THE NEWS HACK'S CREED:
I know more than you.
I make lots more money than you.
I'm smarter than you.
I'm sexier than you.
I appear on TV all the time.
I work ten minutes a day.
I rule the universe.
I'm going to live forever.
You are an idiot.
THE NEWS HACK'S CREED, No. 2:
A lie isn't a lie when it tells THE TRUTH.
THE NEWS HACK'S CREED, No. 3:
I've come to realize that the looseness of the journalistic life, the seeming laxity of the newsroom, is an illusion. Yes, there's informality and there's humor, but beneath the surface lies something deadly serious. It is a code. Sometimes the code is not even written down, but it is deeply believed in. And, when violated, it is enforced with tribal ferocity.
--JOHN "OMERTA" CARROLL.
THE NEWS HACK'S CREED, No. 4:
News isn't news when we don't report it.
PERMALINKS:
THE NEWS HACKS' DICTIONARY
THE EUGENE DAVID GLOSSARY
AMERICA'S MOST UNINTENTIONALLY FUNNY WEB SITE!
Blogroll Me!
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Saturday, March 18, 2006
Iraq War Protests Attract Fewer People
We may guess at why; not that many people want to march off a cliff with Ramsey Clark. But we may guess at another reason: the lesson of Vietnam has sunk in. Not the lesson that NEWS HACKS would want us to learn, of an immoral war blahblahblah, but of the following catastrophe of Southeast Asia. Whether or not the war was wise, for us to pull out now portends another catastrophe, one with more than reeducation camps.
But if the next war has a lesson, it will be two-fold; not to believe the hacks who yearn for our failure, and also to look with suspicious eyes at the Professors and Victor Davis Hansons who always proclaim "Mission Accomplished." We cannot countenance the notion of perpetual disaster, but the notion that we have succeeded beyond our wildest dreams sounds like a man talking himself into optimism. And when it comes to war, optimism can be as deadly a sin as pessimism.
We may guess at why; not that many people want to march off a cliff with Ramsey Clark. But we may guess at another reason: the lesson of Vietnam has sunk in. Not the lesson that NEWS HACKS would want us to learn, of an immoral war blahblahblah, but of the following catastrophe of Southeast Asia. Whether or not the war was wise, for us to pull out now portends another catastrophe, one with more than reeducation camps.
But if the next war has a lesson, it will be two-fold; not to believe the hacks who yearn for our failure, and also to look with suspicious eyes at the Professors and Victor Davis Hansons who always proclaim "Mission Accomplished." We cannot countenance the notion of perpetual disaster, but the notion that we have succeeded beyond our wildest dreams sounds like a man talking himself into optimism. And when it comes to war, optimism can be as deadly a sin as pessimism.
The DROOOOOOOONE returns to Public NewsTalkRadio, adding his to a twenty-four-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week drone.
(Via MediaBistro)
(Via MediaBistro)
In its haste to make a statement, the PAPER OF RE-CORD made a BOO-BOO!
The ghost of JAYSON yet stalks the prestigious corridors.
(Via USAOKAY!!!!!, which is pretty good at making mistakes itself)
The ghost of JAYSON yet stalks the prestigious corridors.
(Via USAOKAY!!!!!, which is pretty good at making mistakes itself)
At popcorn restaurants the bill of fare isn't as appetizing as it was, and as usual the little guys are suffering (that should make ROSIE'S NEPHEW happy); one supplier is laying off workers.
Maybe it's people eating healthier. Or maybe people don't want to pay caviar prices for cotton candy. Or maybe it's the background noise the popcorn restaurants insist on playing while they're eating. That would take care of any appetite.
Maybe it's people eating healthier. Or maybe people don't want to pay caviar prices for cotton candy. Or maybe it's the background noise the popcorn restaurants insist on playing while they're eating. That would take care of any appetite.
Friday, March 17, 2006
Diane Ravitch, on a site run by the CRONIKUL OF HYER EHDYUKAYSHUN, of all places:
The current regime of testing is aimed at raising the test scores of students who are performing poorly. It is an entirely skills-based approach, geared toward using the threat of federal sanctions to raise a low common denominator. It leaves out subjects like history, civics, literature, the arts, foreign languages — and advanced courses in every subject. As a result, many states have adopted a dumbed-down definition of proficiency.
Under the old regime of the College Board, the nation's schools had standards that were uniform, predictable, and elevating; they were written and revised by those who were in the nation's classrooms. Today the states and the federal government have taken over the responsibility for setting the nation's standards. So far the results are unimpressive. It is by no means clear that public officials, given political and bureaucratic constraints, can accomplish what the College Board once did — or that they even know what ought to be done.
Where are Butler and Eliot now that we need them again?
(Via Arts & Letters Daily, which is also run by the CRONIKUL OF HYER EHDYUKAYSHUN)
The current regime of testing is aimed at raising the test scores of students who are performing poorly. It is an entirely skills-based approach, geared toward using the threat of federal sanctions to raise a low common denominator. It leaves out subjects like history, civics, literature, the arts, foreign languages — and advanced courses in every subject. As a result, many states have adopted a dumbed-down definition of proficiency.
Under the old regime of the College Board, the nation's schools had standards that were uniform, predictable, and elevating; they were written and revised by those who were in the nation's classrooms. Today the states and the federal government have taken over the responsibility for setting the nation's standards. So far the results are unimpressive. It is by no means clear that public officials, given political and bureaucratic constraints, can accomplish what the College Board once did — or that they even know what ought to be done.
Where are Butler and Eliot now that we need them again?
