of Review of Motion Pictures, Entertainment Weekly, African American Film Critics Association.
Best actor, Leonardo DiCaprio: Oscar nomination, Golden Globe winner (drama).
Best supporting actor, Alan Alda: Oscar nomination.
Best supporting actress, Cate Blanchett: Oscar nomination, British Academy Film Award, Screen Actors Guild Award, Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association.
Best director, Martin Scorsese: Oscar nomination, New York Film Critics Online.
Best original screenplay, John Logan: Oscar nomination.
RAY
Best picture: Oscar nomination, African American Film Critics Association.
Top 10 lists: National Board of Review of Motion Pictures, Entertainment Weekly.
Best actor, Jamie Foxx: Oscar nomination, Golden Globe winner (musical or comedy), British Academy Film Award, Screen Actors Guild Award, National Board of Review of Motion Pictures, New York Film Critics Online, Boston Society of Film Critics, Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association.
Best director, Taylor Hackford: Oscar nomination.
FINDING NEVERLAND
Best picture: Oscar nomination, National Board of Review.
Top 10 lists: African American Film Critics Association.
Best actor, Johnny Depp: Oscar nomination.
Best adapted screenplay, David Magee: Oscar nomination.
HOTEL RWANDA
Best actor, Don Cheadle: Oscar nomination.
Best supporting actress, Sophie Okonedo: Oscar nomination.
Best original screenplay, Keir Pearson and Terry George: Oscar nomination.
ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND
Best picture: Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association
Top 10 lists: American Film Institute, Entertainment Weekly.
Best actress, Kate Winslet: Oscar nomination.
Best director, Michel Gondry: Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association.
Best original screenplay, Charlie Kaufman and Pierre Bismuth: Oscar nomination, Writers Guild Award winner, British Academy Film Award, National Board of Review of Motion Pictures, New York Film Critics Online, Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association.
VERA DRAKE
Best picture: Evening Standard British Film Awards
Top 10 lists: National Board of Review of Motion Pictures.
Best actress, Imelda Staunton: Oscar nomination, British Academy Film Award, Evening Standard British Film Awards, New York Film Critics Circle, New York Film Critics Online, Los Angeles Film Critics Association, Chicago Film Critics Association, Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association.
Best director, Mike Leigh: Oscar nomination, British Academy Film Award.
Best original screenplay, Mike Leigh: Oscar nomination.
CLOSER
Top 10 lists: National Board of Review of Motion Pictures.
Best ensemble cast: National Board of Review of Motion Pictures.
Best supporting actor, Clive Owen: Oscar nomination, Golden Globe winner, British Academy Film Award, New York Film Critics Circle.
Best supporting actress, Natalie Portman: Oscar nomination, Golden Globe winner.
KINSEY
Top 10 lists: American Film Institute, National Board of Review of Motion Pictures, Entertainment Weekly.
Best actor, Liam Neeson: Los Angeles Film Critics Association.
Best supporting actress, Laura Linney: Oscar nomination, National Board of Review of Motion Pictures.
Who's Won What
Home Is No Easy Sell
Frank Lloyd Wright
If you think selling a house designed by the most famous architect in American history is easy, think again.
After several months on the market, a 1915 Frank Lloyd Wright house on Chicago's North Side is going on the auction block, with bids starting at $750,000 - less than a third of the original $2.5 million asking price.
A few years ago, another Wright house sold at auction in Cincinnati for only about $400,000.
Owners often can't remodel or even paint the homes without permission from some government official.
Frank Lloyd Wright
Too Big for Boat
Halibut
Unlike many fishermen, Harald Skoge didn't have to exaggerate the size of his latest catch. The 321-pound halibut was too big for his nearly 29-foot boat.
Skoge, who fishes as a hobby, was trying his luck off western Norway with a simple hook and line on Wednesday when he thought something had gone wrong.
Slowly, he was able to roll in the line, and realized something very, very big was on the end. When the giant halibut broke the surface, he realized it was too big to haul into his boat.
After three hours of towing the fish, he was able to deliver it to a local fish processing plant, which weighed and bought the catch.
Halibut
In Memory
Edward Patten
Edward Patten, a member of the Grammy-winning Gladys Knight & The Pips, died early Friday at a suburban Detroit hospital, said his cousin, another member of the group. He was 65.
Patten, an Atlanta native who lived in Detroit, died at a hospital in Michigan from a stroke he suffered a few days before, said William Guest.
Gladys Knight & the Pips - comprised of Knight; her brother, Merald "Bubba" Knight; and their cousins Guest and Patten - recorded for Motown from 1966-1973 and for Buddah Records from 1973-77. They later recorded for CBS until breaking up in 1989.
Patten, known for his high tenor voice, joined the group in 1959, Guest said. Patten's father was a bandleader and he, along with the rest of the family, grew up around music.
Patten was one of the founders of Crew Records, based in Detroit and Atlanta, and sang backup for the label's recording artists, Crew spokeswoman Denise Fussell said.
Edward Patten
