JKane

HAHAHAHAHAHA! God I love the Brits! Wish they had one for Mormons too... (j) believers in the ability of magic underpants to protect one from harm;

I could kind of understand that when he was a serious journalist. But now that he has his own talk show complete with segments with Snooki, it sure seems to me THAT is out the window...

I know a great dentist in North Hollywood, anybody needs his name, PM me.

I read touching stories about the day, as experienced by New Yorkers, on both Joe My God and Bill In Exile, teared up a little at both, but firmly agree with the sentiment Scott ended his piece with: Editors note: I’m going to use this tenth anniversary to make this the last time I post about 9/11 during the life of this blog. As a nation we’ve wasted and corrupted anything good that might have come from this horror and the annual rolling out of the tears and hand ringing and rending of garments on this date have simply become too much to stomach. The people who died ten years ago today in New York City, Washington D.C and Shanksville Pennsylvania deserve to rest in peace and to be mourned and remembered by their families and loved ones. But this country no longer has any right to use them as its own national martyrs. We forfeited that right long ago. As Paul Krugman wrote in his NY Times blog this morning, “The atrocity should have been a unifying event, but instead it became a wedge issue. Fake heroes like Bernie Kerik, Rudy Giuliani, and, yes, George W. Bush raced to cash in on the horror. And then the attack was used to justify an unrelated war the neocons wanted to fight, for all the wrong reasons. A lot of other people behaved badly. How many of our professional pundits — people who should have understood very well what was happening — took the easy way out, turning a blind eye to the corruption and lending their support to the hijacking of the atrocity? The memory of 9/11 has been irrevocably poisoned; it has become an occasion for shame. And in its heart, the nation knows it.”

I'd say the first three seasons of Torchwood were all better, but episodes 7-10 of Miracle Day were pretty good--for American TV.

I'm a big fan of Torchwood but had been really disappointed so far. The first 6 episodes sucked, especially Mekai Phifpher (don't care to find out how to spell it). All this week-ass stuff where they're pointing out the differences with Wales or acting out every stereotype they can think of. BUT I forced myself to keep watching, and the 7th and 8th episodes are fucking GREAT! Unfortunately, that leaves just two more and with ratings being kinda meh they may well be the last two ever. Is anybody else starting to notice that Jane Espenson's name on a show means it'll fucking suck as long as she holds the reins, then start to rock as soon as she's hired away to start another show off on the wrong foot?

He's a married man claiming to be trying to protect the 'sanctity' of marriage by voting against our civil rights *while* cruising for hookers on Craigslist, it's pretty much the definition of hypocrite by my understanding, even before you add in that it's male hookers! As for trying to be all 'big tent' and inclusive... I understand there's fear and stigma and much difficulty accepting being gay, but those that turn into bullies railing against what they themselves are, I see nothing wrong with them not finding acceptance in either group (gays or mundanes). Especially after they've made a career of working against us for power (politicians) or profit (religious types) and only come to us when they finally get caught with their pants literally down.

When I first glanced through this story at other sites I thought the kid sounded like a hustler milking the situation for all it's worth. The way they ended up with the guy's blackberry, iPad and cash sounded a bit fishy with his sister sounding like his pimp. But KY's take on it is much more charitable; truth is probably somewhere in between. But as for the politician, FUCK HIM (and not in the way he's looking to pay for!). I agree that a professional escort should have discretion as their #1 quality, but this stupid hypocritical sack of shit is paying some kid on Craigslist $60--because he's cheap too--and bragging that he's somebody. Deserves everything he gets and more! That this seems to be your average Republican yet we keep losing good Democrats like Spitzer and Wiener for much less criminal or hypocritical stuff (well, OK, I think Spitzer did several prostitution prosecutions) is getting on my nerves!

It's a cute idea but who bothers watching whole porn movies any more, especially the talky parts? Most porn I see are couple minute clips through aggregation web sites, or maybe flipping to wherever there's actually action between the 3-4 channels in the 'spa'. Was thinking though, from back in the olde days of internet when we'd read erotic stories, maybe people could post their favorites. I remember one or two that were memorable, maybe see if I can dig up and start a thread. Might go down in flames too.