(Via Arts & Letters Daily, which is also run by the CRONIKUL OF HYER EHDYUKAYSHUN)
Another PLUG for BILL BUCKLEYSON'S MOVIE:
HOLLYWOOD [Andrew Stuttaford]
"Sadly," Warren, why "sadly"? If lefties in Hollywood (even the insert-nasty-adjective-of-choice Michael Moore) have found a successful marketing model, good for them. That's capitalism. Besides, folks on the right shouldn't knock Hollywood for having a product that nobody wants to watch (the usual refrain these days) at the same time as knocking it for, well, having a product that people (but the "wrong" sort of people) want to watch. As for your idea for more 'heartland' films, absolutely. I'm sure there's a big, neglected market for them, and the more voices out there, the better. I just hope that they aren't you know, too wholesome...
Posted at 05:40 PM
Will you clowns SHUT UP?
HOLLYWOOD [Andrew Stuttaford]
"Sadly," Warren, why "sadly"? If lefties in Hollywood (even the insert-nasty-adjective-of-choice Michael Moore) have found a successful marketing model, good for them. That's capitalism. Besides, folks on the right shouldn't knock Hollywood for having a product that nobody wants to watch (the usual refrain these days) at the same time as knocking it for, well, having a product that people (but the "wrong" sort of people) want to watch. As for your idea for more 'heartland' films, absolutely. I'm sure there's a big, neglected market for them, and the more voices out there, the better. I just hope that they aren't you know, too wholesome...
Posted at 05:40 PM
Will you clowns SHUT UP?
Can you imagine the grief and anger in America's corporate headquarters if Albany had won?
And not just for betting wrong.
And not just for betting wrong.
MEDIAWORKS: What about music magazines in particular? Spin sold in February for less than $5 million, far less than the reported $42 million you and your partners got for it in 1997.
MR. GUCCIONE: The music itself is a very lackluster and genetically weak culture. Music is built by generation upon generation. The '70s built on the '60s, the '80s came out of those together and you kept building. That cycle gets quicker and quicker. Things like video culture meant that a different set of valuations held currency, such as your looks. Rock 'n' roll was the people's music; now it can only be the beautiful people's music.
Bob Guccione Jr. admits in so many words that pop "music" stinks.
MR. GUCCIONE: The music itself is a very lackluster and genetically weak culture. Music is built by generation upon generation. The '70s built on the '60s, the '80s came out of those together and you kept building. That cycle gets quicker and quicker. Things like video culture meant that a different set of valuations held currency, such as your looks. Rock 'n' roll was the people's music; now it can only be the beautiful people's music.
Bob Guccione Jr. admits in so many words that pop "music" stinks.
For those who like meaningless stats, or future JEOPARDY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! contestants:
IF YOU are worried about how much you owe on your credit cards, this might put things in perspective: America’s national debt limit was increased yesterday to $9 trillion. That’s $9,000,000,000,000 — enough to buy Buckingham Palace 9,000 times.
And FURTHERMORE:
$9 TRILLION...
Is roughly four times Britain’s GDP
Equates to $1,500 for every man, woman and child in the world
Would buy all the tea in China. In fact it would buy all the tea in the world for the next 2,000 years.
Is enough to solve the Palestinian crisis by rehousing every Israeli and Palestinian family in a £1.5m detached house in Henley-on-Thames
Would build 28 Eiffel Towers — constructed out of gold.
Dubya -- DO IT!
IF YOU are worried about how much you owe on your credit cards, this might put things in perspective: America’s national debt limit was increased yesterday to $9 trillion. That’s $9,000,000,000,000 — enough to buy Buckingham Palace 9,000 times.
And FURTHERMORE:
$9 TRILLION...
Is roughly four times Britain’s GDP
Equates to $1,500 for every man, woman and child in the world
Would buy all the tea in China. In fact it would buy all the tea in the world for the next 2,000 years.
Is enough to solve the Palestinian crisis by rehousing every Israeli and Palestinian family in a £1.5m detached house in Henley-on-Thames
Would build 28 Eiffel Towers — constructed out of gold.
Dubya -- DO IT!
"V for Vendetta" is the fourth of Alan Moore's graphic novels adapted to the screen. But if Moore had his way, there would be none.
Hear! Hear! Let's make movies for ADULTS again.
Hear! Hear! Let's make movies for ADULTS again.
Russ Feingold tossed a political grenade at President Bush this week, but it fell into the middle of the Senate Democratic Caucus. Many Democratic senators ran away.
Don't worry E. J., it was only a dud.
BOOM!!!!!
Don't worry E. J., it was only a dud.
BOOM!!!!!
OUCH:
The Post will not reveal circulation and ad revenue figures to Media Life, but data available elsewhere paints an alarming picture. Ad revenue is up just slightly over the past five years, to $783.5 million last year from $770.6 million in 2000, according to TNS Media Intelligence.
But circulation has tumbled, falling by 137,695 for the weekday paper in the past decade, from 816,474 for the year ended Sept. 30, 1995 to 678,779 for the six-month period ended Oct. 2, 2005. That's a decline of 17 percent. That's according to numbers from the Audit Bureau of Circulations, the latter of which has not been audited yet and is based on publisher statements.
If the Post must struggle to hold onto readers, other papers must be in real trouble, or so it would seem.
Analyst John Morton says what the Post is experiencing is in some ways typical, the result of online publications taking a bigger bite out of print newspapers. He does not see that changing.
“Generally speaking, their circulation will continue to decline,” Morton said yesterday. “I don’t know that there’s any solution.”
We know this: the solution is NOT: 1. Running more show-biz plugs, 2. Devoting the whole of front pages to marshmallow stories, 3. Making the paper look more colorful than the Nawlans Mardi Gras, and 4. TELLING THE TRUTH.
The Post will not reveal circulation and ad revenue figures to Media Life, but data available elsewhere paints an alarming picture. Ad revenue is up just slightly over the past five years, to $783.5 million last year from $770.6 million in 2000, according to TNS Media Intelligence.
