R.I.P. Reverend Ike

The Los Angeles Times covered the death of The Rev. Frederick J. Eikerenkoetter II, may he rest in peace.

A Little Brewski Will Do-ski?

Maybe we can all just get along if we all just follow Homer Simpson’s lead and just chug-a-lug a cold and frothy libation brewed from hops and barley?

After the brouhaha over Professor Skip Gates being arrested in his own home by Officer James Crowley, and President Obama using the term stupidly to describe the goatrope, it seemed best to defuse all hostilities over a beer in the Rose Garden.

Of course, as reported by CNN, not everybody in the vicinity of the White House was all peace and love over the liquid litigation.

There was one protester who felt that the President should have set a better example by having a non-alcoholic libation. Maybe he would have put down his hand-made sign if someone had offered him a cold one?

Still, it looked as if this national story might finally be put to bed.

Maybe President Obama should have made room for the other Boston police officer. You know, the one who wrote the alarming e-mail that likened Professor Gates to...

A banana-eating jungle monkey...

You can read all about that guy... and the faux pas that he hastily apologized over, at CNN. And remember... when you send hateful e-mails out to a wide distribution list... just apologize with a soupçon of contrition (or a reasonable facsimile thereof) and maybe you will sip a pint with the prez...

Little Black Sambot?

Not since Jar Jar Binks has a science fiction motion picture sunk so low in its negative depiction of African Americans and other ethnic groups...

As noted in the UGO Movie Blog, there were twin Autobots that combined the antics of Steppin Fetchit with Amos & Andy, creating a spectacle that was less than spectacular.

Even the faces of these dimwitted twins depicted something out of the Jim Crow guide to ethnic mockery...

Of course, we found it hard to notice anything other than the fact that Megan Fox is the hottest actress in Hollywood... but, besides that... what was Michael Bay thinking?

Sigh...

Get Free Satellite TV

So I am scratching my head looking at my recent cable TV bill from another bill from one year ago. How did the price jump? They added a little here and a little there... and now, I am paying a lot!

So, let’s look into Satellite TV as an entertainment option. But with all of the Satellite TV providers out there... how can one tell which is the best option to take? After all... once you make the investment in selecting a provider... and having that dish bolted to your domicile (that’s a fancy word for your crib, homey!)... what if you made a bad choice?

Should I get Dish Network? Should I get DIRECT TV? Oh! So many choices! Which one should I choose? Which way should I go?

We would recommend going to Kaptain Satellite’s web site (http://www.kaptainsatellite.com/compare_satellite_dish_tv.htm) and reviewing the voluminous (that’s a lot) facts and figures that will help you make the best selection to meet your home entertainment needs. Sound like a plan?

Yeah, we thought so!

Convertibles

One of the things I love most about driving around Los Angeles is doing so in a convertible. Too bad my Volvo C70 didn’t have this song available on the Sirius XM radio...

You Won’t Have Sarah Nixon to Kick Around Any More...

A lot of pundits are drawing comparisons between Sarah Palin’s rambling farewell speech and Richard Nixon’s farewell speech. Hmm... will history repeat itself?

An Ocean of Haterade

If you follow the TPM Media web site, you will have seen the racist picture attributed to conservative activists.

It seems that the originator of this post is a physician who is a member of the Doctors for Patient Freedom group.

Not that I have followed this whole health care debate that closely... been busy working to pay those doctor bills.

Just kidding...

But it is hard understanding what all the fuss is about.

On my first trip to the U.K., my buddy broke his ankle playing ball with the local kids. Got it patched up with a bottle of painkillers for free.

What’s wrong with that?

I guess what is wrong is that being compelled to treat a sick person for free -- or for less money than one might expect to receive -- threatens profit margins.

Of course, medical professionals should earn a good living and have the means to support themselves.

The question is... are the ideas of providing affordable health care and of the medical industry being profitable two diametrically opposed concepts?

One thing that we find very interesting that the far-right... the group so angrily opposed to helping those who can't help themselves claims to be all about Bible-based Christianity...

And what was it that Jesus did most of all?

And Jesus never asked for an insurance card before healing someone. Hmm...

Oh, Nimbus... Help Someone....

SAHWB - Sitting At Home While Black

Life imitates art when a renowned Harvard professor is dragged out of his home and put into handcuffs for the crime of... erm... being in his home.

While Black.

We were flabbergasted at the story, covered analytically in The Associated Press... reminding us that as much as things have changed... things haven’t really changed.

Does this situation remind you of a certain motion picture that some people might have thought had an implausible premise?

Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr., the director of Harvard University’s W.E.B. DuBois Institute for African and African American Research, was arrested at his home in Cambridge, Massachusetts after a woman reported seeing a man try to pry open the front door.

You can read the details at the New York Post.

And then, commiserate over this laugh-till-you-cry-able story by leaving a comment...

