Baby Got Back

Swim Crow?

We have an African-American president...

The town featured in the film Mississippi Burning has an African-American mayor...

But a swim club in the city of brotherly love has ejected its African-American members... returning their membership fee...

Reportedly, they didn’t want changes to the complexion of the club...

See the full story at CNN.

**Accidental** Sex Ed

How does a 5^th Grade teacher accidentally give an X-Rated video of herself having sex with some random guy?

How do parents of those childrens justify defending her action as a legitimate mistake?

How do school officials feel she can keep her job?

These questions and more are not answered at CBS News... although there is a video of this teacher’ faux pas that may (no pun intended) shed some light upon the subject.

R.I.P. Mollie Sugden

She is best known for her role as Mrs. Slocombe, starring beside EastEnders legend Wendy Richard from 1972 to 1985 in the hilarious BBC comedy, Are You Being Served? that still runs in repeats on this side of the pond.

Reuters reported that Sugden exited the planet after 86 years.

Sugden did other roles in the U.K., including one on the EastEnders long-term competitor, Coronation Street.

The world got a little less funny today...

R.I.P. Oscar Mayer

We read the sad news at The Associated Press about the exit of Oscar G. Mayer, the third Oscar in the family of Weiner Meisters, at the age of 95.

Meyer died of old age... probably the best way any of us could hope to make our departure.

CBS News provides more details about the eponymous packaged pork product producer.

Who Was That Hottie Playing Guitar With Michael Jackson?

Although the career-making concert tour didn’t happen, Australian guitar picker Orianthi has experienced such a surge of fame, her web page is completely out of bandwidth

You can’t visit it...

You can become one of over a thousand fans on her Facebook page or check out her MySpace page.

Carlos Santana said he would pass the baton to her...

So would I...

Okay, I’ll stop...

Nim’s Island

Imagine the film Home Alone. Well, Nim’s Island is sort of like that.

Well, only instead of a bee-sting lipped little boy, you have a precocious tween-aged girl.

And instead of a house in the suburbs, it is a house on an uncharted South Pacific island.

And instead of two bumbling burglars trying to break in, you have the entrepreneurial captain of a cruise ship and a bunch of over-weight, under-sunned, and questionably intoxicated Australian tourists.

And instead of... well, you get the point.

Nim’s Island is a fun motion picture that plays off of Abigail Breslin’s plucky tomboyish cuteness and Gerard Butler’s 300-ish toughness... but with a soupçon of tenderness for that aaaaaah factor.

Even more interesting, Nim’s Island creates an interesting character for former child star Jodie Foster... a quirky neurotic who must overcome her many peccadilloes to become... well, I don’t want to give the whole thing away.

Here is the “official” description:

When the young island-dwelling Nim (Abigail Breslin) loses contact with her scientist father (Gerard Butler) who’s lost at sea, she reaches out to her favorite author (Jodie Foster) for help. Problem is, the writer -- of adventure stories no less -- is a recluse who hasn’t left her house in years. Can the agoraphobic author summon the same courage she’s instilled in the hero of her novels in time to rescue her biggest fan?

Get more details on this film by clicking one of the images on the right.

Of course, you can also rent rent Nim’s Island from Netflix!

This is a fun adventure for the whole family... and for those gals who want to drool over a shirtless Gerard Butler!

R.I.P. Steve McNair

The former NFL quarterback was found in a condo with multiple gunshot wounds.

The details of this sad story are available from The Associated Press.