But circulation has tumbled, falling by 137,695 for the weekday paper in the past decade, from 816,474 for the year ended Sept. 30, 1995 to 678,779 for the six-month period ended Oct. 2, 2005. That's a decline of 17 percent. That's according to numbers from the Audit Bureau of Circulations, the latter of which has not been audited yet and is based on publisher statements.
If the Post must struggle to hold onto readers, other papers must be in real trouble, or so it would seem.
Analyst John Morton says what the Post is experiencing is in some ways typical, the result of online publications taking a bigger bite out of print newspapers. He does not see that changing.
“Generally speaking, their circulation will continue to decline,” Morton said yesterday. “I don’t know that there’s any solution.”
We know this: the solution is NOT: 1. Running more show-biz plugs, 2. Devoting the whole of front pages to marshmallow stories, 3. Making the paper look more colorful than the Nawlans Mardi Gras, and 4. TELLING THE TRUTH.
Shucks, Sherry Boehlert, a -- moderate Republican, is retiring.
What shall we do now to stop radical neo-Naz...oh, never mind.
What shall we do now to stop radical neo-Naz...oh, never mind.
The forces of REACTION continue on the move:
Court Lets Tenn. Issue Anti-Abortion Plates
Isn't there anything we can DO? Maybe we can get KOS to lead a coup, or something. PFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFT!
Court Lets Tenn. Issue Anti-Abortion Plates
Isn't there anything we can DO? Maybe we can get KOS to lead a coup, or something. PFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFT!
US reports two more deaths after abortion pill
I thought such reporting was illegal.
Oh, we'll find a way. It's those CHRISTIAN liars, or something.
I thought such reporting was illegal.
Oh, we'll find a way. It's those CHRISTIAN liars, or something.
Quin Hillyer (whoever he is) is on the WARPATH:
It really might be time for conservatives to sit out elections. Better to do it this fall, so the Dems get the blame for the next two years and we can come back in 2008, than to work for a bunch of big-government cretins to maintain a bare GOP majority this time, only to have the good guys go down in flames at all levels of government in 2008.
What makes me conclude that it's not even worth the effort for conservatives this year? The latest in a long, long, LONG, LONG string of spineless, unprincipled votes by a congressional GOP utterly unwilling to act like conservatives. Already the Senate GOP had decided to ignored President Bush's call for further savings (from projected increases) in entitlements. Yesterday, they went further, voting to bust the proposed discretionary budget caps by an astonishing $16 billion. And that's $16 billion not spread over five years, but in just the one fiscal year beginning October 1.
These people are hopeless fools. (Actually, the words that come to mind are stronger than that, the sorts of words that in comic strips get represented by symbols like this: %&*%%$*$# .
Let'em lose in November. They deserve it.
And then we can replace them with JACK NICKLAUSES!!!!!
It really might be time for conservatives to sit out elections. Better to do it this fall, so the Dems get the blame for the next two years and we can come back in 2008, than to work for a bunch of big-government cretins to maintain a bare GOP majority this time, only to have the good guys go down in flames at all levels of government in 2008.
What makes me conclude that it's not even worth the effort for conservatives this year? The latest in a long, long, LONG, LONG string of spineless, unprincipled votes by a congressional GOP utterly unwilling to act like conservatives. Already the Senate GOP had decided to ignored President Bush's call for further savings (from projected increases) in entitlements. Yesterday, they went further, voting to bust the proposed discretionary budget caps by an astonishing $16 billion. And that's $16 billion not spread over five years, but in just the one fiscal year beginning October 1.
These people are hopeless fools. (Actually, the words that come to mind are stronger than that, the sorts of words that in comic strips get represented by symbols like this: %&*%%$*$# .
Let'em lose in November. They deserve it.
And then we can replace them with JACK NICKLAUSES!!!!!
A NATIONAL HOLIDAY AT NRO: It runs FOUR links for plugs for Bill Buckleyson's movie -- which happen to appear below this hed:
Sean Higgins: Frank Kelly Rich gets drunk for a living. 03/17 8:12 a.m.
A good idea when scanning NRO -- and ESPECIALLY the CORNER.
Sean Higgins: Frank Kelly Rich gets drunk for a living. 03/17 8:12 a.m.
A good idea when scanning NRO -- and ESPECIALLY the CORNER.
It's a wonder this doesn't happen more often:
Detroit public radio chief charged with embezzlement
And this is the guy who got sued for changing his station's format from classical to news! Some broadcaster.
Detroit public radio chief charged with embezzlement
And this is the guy who got sued for changing his station's format from classical to news! Some broadcaster.
The Great Alaskan Boar will wait until DR. EVIL tells him what to do about TV indecency.
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEW!, your favorite TV shows are SAFE.
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEW!, your favorite TV shows are SAFE.
GASP! A RIGHT-WING WRITER discovers EMPTY CONSUMPTION...in a SHOPPING MALL?!?!?
This is the moral equivalent of a glibertarian saying greed is bad.
This is the moral equivalent of a glibertarian saying greed is bad.
Curley's (Nyuk! Nyuk! Nyuk!) Stooges (with an eager assist from Greg the Lefti -- the IMPARTIAL OBSERVER OF THE NEWS) says a few of our Marines are being investigated for committing -- WAR CRIMES!!!!!
We know this MO -- the two words will sweep the country like a movie publicity campaign, but in the end, we would not be surprised if there is no trial, and no war crimes; in the meantime, the HACKS get to masturbate again.
We know this MO -- the two words will sweep the country like a movie publicity campaign, but in the end, we would not be surprised if there is no trial, and no war crimes; in the meantime, the HACKS get to masturbate again.
Another impoverished town finds the source of eternal wealth: RENDELLMINIUMS!
How many RICHIE RICHES are going to live in all these CONDOS?
How many RICHIE RICHES are going to live in all these CONDOS?
Thursday, March 16, 2006
Disinvestment from Sudan is gathering speed, which should not be troublesome except the forces of right have a possible out for another disinvestment move, on Israel. But we can never accuse college types of thinking.
