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Peter Benchley Dies
Feb. 13th, 2006 05:03 amA moment for author and conservationist Peter Benchley, who has passed away at the age of 65. Benchley is, of course, best known for creating, with Steven Spielberg, the summer "event" movie.
Feb. 13th, 2006
CHALLENGE by Bob Hoffman
Feb. 13th, 2006 07:44 amToday is Writer Activism Day. At least, it is around here.
First up is a new book by Bob Hoffman, one of the regular posters at Eschaton (under the moniker DWD). He's taking pre-orders on a new novel guaranteed to knock your chocks out.
First up is a new book by Bob Hoffman, one of the regular posters at Eschaton (under the moniker DWD). He's taking pre-orders on a new novel guaranteed to knock your chocks out.
Deadeye Dick
Feb. 13th, 2006 08:29 amI post this here strictly to keep from polluting any other thread with it.
You might've heard yesterday that The Real President apparently decided that we, as a nation, weren't killing people quickly enough for his taste, and so decided to start shooting folks his own self.
And, man oh man, have the apologists been crankin' on this one. My favorite quote is from Mary Matalin, who told the Washington Post: "The vice president was concerned. He felt badly, obviously. On the other hand, he was not careless or incautious or violate any of the [rules]. He didn't do anything he wasn't supposed to do." Except, y'know, shoot an old man in the face. I mean, we're talking quail hunting. Did he think it was one big honkin' pissed-off quail sneakin' up on him? (Quote nicked by way of the best source to follow on this story, Josh Marshall at Talking Points Memo.) My second favorite is from The Moderate Voice, which said:
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kimpire was waiting for me to comment on this whole thing. But, really, the only comment I can make is... it's Dick Cheney. At best, an old guy not particularly cautious with guns. At worst... Dick Cheney. I mean, of all the things this shooting may be -- accident, tragedy, farce... can anyone honestly say it's a surprise?
Addendum: Given the comments, I guess it is necessary to amend this slightly. I do not believe Cheney shot the guy deliberately. I mean, that's pretty over-the-top, and while we may joke about it here, I'm pretty sure I speak for all of us in saying that we don't actually believe it.
On the other hand, I agree with several other commenters: The first rule of hunting is Know what you're shooting at. And if Dick thought an old guy in an orange hunting vest was a quail... well, maybe he did think there were WMDs in Iraq.
You might've heard yesterday that The Real President apparently decided that we, as a nation, weren't killing people quickly enough for his taste, and so decided to start shooting folks his own self.
And, man oh man, have the apologists been crankin' on this one. My favorite quote is from Mary Matalin, who told the Washington Post: "The vice president was concerned. He felt badly, obviously. On the other hand, he was not careless or incautious or violate any of the [rules]. He didn't do anything he wasn't supposed to do." Except, y'know, shoot an old man in the face. I mean, we're talking quail hunting. Did he think it was one big honkin' pissed-off quail sneakin' up on him? (Quote nicked by way of the best source to follow on this story, Josh Marshall at Talking Points Memo.) My second favorite is from The Moderate Voice, which said:
More than ever, Cheney — who is already not exactly a political boost to the administration with anyone except GOP partisans (he does not do well in polls with independents and Democrats) is going to become THE punchline on late night TV, in comedy clubs and on Internet satire sites. Not to mention blogs. This is akin to Gerald Ford bumping his head or Jimmy Carter being chased away by the killer rabbit.Except, y'know, for the shooting-an-old-man-in-the-face part.
kimpire was waiting for me to comment on this whole thing. But, really, the only comment I can make is... it's Dick Cheney. At best, an old guy not particularly cautious with guns. At worst... Dick Cheney. I mean, of all the things this shooting may be -- accident, tragedy, farce... can anyone honestly say it's a surprise?Addendum: Given the comments, I guess it is necessary to amend this slightly. I do not believe Cheney shot the guy deliberately. I mean, that's pretty over-the-top, and while we may joke about it here, I'm pretty sure I speak for all of us in saying that we don't actually believe it.