NY Mayor’s Film Office

July 1, 2009 http://www.nyc.gov/film Funds for "Made in NY" Tax Credit Reaches Allocation Limit July 1, 2009 - As of Tuesday, June 30, 2009, New York City's "Made in NY" tax credit for qualified film and television production – the only one of its kind administered by a city in the US – has reached its full allocation of $192.5 million and funds are no longer available for new applications. Full Story MOFTB Promotes Green Initiatives to Local Productions July 1, 2009 - In a continuing effort to promote green practices to New York City's film industry, the MOFTB has announced the results of a recent study conducted by Cornell University researchers to determine the effects of biodiesel use in film generators. Full Story MOFTB Creates Forms and Guidelines Page for Easy Downloading July 1, 2009 - Now you can download all of the printed resources that Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting provides on our new Forms and Guidelines Page. Full Story "Made in NY" Discount Card Program Hands Out More than 20,000 Cards July 1, 2009 - The MOFTB is proud to announce that that more than 20,000 discount cards have been distributed to cast and crew of NYC productions since the "Made in NY" Discount Card Program launched in June 2005. Full Story "Made in NY" Films Open in July July 1, 2009 - A handful of "Made in NY" films open in the month of July. Full Story Summer Theatre in the City: SPF July 1, 2009 - This summer, SPF isn't just for sun protection: it also stands for the Summer Play Festival, which kicks off the summer season with productions of original new plays and musicals by emerging writers. Full Story New York International Latino Film Festival Celebrates 10th Anniversary with Star-Studded World Premieres July 1, 2009 - New York International Latino Film Festival celebrates its 10th Anniversary as the premier Latino film festival in the country, unspooling in New York City from Monday, July 27 to Sunday, August 2. Full Story 2009 Asian American International Film Festival Showcases Local Films July 1, 2009 - The 2009 Asian American International Film Festival is the first and longest running festival in the country devoted to showcasing films created by media artists of Asian descent and about the Asian community. Full Story Reelabilities: NY Disabilities Film Festival Is Now Accepting Submissions July 1, 2009 - The 2nd Annual ReelAbilities: NY Disabilities Film Festival is currently accepting submissions. Full Story Students' Films Showcased at 16th Annual Bronx Community College Film & Video Festival July 1, 2009 - Bronx Community College students were given the chance to showcase the efforts of months of their hard work with the premieres of their original films at the 16th Annual BCC Film and Video Festival. Full Story Broadway Community Rings NASDAQ Stock Closing Bell in Honor of the Tonys July 1, 2009 - On the Friday before the 63rd Annual Tony Awards, representatives from the Broadway community joined Commissioner Katherine Oliver to ring the closing bell at NASDAQ. Full Story Costume Paradise on West 26th Street: The TDF Costume Collection July 1, 2009 - Tucked away on the third floor of an industrial building on West 26th Street between 11th Ave and the West Side Highway is costume paradise. Full Story Going Green Eight Shows a Week July 1, 2009 - Broadway is going green, and two shows are leading the way in the effort. Full Story 'Pelham 123' Arrives for a Special Screening July 1, 2009 - On the eve of the film’s release, a special screening of The Taking of Pelham 123 was held at the AMC Empire 25 on 42nd Street for the Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting and the Tribeca Cinema Series. Full Story Summer Nights for Summer Films July 1, 2009 - Summer in New York City brings with it a slew of outdoor films. Full Story Viral Video Workshops to be Presented by Indigo Productions at NYU July 1, 2009 - For aspiring filmmakers, actors, writers, comedians, marketing execs and TV producers seeking to jumpstart their careers and reach millions of viewers through the Internet, Indigo Productions presents viral video workshops. Full Story Industry Star of the Month: Alvah Holmes July 1, 2009 - Interns at the MOFTB never know where the experience can lead them. Full Story PA of the Month: Katiana Noel July 1, 2009 - As a "Made in NY" Production Assistant, Katiana Noel knew that being a knowledgeable, reliable and hardworking PA would help her advance into a higher crew position - she just didn’t realize how quickly it would happen. Full Story Cultural Organizations throughout the Boroughs Offering Free Programming This Summer July 1, 2009 - The economy may be in a crunch, but this summer, New York City's cultural organizations are making sure that New Yorkers and visitors have access to the programming that makes being here so great. Full Story Location of the Month: Staten Island Supreme Court Mayor's Office of Film Theatre & Broadcasting 1697 Broadway Suite 602 New York, New York 10019 http://www.nyc.gov/film

Silence the Chorus of Bill Collectors

If you owe a lot of money to a lot of different people… and you are not in line for one of President Obama’s bailouts… then you need a strategy to pay off your debt without going broke or finding yourself in an even tighter bind than you now face. One solution involves debt relief counseling.

What does this mean?

It means that you can get advice from an expert on how to best handle the debt that you owe. It may involve debt consolidation, which involves taking the many bills that you owe and combining them into one bill that should make it easier to pay on a monthly basis.