We can't figure this one out: this tell-all slut's book sold 30 copies, and the $38 Million Horseyface is turning it into another CRITICALLY-ACCLAIMED pile of dung on HBO. Either the Horse hasn't heard the phrase "leave well enough alone", or she or her advisers can't read -- or both.
Bob Woodruff leaves the hospital, followed by POLITICKING:
Please remember...he is human first...reporter last. My heart and prayers go out to anyone involved or has been affected by the needless war.
Posted by: Tonya Mar 16, 2006 3:52:00 PM
Followed by...
Why must there be debate over this?
Can we never put aside political agendas and just be thankful that the man is recovering from his injuries?
Posted by: Bob Mar 16, 2006 3:44:28 PM
The last time to talk politics is when a man faces a long recovery from war wounds.
Please remember...he is human first...reporter last. My heart and prayers go out to anyone involved or has been affected by the needless war.
Posted by: Tonya Mar 16, 2006 3:52:00 PM
Followed by...
Why must there be debate over this?
Can we never put aside political agendas and just be thankful that the man is recovering from his injuries?
Posted by: Bob Mar 16, 2006 3:44:28 PM
The last time to talk politics is when a man faces a long recovery from war wounds.
More proof we live in an age of giants: Christie's reenacted TRUMAN's Black and White Ball -- AND....
The original guest list featured Frank Sinatra, Andy Warhol and various Rockefellers, Whitneys and Vanderbilts. Tuesday's 700 partygoers included Dylan Lauren, Nina Griscom, Tinsley Mortimer and a smattering of television starlets wearing masks, sipping Champagne and trying to untangle high heels from all the dresses with trains.
AND Lake Bell and Aisha Tyler! GIANTS!
The original guest list featured Frank Sinatra, Andy Warhol and various Rockefellers, Whitneys and Vanderbilts. Tuesday's 700 partygoers included Dylan Lauren, Nina Griscom, Tinsley Mortimer and a smattering of television starlets wearing masks, sipping Champagne and trying to untangle high heels from all the dresses with trains.
AND Lake Bell and Aisha Tyler! GIANTS!
Low-Income Students Won't Pay at Stanford
This is the sort of affirmative action we can support. Now when will HAHVAHD MUTUAL FUND do it?
This is the sort of affirmative action we can support. Now when will HAHVAHD MUTUAL FUND do it?
Mistah Moran says we gotta suppoht Al Gowah in '08 -- and if we don't, he's gonna say we're all wimpy JOOS -- and beat us up!
(Via AmSpec, which STILL WANTS JACK NICKLAUS IN THE SENATE!!!!!)
(Via AmSpec, which STILL WANTS JACK NICKLAUS IN THE SENATE!!!!!)
A devoted reader of Romy's smells a plan -- to kick LARRY KING out of his studio!
Jon Klein, you have our total support.
Jon Klein, you have our total support.
And here's a RENDELLIZER of a different kind -- he wants to build quality homes!
With his money and connections he could make the whole world unaffordable.
With his money and connections he could make the whole world unaffordable.
This man wants to make a three-part epic in Punic!
Judging from this picture I'd say he has trouble enough with English.
Whatever became of SKY MASTERSON?
The French give Jerry Lewis the Legion of Honor, which once again proves there is no accounting for tastes.
Lewis applauded the country's sense of humor, saying he believed it "took France through all those difficult years, and will take it through difficult times now because the French are not afraid to laugh."
The problem is, the types who rioted recently have a strange sense of humor.
(Sorry for the NewsMAX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Lewis applauded the country's sense of humor, saying he believed it "took France through all those difficult years, and will take it through difficult times now because the French are not afraid to laugh."
The problem is, the types who rioted recently have a strange sense of humor.
(Sorry for the NewsMAX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Well we needn't have worried: DOW's stooges have drunk their usual ten cups of coffee this morning. How is a company socially responsible? By making a profit! And anybody who thinks otherwise is a nanny-state type who wants to ruin our party!
The rhetorical battle has been joined, but the two sides just can't seem to agree on what they're fighting over. In fact, they keep talking past each other.
Isn't that the point of the Beltway, for people to talk past each other -- while haranguing us?
The rhetorical battle has been joined, but the two sides just can't seem to agree on what they're fighting over. In fact, they keep talking past each other.
Isn't that the point of the Beltway, for people to talk past each other -- while haranguing us?
This will make DOW 36,000's day: the exurbs are having exurbs!
Soon there'll be NOWHERE without a traffic jam -- or with peace and quiet!
Except the Corn Belt.
Soon there'll be NOWHERE without a traffic jam -- or with peace and quiet!
Except the Corn Belt.
NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEWS FOR SAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALE....
The thing is when news hacks start talking about WALLS we know what they really mean: they want to bash more conservatives and Republicans. But you don't have to see that using a newspaper or TV "news" show as an advertising venue SMELLS.
(Via ROMY, who is extremely annoyed)
The thing is when news hacks start talking about WALLS we know what they really mean: they want to bash more conservatives and Republicans. But you don't have to see that using a newspaper or TV "news" show as an advertising venue SMELLS.
(Via ROMY, who is extremely annoyed)
RENDELLISM IN L. A.: EMI wants to sell its Capitol Records phonograph on Hollywood and Vine to a RENDELLIZER, and the city's up in arms. "We have to be really careful to make sure we don't transform Hollywood into a city of restaurants and lounges and high-end residential," says a developer. What is this guy talking about? Isn't RENDELLISM supposed to turn every center city into a superexpensive snob zone that creates jobs for the waiters, janitors and maids who'll turn a city into a growth engine for the 21st-century economy? Besides L. A. gave EMI a bribe to stay in LALA. I say, TURN IT INTO RENDELLMINIUMS!
Pfffffffffffffffffffft!
