Tuesday, November 30, 2004

Pat Sajak Bitch Slaps the Hollywood Elite

After reading Pat Sajak’s thoughts regarding Hollywood’s silence over the murder of Theo van Gogh, I’m wondering why he isn’t a comedy writer, or, if he’s ready to retire.  A couple excerpts.

"Perhaps they are afraid that their protests would put them in danger. That, at least, is a defensible position. If I were Michael Moore, I would much rather rail against George W. Bush, who is much less likely to have me killed, than van Gogh’s murderer and the threat to creative freedom he brings. Besides, a man of Moore’s size would provide a great deal of “bulletin board” space."

And this.

"There’s another possibility; one that seems crazy on the surface, but does provide an explanation for the silence, and is also in keeping with the political climate in Hollywood. Is it just possible that there are those who are reluctant to criticize an act of terror because that might somehow align them with President Bush, who stubbornly clings to the notion that these are evil people who need to be defeated? Could the level of hatred for this President be so great that some people are against anything he is for, and for anything he is against?"

Go, Pat.

“A Hush Over Hollywood"

Posted by John Venlet on 11/30 at 09:32 AM
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From Genius to Madman in Just One Day?

Nietzsche’s writings produce as much debate today, as they did when they first appeared on the scene.  The writings toward the end of his sanity are typically debated the most hotly, as some debaters tend to downplay these works, due to his rapid decline into imbecility.  Their stance being that Nietzsche’s insanity was not a sudden occurence, but had been accelerating during the time he was most prolific.

UMass-Amherst geobiologist Lynn Margulis thinks that Nietzsche’s sudden descent into madness did occur in one day, and has stated so in the current issue of Daedalus, as reported in Boston.com.

"But on January 3, 1889 in Turin,” Margulis concludes, channeling Vincent Price, “armies of revived spirochetes munched on his brain tissue. The consequence was the descent of Nietzsche the genius into Nietzsche the madman in less than one day."

“Bugs in the belfry"

Via Arts & Letters Daily.

Posted by John Venlet on 11/30 at 06:43 AM
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It's the Parents Duty, Not the "Assortments"

In an article titled “`GAME OFF’ URGED”, you can read the following.

"An assortment of politicians, religious leaders and social advocacy groups lashed out Tuesday at the video-game industry and retailers, saying they make violent and racy games too accessible to children."

The “assortment” lashes out at the video-game industry and retailers, I assume, because they profit from the sales.  But what really caught my eye, in this article, is what follows.

"Retailers were lambasted for allowing sales of Mature-rated games—suggested for people 17 and older—to children as young as 7."

What I’m wondering, is where a 7 year old comes up with the 50 bucks needed to purchase a video game, of any type, let alone the ones the “assortment” is whining about.  Bitch at the parents, assortment, not the retailers and video-game makers.

Posted by John Venlet on 11/30 at 05:58 AM
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Honest Reporting in Russia, Go Figure

An article in Pravda notes the Putin gave "gave an interview to Russia"s leading TV companies and touched upon particularly important issues." Note the phrase particularly important issues.  What is the issue prominently discussed within the article?  Public beer consumption, and enforcement of law prohibiting public beer consumption.  A paragraph, from the article, I particularly enjoyed.

"It is not a secret that very few Russians can afford expensive restaurants. So, the police may be happy if the law is adopted. Indeed, if the innovation is introduced the police will be able to accept bribes from those who violate the new law and drink beer in public. It is perfectly clear that policemen would like to take 50 rubles instead of drawing up reports as concerning every man drinking beer in public. Let us switch over to the economic part of the problem. The Russian beer market made up 7.57 billion litres last year. Expert researches reveal that about 15 per cent of beer is consumed in public. It means that violation of the new law mat be registered over 2 billion of times a year. In other words, annual wages of the police will rise by at least 100 billion rubles. However, this may be a happy perspective for the police only."

“Russian police to profit from the “beer law".”

Posted by John Venlet on 11/30 at 04:42 AM
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