Another benefit is that you can silence the chorus of bill collectors who are out to harass you.

Sound like a plan?

Sponsored by: DebtConsolidation.com

A Maverickey Move?

Alaska governor and former Republican Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin has announced that she will abandon her post because... as she says in the video at the bottom of this posting...

Only dead fish go with the flow...

She feels she can help people without having a title. Does that mean she won’t seek a national-level title?

Well... at least she won’t have to worry about further clashes with John McCain. Or, will she?

Pregnancy Week by Week

It is great what modern technology offers us these days. Like right now, you can follow the progression of your pregnancy on a week by week basis. Check out Pregnancy Week by Week.

The $4,000 Dress

My only question... Where is the rest of it?

More photos from more angles (you’ve been warned) at The Daily Mail.

Accidental Racism?

Well, apparently more than just e-mail scam spam comes out of Nigeria. That African country also produces gas. Well, the Nigerian gas company recently teamed up with the Russian energy conglomerate Gazprom to form a new company. The name of this company?

Nigaz

I wonder if they will hire a rapper to be the spokesperson for Nigaz? I wonder if Nigaz service stations will only show up in certain neighborhoods?

Okay, I’ll stop...

Read the full story at The Daily Mail.

The Fourth Estate...

This post sponsored by PayPerPost v4.0...

Making money with your blog has ascended to a newer and much more lofty level with the introduction of the fourth incarnation of the PayPerPost v4.0 (PPP) franchise. And what is so great about PPP version 4? Well, let’s start with the basics:

First, you can earn cash and withdraw in increments of $50. That is a night out on the town… well, maybe if you live in a small town. But, on my budget, that works for a good long lunch! So, what else?

Well, you can add more than one blog to your site dashboard… and access each one from one convenient spot on the PPPv4 dashboard. There is also a dynamic FAQ (frequently asked question) board that you can participate in – either by asking questions or showing off your knowledge by answering them.

PayPerPost is on Twitter and you can join the community of hundreds of twitterers and follow the PPP tweets… or tweet back to them.

The best thing about PPP, however, is the opportunity to earn cash by doing what you love… which is writing interesting things in your blog for the world to see and enjoy. Of course, you get to choose what you will and what you will not blog about, based upon your and your readers’ interest.

You can’t make it any easier than that…

R.I.P. Mladen George Sekulovich

Mladen George Sekulovich, known and beloved to his fans as Karl Malden, exited the planet at the age of 97.

We read in The Los Angeles Times about this great actor whose career included over 50 motion pictures (including the classic Streetcar Named Desire.

Many remember him starring beside Michael Douglas in The Streets of San Francisco.

And then, of course, those American Express commercials that he did for so many years.

Our prayers for his family and loved ones.

For Firefox Users...

The Dwacon® Blog now uses SmarterFox!

If you are using FireFox, you now have access to tons of cool features while reading our blog.

SmarterFox is similar to the “Lookup Word” button on NYTimes.com, but has more features!

• You can tweet a quote with a single click.
• You can look up unfamiliar terms quicker.
• FinderFox should not negatively impact load time.
• Results open in a new window so you will not redirected away from the blog.

FinderFox adds a "search bubble" that pops-up when you select or highlight any text.

Visit http://smarterfox.com/features for more information on how to use these features.

E-Love from SC-Gov

The buzz continues... the South Carolina governor who abandoned his duty for wild abandon with his cutie... and the romantic e-mails sent back and forth that somehow got leaked to the press.

Guess the Bible was right after all:

What is whispered in secret will be shouted from the rooftops

The pundits are having fun with it... although many can’t stop themselves from blushing while reading it...

Here is a video from CNN on the topic:

R.I.P. Billy Mays

He pitched products that some couldn’t wait to get to the store and buy... some products that people had to dial a 1-800 number to purchase... and some that only elicited laughs from incredulous viewers. He even parodied his salesmanship in a commercial on ESPN. But the pitchman shall pitch no more.

We were saddened to read on Yahoo! News that Billy Mays has exited the planet at the age of 50. But his commercials shall live on...

The Barbara Edens of Asia?

Here is another interesting video from Asia. This one I believe features a troupe of Korean women with some great choreography and not-so-bad special effects. Check this video out and let us know what you think by leaving a comment...