Capitol Records, one of the few record companies to be based on the West Coast, has included on its roster Frank Sinatra, the Beatles, the Beastie Boys and Radiohead.
We can be sure from this list the hack had to throw in Blue out of guilt feelings, and we're sure her tastes tend more to Radiohead. News hacks are such philistines.
Pfffffffffffffffffffft!
Capitol Records, one of the few record companies to be based on the West Coast, has included on its roster Frank Sinatra, the Beatles, the Beastie Boys and Radiohead.
We can be sure from this list the hack had to throw in Blue out of guilt feelings, and we're sure her tastes tend more to Radiohead. News hacks are such philistines.
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Q. What do men's magazines and ALTERNARAGS have in common?
A. They both run STORIES.
A. They both run STORIES.
"High-powered" "'super-successful'" "Philly locals" have enthusiastically ponied up "well in excess of $100 million" to buy our STINKY INKY and the NOOZ!
Of course it depends on the CLATCH's definition of "excess."
A Pennsylvania state senator from Philadelphia, Vince Fumo, has confirmed that he is seriously considering making his own bid.
Do I smell a) an indictment or b) state ownership? That really WOULD make the INKY STINKY!
Of course it depends on the CLATCH's definition of "excess."
A Pennsylvania state senator from Philadelphia, Vince Fumo, has confirmed that he is seriously considering making his own bid.
Do I smell a) an indictment or b) state ownership? That really WOULD make the INKY STINKY!
Larry King does -- SOFTBALL INTERVIEWS?!?
Thanks, Joe. I didn't know that.
(Via the usual ROMY, who can "often fail to detect nuance and irony" himself.)
Thanks, Joe. I didn't know that.
(Via the usual ROMY, who can "often fail to detect nuance and irony" himself.)
I THINK what this guy is trying to say is that art should be more than an excuse to rev up an assembly line to make more Dilberts, or as a way of magically accruing brain cells, but he inevitably falls back on the tired old trope of art as rebellion, art in your face, graffiti as art, [C]RAP as art, banging on the piano as art, splattering a canvas as art, chocolate as art, bullwhips as art, Tilted Arc as art. Honestly, bub, the next time you want to blame somebody for the low standing AHT holds in modern life, point the finger at AHTISTS first.
(Via the artless Corner)
(Via the artless Corner)
There is something about Bettie Page that's slightly offputting. She's rather like Jane Russell: she has a face with its fangs bared. Don't get us wrong; if either lady in her prime asked us out for the evening we wouldn't plead a headache. But that something offputting makes us believe they'd be more likely to scratch and bite a man than purr with him.
It may not help either that ten thousand publicists are always turning her into a trend, or when Jerry "SIEG HEIL!" Yang and Terry "MR. WARNER BROS." Semel torture us with a promotional campaign.
It may not help either that ten thousand publicists are always turning her into a trend, or when Jerry "SIEG HEIL!" Yang and Terry "MR. WARNER BROS." Semel torture us with a promotional campaign.
Nicklaus? - Wednesday, March 15, 2006 @ 9:00:10 AM
Quin, Wlady, et al:
Jack Nicklaus has had at least two spasms of very serious money/business troubles, near bankruptcy. So personal and business history might reveal some skeletons, and Nicklaus himself would probably recoil from the idea of self-financing.
Don't forget he lives in two states, Florida and Ohio. In which does he vote?
Posted By: Lawrence Henry
Hey EM! This is ALMOST as good an idea as putting RONNIE on MT. RUSHMORE! I say GO for it!
Quin, Wlady, et al:
Jack Nicklaus has had at least two spasms of very serious money/business troubles, near bankruptcy. So personal and business history might reveal some skeletons, and Nicklaus himself would probably recoil from the idea of self-financing.
Don't forget he lives in two states, Florida and Ohio. In which does he vote?
Posted By: Lawrence Henry
Hey EM! This is ALMOST as good an idea as putting RONNIE on MT. RUSHMORE! I say GO for it!
And in more news of the ALITERARY BIZ, America's premier touchy-feely prosperity preacher is SAID to be making $13 MILLION FROM A BOOK!!!!!
Meaning either his hundreds of advisers leaked it, or his hundreds of advisers leaked it to make it sound better.
Meaning either his hundreds of advisers leaked it, or his hundreds of advisers leaked it to make it sound better.
ArtsJournal.com sez:
To judge by the slobbering devotion displayed by most daily newspapers these days, you'd think that The Sopranos was more or less the only program left on television.
You would think that, wouldn't you.
To judge by the slobbering devotion displayed by most daily newspapers these days, you'd think that The Sopranos was more or less the only program left on television.
You would think that, wouldn't you.
Another capital PRESS RELEASE:
Add Lemony Snicket to the list of things to avoid on Friday the 13th, says Snicket’s publisher, HarperCollins. It’s the publisher’s Snicket-esque way of promoting the release date of A Series of Unfortunate Events 13: The End, the final book in Lemony Snicket’s bestselling series on Friday, Oct. 13.
TRANSLATION: THE TENTPOLE DIDN'T WORK.
Add Lemony Snicket to the list of things to avoid on Friday the 13th, says Snicket’s publisher, HarperCollins. It’s the publisher’s Snicket-esque way of promoting the release date of A Series of Unfortunate Events 13: The End, the final book in Lemony Snicket’s bestselling series on Friday, Oct. 13.
TRANSLATION: THE TENTPOLE DIDN'T WORK.
One of America's great SENIOR ACTORS gets to do another live-action Road Runner movie with the industry conscience Luke Spielberg -- but he'd better watch out this time:
Ford, 63, was quoted as saying that he needed "to do a little practicing with the whip" to avoid injuries.
Whip? How about practicing to avoid broken bones?
Ford, 63, was quoted as saying that he needed "to do a little practicing with the whip" to avoid injuries.
Whip? How about practicing to avoid broken bones?