Wow, it's rare I read a list like this and am familiar with a lot of the books, let alone agree with the list, but I've read and loved all of the top 5, though the whole list is a pretty populist bent. As much as I liked the Ender books, when I read Card's views on homosexuality (he's a hardcore Mormon and supported their prop-8 BS) I got rid of all his books and decided to not buy any others. Major fan of Dune. If all you know of Dune is Lynch's way too cut up movie (confusing for the sake of confusion, as Lynch likes to do) you have to give it a try! And after you read it maybe seek out the longer "studio" cut of the movie, you'll appreciate it more. I'd agree just Dune though, his sequels and especially his son's prequels you are better off without. Haven't read the latest book in A Song of Ice and Fire, the last one was a disappointment, but after watching the show I kind of want to re-read from the beginning... But the first two or three books are amazing, that's for damn sure! (Game of Thrones is actually the slowest, things really get moving in the following book!) Wow, just scanned the rest of the list, I've read and enjoyed a lot of these. And I 100% agree that leaving out Guy Gavriel Kay is a mistake! Cat's cradle and other Vonnegut are great (though Sirens of Titan may be my favorite--*love* the religion therein!). Canticle for Leibowitz, of course Forever War (where's the movie?)... say important things quite well. 'Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep?' is awesome and it made me realize why I've never loved Blade Runner--all the stuff that was left out. Don't know a lot of the fantasy books though.

Frida Kahlo?

I went from zero interest in this movie to thinking it's probably the best of the summer! And people who grew up with the originals or were fans got even more out of it. The originals came out a bit early for me and the premise seemed pretty hokey so I never bothered. Until several years ago when I saw that Tim Burton abomination which I'd figured put me off the franchise forever. But I kept seeing good reviews and a friend wanted to see this--and there's nothing else out I wanted to see, so I caved. Man I was glad I did. Other than the one note sniveling that seems to be "Drako Malfoy's" whole range the movie was well acted ("Rodney McKay" is also typecast but also does his usual good job) and very well written. The VFX weren't quite perfect but what was in the trailers is the worst of it, the apes don't live in the uncanny valley for the most part and the animation is very emotive (the actor who played Gollum plays Caesar). The way things come about and it fits into the lore is *much* less hokey than I thought possible.

The divisions seem arbitrary and inconsistently enforced, plus it's not like either forum is overwhelmed with discussion, so I guess I'd be for combining. Then using the sandbox for trollbait/etc. There will be posts/threads we don't want to read in any forum, just skip 'em. I read the ones I'm interested in then click the magical 'mark all posts as read'. I'll put up with skipping several more gladly if the change also unstifles conversations which interest me!

So, anybody doing anything in town tonight, or this weekend?

An editorial cartoon appearing in the Rupert Murdoch-owned Times of London. You know, that manages to be even more offensive that deleting messages off a murder victims' voicemail so you can hear more distraught calls... Well done Murdock!

I'm in! Just need a time and place, looking forward to seeing people again and maybe meeting a few new ones too.

Murdockblock!

You are correct, I meant human history, as levels are revealed in ice cores. Exactly the kind of Scientific clarification that flat-earthers at Fox would jump on as controversy and disagreement casting 'serious doubt' on the main point (even though we both agree on it).

I think THAT is the comparison TotallyOz was looking for. Footage from Bachman and Palin's churches embarrass the hell out of any thinking supporters they may have left but don't disqualify them from office, nor does Mittens' (or clone Huntsman's) Mormon extremism. Yet christian extremism (AKA fundamentalism) is just as dangerous and uses much the same mechanisms of trying to build angry mobs of uneducated cannon fodder. Old Testament law is JUST as dangerous as Sharia and something much more relevant for Americans to be worrying about. Going after Muslim extremists exclusively is simply racism, and Norway shows it leaves you just as open to terrorism. I love this, from the comments on that story: Christian Terrorists. We should ban all gathering spaces, like churches. Oh and those madrassas, errr, I mean Christian Schools where they teach the next generation of terrorists should be closed.

It's actually far worse than this list because it's often a huge chunk of the media outlets available in an area. Direct TV. In addition to the Fox network, Local O&O Fox broadcast stations and the especially (even by local news standards) sensational, shallow and wrong-headed local news they produce. Satellite TV providers in Europe too. Several of the newspapers in several cities. Maybe some radio? The FCC and antitrust should have NEVER allowed him to own so much, he's been for a long time the very example of why these regulations USED to exist.

I've never cared for him in film, mostly because they're often not my kinds of movies, but post-Rosanne he's done some damn good TV. I loved his short stint on West Wing, and agree he was great and is missed on Treme. I watched and liked the first couple seasons of Damages but drifted away, guess I have to watch again now!

So how long 'till this guy's caught with his hand deep in the same cookie jar, ala Spitzer? At least Spitzer also did some good, before...

2 seconds on Google or sounding like a complete arse... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-speed_rail_in_China http://www.google.com/search?q=chinese+bullet+train&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=7Ua&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&prmd=ivnsu&source=univ&tbm=nws&tbo=u&sa=X&ei=iRAtTteeJKLRiALg1c2vAg&ved=0CDUQqAI ...the choice is yours.