On the other hand, I agree with several other commenters: The first rule of hunting is Know what you're shooting at. And if Dick thought an old guy in an orange hunting vest was a quail... well, maybe he did think there were WMDs in Iraq.
The Republican Cult Of Personality
Feb. 13th, 2006 01:40 pmGlenn Greenwald has pretty much the ultimate dissertation on how "conservative" now means "cultish supporter of George W. Bush". It was posted over the weekend, and there's a follow-up which continues the conversation.
Really, and I'm not meaning to be snarky at all when I say this: No matter what your politics, and perhaps especially those of you on my FList who identify yourselves as "Republican" or "conservative"... give 'em a serious look.
Really, and I'm not meaning to be snarky at all when I say this: No matter what your politics, and perhaps especially those of you on my FList who identify yourselves as "Republican" or "conservative"... give 'em a serious look.
Help Peter S. Beagle
Feb. 13th, 2006 04:15 pmPart Two of Writer Activism Day.
Even if you don't think you know the works of Peter S. Beagle, you absolutely know of two. He wrote the screenplay for Ralph Bakshi's animated The Lord of the Rings, Part 1. And if you don't think that has some heft behind it, that was the movie that got Peter Jackson to read the frickin' books in the first place, and the rest is cinematic history.
Mr. Beagle was paid five thousand dollars for his script. That's all. No royalties, no nothin'.
You also might've seen a little classic known as The Last Unicorn. Adapted by Mr. Beagle from his book, voice cast from hell, beautiful Rankin-Bass animation, fan-frickin'-tastic piece of work. It's sold hundreds of thousands of copies on DVD.
For which Mr. Beagle has not been paid at all. No royalties, no nothin'.
Now, it's true that he's a soft-spoken, gentlemanly Good Guy. And it's also true that there are those who would happily stomp on Good Guys if it affords them profit.
That's where we come in.
For more information, and ways that you can help, visit Conlan Press. And thanks.
Even if you don't think you know the works of Peter S. Beagle, you absolutely know of two. He wrote the screenplay for Ralph Bakshi's animated The Lord of the Rings, Part 1. And if you don't think that has some heft behind it, that was the movie that got Peter Jackson to read the frickin' books in the first place, and the rest is cinematic history.
Mr. Beagle was paid five thousand dollars for his script. That's all. No royalties, no nothin'.
You also might've seen a little classic known as The Last Unicorn. Adapted by Mr. Beagle from his book, voice cast from hell, beautiful Rankin-Bass animation, fan-frickin'-tastic piece of work. It's sold hundreds of thousands of copies on DVD.
For which Mr. Beagle has not been paid at all. No royalties, no nothin'.
Now, it's true that he's a soft-spoken, gentlemanly Good Guy. And it's also true that there are those who would happily stomp on Good Guys if it affords them profit.
That's where we come in.
For more information, and ways that you can help, visit Conlan Press. And thanks.
Queen Kira
Feb. 13th, 2006 05:35 pmBy way of AICN, Muppet Central has the first image from the upcoming The Power of the Dark Crystal. (They still haven't updated the IMDB page to show Genndy Tartakovsky directing. Sigh.)
Here:
What else has made your day a little more surreal? The biggies for me were [a] a comment at AmericaBlog to the effect that "... you... are so full of shit, I can smell you through the Internet", and [b] going into my favorite Chinese restaurant, Gourmet Garden, for lunch and hearing a tubular-bells version of "Oh My Darling Clementine".
Hunting can be a tremendously dangerous sport," Tred Barta, of the Outdoor Life Network, told CNN.And what would've been your first clue...? Oh, yeah, the fucking guns.
What else has made your day a little more surreal? The biggies for me were [a] a comment at AmericaBlog to the effect that "... you... are so full of shit, I can smell you through the Internet", and [b] going into my favorite Chinese restaurant, Gourmet Garden, for lunch and hearing a tubular-bells version of "Oh My Darling Clementine".