I guess all that bad publicity about the Martha Stewart of News forced her and her friends to issue a clarification.
Amazing what kinds of things can happen when you want a better JOB.
(Via MediaBistro)
Amazing what kinds of things can happen when you want a better JOB.
(Via MediaBistro)
SAMMY GLICKMAN harkens back to his AGRICULTURE ROOTS:
"Got Milk?" helped sell dairy products. Now Hollywood is considering a branding campaign of its own. Would "Movies: Just like DVDs, but Larger," be out of the question?
Dan Glickman, who now runs the Motion Picture Assn. of America said that when he was U.S. Agriculture Secretary the agency's businesses benefited from such promotional campaigns as "Got Milk?," "Pork: The Other White Meat" and "Beef: It's What's for Dinner."
Okay SAMMY, think of the least appetizing food you can -- how about BRUSSELS SPROUTS -- and SELL IT!
And we LIKE Brussels sprouts.
"There are some movies that I said, 'Even if you could see it for free, you wouldn't,' " said Peter Brown, the chairman of AMC Entertainment, which operates more than 5,600 screens.
I got an idea, Pete: sell tickets for POPCORN -- and you get to SEE A MOVIE AT NO EXTRA COST!
(Via ArtsJournal.com)
"Got Milk?" helped sell dairy products. Now Hollywood is considering a branding campaign of its own. Would "Movies: Just like DVDs, but Larger," be out of the question?
Dan Glickman, who now runs the Motion Picture Assn. of America said that when he was U.S. Agriculture Secretary the agency's businesses benefited from such promotional campaigns as "Got Milk?," "Pork: The Other White Meat" and "Beef: It's What's for Dinner."
Okay SAMMY, think of the least appetizing food you can -- how about BRUSSELS SPROUTS -- and SELL IT!
And we LIKE Brussels sprouts.
"There are some movies that I said, 'Even if you could see it for free, you wouldn't,' " said Peter Brown, the chairman of AMC Entertainment, which operates more than 5,600 screens.
I got an idea, Pete: sell tickets for POPCORN -- and you get to SEE A MOVIE AT NO EXTRA COST!
(Via ArtsJournal.com)
THE MBA -- OVERRATED?
Don't tell DUBYA!
Only about one out of every 4,000 alumni of top 10 MBA programs were among the highest-paid executives in 2004 -- the equivalent, in a class of 250 students, of one lucky soul striking it rich every 16 years.
So much for learning buzzwords.
Don't tell DUBYA!
Only about one out of every 4,000 alumni of top 10 MBA programs were among the highest-paid executives in 2004 -- the equivalent, in a class of 250 students, of one lucky soul striking it rich every 16 years.
So much for learning buzzwords.
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Speaking of MEATHEAD:
Director Rob Reiner's reviews have never been worse.
Wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwell! Could it be that we we've spent so much of our life in the warm glow of good luck and praise, first as a member of an historic acting dynasty (well, he was a comedian), and then to hear our name mentioned as the rightful successor to Ernst Lubitsch and Preston Sturges, maybe even Billy Wilder? And now that we've done something -- MEATHEADED, what better to do than to blame it on standing up for the right to make money from GUVMENT -- for the sake of a noble cause. It was better when his crusade for BETTUR PUHBLIK EHDYUKAYSHUN was an eccentricity, the sort of well-meaning do-gooding we associate with Hollywood politicking at its least malignant; but as anyone in show-biz knows, you can never have too much power -- or money.
In the immortal words of Archie Bunker, MEATHEAD, go stifle yourself.
Director Rob Reiner's reviews have never been worse.
Wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwell! Could it be that we we've spent so much of our life in the warm glow of good luck and praise, first as a member of an historic acting dynasty (well, he was a comedian), and then to hear our name mentioned as the rightful successor to Ernst Lubitsch and Preston Sturges, maybe even Billy Wilder? And now that we've done something -- MEATHEADED, what better to do than to blame it on standing up for the right to make money from GUVMENT -- for the sake of a noble cause. It was better when his crusade for BETTUR PUHBLIK EHDYUKAYSHUN was an eccentricity, the sort of well-meaning do-gooding we associate with Hollywood politicking at its least malignant; but as anyone in show-biz knows, you can never have too much power -- or money.
In the immortal words of Archie Bunker, MEATHEAD, go stifle yourself.
How many people in newsrooms or out said this week, "Maureen Stapleton? Wasn't she Edith Bunker"? Perhaps the top photo tells us something. (@#$%^& Playbill.com had to combine two photos in one URL.) She had the face we might associate with today's quickly disappearing ac-TORS, only prettier -- the unmemorable face of an actress (ac-TOR in news-hack speak) who can act, but who, because she lacked those facets that distinguish the great personalities from good ac-TORS, must remain essentially anonymous. And that is one reason THE CONSPIRACY is enjoying record B. O. Who can get hot with an ac-TOR?
We don't mean to be disrepectful to the late Miss Stapleton, as we have no doubt she was very good -- she had to be doing Tennessee Williams -- but when the heds run "Academy-Award winning actress dies" we're missing something.
We don't mean to be disrepectful to the late Miss Stapleton, as we have no doubt she was very good -- she had to be doing Tennessee Williams -- but when the heds run "Academy-Award winning actress dies" we're missing something.
ANNOYING PR STUNT OF THE WEEK: The Musical Mausoleum on the Lake has tried stopping the decline in its attendance this week by electing quarreling loudmouths -- and Miles. Some hacks call it a surprise. I don't. Miles lends the Mausoleum respectability, and let's face it, he WAS a rocker -- only he called his stuff FUSION.
Watch for attendance to still decline, even after quarreling loudmouths.
(Via ditto)
Watch for attendance to still decline, even after quarreling loudmouths.
(Via ditto)
TCS Daily makes sense for once:
Nevertheless there is a good policy argument against what Ohio has done. Special tax breaks come at the expense of general tax relief, with no guarantee they will be more productive in generating growth. That's a policy dispute for each state to conduct, though, bad or imperfect tax policies don't violate the constitutional order. Personally I would prefer to see states compete in lowering individual and corporate taxes, and property taxes, rather than try to micro-manage business decisions with targeted tax cuts. But that's just me.
You and a few others.
Nevertheless there is a good policy argument against what Ohio has done. Special tax breaks come at the expense of general tax relief, with no guarantee they will be more productive in generating growth. That's a policy dispute for each state to conduct, though, bad or imperfect tax policies don't violate the constitutional order. Personally I would prefer to see states compete in lowering individual and corporate taxes, and property taxes, rather than try to micro-manage business decisions with targeted tax cuts. But that's just me.
You and a few others.
Nick DORKEN wants to become another GRAYDON?????
PERISH THE THOUGHT!!!!!
The democratizing effects of blogging continue!
(Via IWantMedia.com)
PERISH THE THOUGHT!!!!!
The democratizing effects of blogging continue!
(Via IWantMedia.com)
Engineers: 1985 Test Predicted Levee Break
So -- the government had 20 years to fix this. Doesn't this absolve Dubya -- a little?
So -- the government had 20 years to fix this. Doesn't this absolve Dubya -- a little?
And speaking of ditch (!), Little Howie Hairshirt finds himself a new hero -- the JERK!
If David Gregory seems like a bit of a showman in the White House pressroom, it's worth noting that, as the son of a Broadway producer, he grew up meeting the likes of Richard Burton, Rex Harrison and Henry Fonda.
Let's see: the first was a roaring drunk, the second a tyrannical megalomaniac, and the third gave us Hanoi Jane. We can see how it rubbed off. Howie Hairshirt is DENSE.
And then there's this classic balancing act:
Gregory is emerging as the Sam Donaldson of the Bush years, the outspoken, aggressive, smart-aleck correspondent serving as a symbol for conservatives who detest the press and liberals who want reporters to crusade against the White House.
Just what he needs, Howie Hairshirt: an ego boost. Howie, have you considered retiring? THAT would save your employers a LOT of money -- and your readers the cost of TUMS.
(Via the inevitable ROMY)
If David Gregory seems like a bit of a showman in the White House pressroom, it's worth noting that, as the son of a Broadway producer, he grew up meeting the likes of Richard Burton, Rex Harrison and Henry Fonda.
Let's see: the first was a roaring drunk, the second a tyrannical megalomaniac, and the third gave us Hanoi Jane. We can see how it rubbed off. Howie Hairshirt is DENSE.
And then there's this classic balancing act:
Gregory is emerging as the Sam Donaldson of the Bush years, the outspoken, aggressive, smart-aleck correspondent serving as a symbol for conservatives who detest the press and liberals who want reporters to crusade against the White House.
Just what he needs, Howie Hairshirt: an ego boost. Howie, have you considered retiring? THAT would save your employers a LOT of money -- and your readers the cost of TUMS.
(Via the inevitable ROMY)
We wonder if it's such a smart thing to ditch the stock tables. In the short run it may be a good idea, as it saves on newsprint; but it also denies investors an opportunity to scan for new investments, to go through them casually by alphabetical order, something impossible on the Web. We hope the Wall Street Journals never eliminate their stock tables; that would be unthinkable. But some unthinkable things have happened to this biz in recent years.
Indeed we can think of a lot of things that we'd ditch before the stock tables.
Indeed we can think of a lot of things that we'd ditch before the stock tables.
Comcast Corp., the nation's largest cable operator, is in talks with The Walt Disney Co. to buy the remaining 40 percent of E! Networks it doesn't already own, according to a person familiar with the companies' plans.
E! Networks, which is comprised of the E! celebrity channel and the Style fashion channel, is valued at around $3 billion, the person said Monday, declining to be identified because the deal has not been finalized.
If CONcast wants to raise rates it should value it at $10 billion, or $20 billion, or however much it needs to ultimately put itself out of business.
E! Networks, which is comprised of the E! celebrity channel and the Style fashion channel, is valued at around $3 billion, the person said Monday, declining to be identified because the deal has not been finalized.
If CONcast wants to raise rates it should value it at $10 billion, or $20 billion, or however much it needs to ultimately put itself out of business.
Count on THE PAPER OF RE-CORD to take the joy out of ANYTHING (except bashing conservatives and Republicans):
This is not a warts-and-all biography; Mr. Deffaa is too affectionate toward his subject for that (though there are hints of Cohan's many infidelities — apparently he might have shared the title "Sex Machine" with James Brown as well).
This scribbler's name is Hunka. A Hunka what we'd rather not know.
This is not a warts-and-all biography; Mr. Deffaa is too affectionate toward his subject for that (though there are hints of Cohan's many infidelities — apparently he might have shared the title "Sex Machine" with James Brown as well).
This scribbler's name is Hunka. A Hunka what we'd rather not know.
Monday, March 13, 2006
This IS cute, for once -- even if it IS G000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000GLE.
If this isn't a telling demonstration of the CLATCH's strategy. But limiting yourself to RED COUNTRY may not limit the scorn.
CNN is not showing the negative caricatures of the likeness of the Prophet Mohammed because the network believes its role is to cover the events surrounding the publication of the cartoons while not unnecessarily adding fuel to the controversy itself.
THE CONTEST has begun.
Let's see how THE SAME BLITHERING SCRIBBLING FRAUDS WHO TURNED THEIR BACKS ON THE HOLOCAUST respond to this one.
THE CONTEST has begun.
Let's see how THE SAME BLITHERING SCRIBBLING FRAUDS WHO TURNED THEIR BACKS ON THE HOLOCAUST respond to this one.
A damfool quits a damfool show because it mocks his -- religion.
THE CORNER is in CRISIS. The damfool show is the GREATEST of ALL TIME. We defended the CARTOONS. Can it mock -- RELIGION?
The answer is probably yes, so long as JONAH, K-LO and PODMAN are there. (No word yet from THOSE damfools.)
THE CORNER is in CRISIS. The damfool show is the GREATEST of ALL TIME. We defended the CARTOONS. Can it mock -- RELIGION?
The answer is probably yes, so long as JONAH, K-LO and PODMAN are there. (No word yet from THOSE damfools.)
Cue up the POMP and CIRCUMSTANCE:
But the MLB [sic] is unlikely to want to be seen to be making too much of Mr. Bonds’ achievements, and what could have been a celebration of a march to history will likely end up being a slow crawl through negative public perception and an internal ethical challenge for the MLB [sic] and television partners Fox and ESPN.
ETHICS?!?!?
But the MLB [sic] is unlikely to want to be seen to be making too much of Mr. Bonds’ achievements, and what could have been a celebration of a march to history will likely end up being a slow crawl through negative public perception and an internal ethical challenge for the MLB [sic] and television partners Fox and ESPN.
ETHICS?!?!?
And in further decline:
Estimated admissions for the year-to-date are down nearly 6% from last year.
The nice thing with The Hollywood Stenographer is it makes this the last sentence in the story, presumably so as not to upset all the moguls responsible for the decline in the first place.
Estimated admissions for the year-to-date are down nearly 6% from last year.
The nice thing with The Hollywood Stenographer is it makes this the last sentence in the story, presumably so as not to upset all the moguls responsible for the decline in the first place.
As McClatchy's morons prepare to risk financial ruin, a "report" tells us what we obsessive news consumers already knew: that the hacks are doing a bad job worse. We are not surprised that online news consumption has "leveled off"; there are only so many masochists. Nor are we surprised that the hacks are all covering the same things; we've said that before. Where we're of two minds is re this "public interest" biz. We'd like to see more serious news, but when the hacks do serious news they mean conservative/Republican bashing news. And as we said the other day, they increasingly do serious news only when they campaign for awards.
P. S. The CLATCH is selling off twelve papers. TRANSLATION: The new GanNETt!
P. P. S.
Scant Bidding for Knight Ridder Tells Story of Decline
P. P. P. S. The CLATCH hits a 52-week low!
P. S. The CLATCH is selling off twelve papers. TRANSLATION: The new GanNETt!
P. P. S.
Scant Bidding for Knight Ridder Tells Story of Decline
P. P. P. S. The CLATCH hits a 52-week low!
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Why does Mozart hold our interest? Consider Domenico Cimarosa, who became Emperor Leopold's music director in 1791. Cimarosa is rightly remembered for his opera "The Secret Marriage." It is a lovely piece; civilized, graceful, with lovely arias and smooth ensembles. Above all, it is clear. When Cimarosa is happy or unhappy the music tells us so.
Now listen to Mozart's brief choral piece "Ave Verum Corpus." The opening statement is warm, major-key and almost innocent. With the words "cujus latus" the music continues its major-ness; then, after one measure, it descends suddenly into an unstable harmony (a diminished seventh chord, if you are interested). We are headed toward minor-ness and a darker mood.
This is powerful listening in itself, but then, in the very next stroke, Mozart alters a single note (C sharp to C natural) and by some miracle our ears find themselves driven, not inevitably downward into D minor, but upward into the reconciling key of F. Just as we put up our umbrellas, the sun comes out. We don't know whether to be happy or sad, and so we are both. These few measures are something Cimarosa would not have thought of in a thousand years.
Yes, there is a difference between "excellence" and genius.
(Via a post in the FREEP -- somewhat astonishing, as the members' favorite music is "AH'M PRAYOUD T'BE a CAYYYYYN -- AMERICAYYYYYN!!!!!"
Now listen to Mozart's brief choral piece "Ave Verum Corpus." The opening statement is warm, major-key and almost innocent. With the words "cujus latus" the music continues its major-ness; then, after one measure, it descends suddenly into an unstable harmony (a diminished seventh chord, if you are interested). We are headed toward minor-ness and a darker mood.
This is powerful listening in itself, but then, in the very next stroke, Mozart alters a single note (C sharp to C natural) and by some miracle our ears find themselves driven, not inevitably downward into D minor, but upward into the reconciling key of F. Just as we put up our umbrellas, the sun comes out. We don't know whether to be happy or sad, and so we are both. These few measures are something Cimarosa would not have thought of in a thousand years.
Yes, there is a difference between "excellence" and genius.
(Via a post in the FREEP -- somewhat astonishing, as the members' favorite music is "AH'M PRAYOUD T'BE a CAYYYYYN -- AMERICAYYYYYN!!!!!"
It's been a while since we've been able to really have at Tweedledee and Tweedledum. We've suspected this is because the prestidigitators of these rags might be getting wise to their coffee tables, although more likely this is a mere temporary lull before a storm of spinning and plugging. Our friends at WaPost run a story about one of our medics in Iraq, which we'd guess makes the usual nasty fun of the war, but we don't want to find out. They also run a story on polygamy that would not have been without YOU-KNOW-WHO doing a TV show (doesn't a force of evil produce it?); but one wonders if the boys in the hermetically-sealed editorial suites in New York might not be getting wise there too because people can see through plugs disguised as news stories. Thankfully we take the RIGHT side on abortion, whatever that is. We used to be so sure of these things! (We'd guess Mr. Mark was hoping the Rev. Graham would say something useful, but he does not seem to have obliged.) As for the TWXSTERS, our pal Dick "GUNS CAUSED COLUMBINE" Corliss runs a heavily camouflaged cover plug for LUCAS SPIELBERG (does HE want to make a "documentary" too?) whose marketing is further connivingly hidden by a cover that suggests something anodyne. Were Tweedledee and Tweedledum merely anodyne. At least then they wouldn't bother us.