Cruising Down the 405

Technically... this is our very first video blog (VLOG) and is pretty cool... except for the Van Dyke beard created by a shadow under my chin... LOL! But nothing like cruising with some great music from KROQ!

The Hurricane Fist

My friend Toy Lei will be promoting “The Hurricane Fist” at Comic-con in San Diego.

The festival debut will occur on Thursday at 1430 (2:30 p.m. to you civilians).

Toy will be joined by the director, producer, and other cast members for a Q&A session.

If you go, tell Toy that Dwacon® sent you!

R.I.P. Uncle Walter

Over the course of two decades... Walter Cronkite was the man American most trusted.

More than their religious leaders...

More than their familial patriarchs...

Even more than the President of the United States.

Until he was usurped by Dallas journalist Dan Rather... more Americans trusted Walter Cronkite than just about anybody.

Uncle Walter exited the planet after 92 years. A good run.

Making the change from print to broadcast journalism, Cronkite was no talking head.

He brought a gravitas to the business that every anchor following had to try to emulate.

The video below is perhaps Mr. Cronkite’s finest moment.

Good night, Uncle Walter...

More news on this pioneer of broadcast journalism at The New York Times and The Los Angeles Times.

Sale Ends 07-20-09

Just a heads up for the fashionistas out there that you only have a short while to save money with the Outlet at Bare Necessities... with savings starting at 40% OFF.

Here are a few examples...

Get up to 50% off Clearance Styles at BareNecessities.com

Obama in Africa

Anderson Cooper was on David Letterman last night talking about his trip to Africa to interview the President. I believe there will be a CNN special this weekend in that regard. Here is a White House video with highlights from the trip. Highlights that do not include Anderson’s swollen eye from a venomous spider bite...

Rent A Boyfriend

With recession crippling the economy and unemployment at record numbers, there is one job option that few men may know about. And given that there are few moral obstacles (at least, the one big moral obstacle)... it may be worth considering.

Then again...

Emmy® Nominations

The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences... the organization that provided a scholarship that assisted Dwacon in getting his undergrad degree many moons ago... has released the nominees for the Emmy® Awards.

Our picks are highlighted below:

Outstanding Comedy Series
Family Guy
30 Rock
Weeds
How I Met Your Mother
The Office
Flight of the Conchords
Entourage

Outstanding Drama Series
Mad Men
Breaking Bad
Lost
Damages
Dexter
Big Love
House

Lead Actor in a Drama
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Hugh Laurie, House
Gabriel Byrne, In Treatment
Michael C. Hall, Dexter
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Simon Baker, The Mentalist

Lead Actress in a Drama
Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men
Glenn Close, Damages
Sally Field, Brothers and Sisters
Mariska Hargitay, Law and Order: SVU
Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer
Holly Hunter, Saving Grace

Lead Actor in a Comedy
Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Steve Carell, The Office
Charlie Sheen, Two and a Half Men
Tony Shalhoub, Monk
Jemaine Clement, Flight of the Conchords

Lead Actress in a Comedy
Toni Collette, United States of Tara
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, The New Adventures of Old Christine
Sarah Silverman, The Sarah Silverman Program
Mary-Louise Parker, Weeds (my very close 2^nd choice)
Christina Applegate, Samantha Who?

Best Reality Competition (no selection -- is this really a category?)
The Amazing Race
American Idol
Dancing With the Stars
Project Runway
Top Chef

Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series
The Colbert Report
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart
Late Show With David Letterman
Real Time With Bill Maher (Despite the fact that Bill really pisses me off)
Saturday Night Live

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
William Shatner, Boston Legal
Christian Clemenson, Boston Legal
Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad
William Hurt, Damages
Michael Emerson, Lost
John Slattery, Mad Men

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Rose Byrne, Damages
Sandra Oh, Grey’s Anatomy
Chandra Wilson, Grey’s Anatomy
Dianne Wiest, In Treatment
Hope Davis, In Treatment
Cherry Jones, 24

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Kevin Dillon, Entourage
Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother
Rainn Wilson, The Office
Tracy Morgan, 30 Rock
Jack McBrayer, 30 Rock
Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Kristin Chenoweth, Pushing Daisies
Amy Poehler, Saturday Night Live
Kristin Wiig, Saturday Night Live
Jane Krakowski, 30 Rock
Vanessa Williams, Ugly Betty
Elizabeth Perkins, Weeds

Auto-Tune the News

WARNING: Do not drink liquids while watching this video or you will spew the liquids through your nose all over your computer screen:

Hair on Fire

Never before seen video from CNN showing Michael Jackson’s hair catching fire during the filming of a Pepsi commercial.

WARNING: It’s graphic.

The Traffic Capitol of the World

Just a peek at morning traffic outside of Universal this morning.

Rush hour yesterday afternoon was much more difficult... and lots of police out and about. At first, I figured it was just typical L.A. traffic.

I learned later that Roots, Reading Rainbow, and Star Trek star LeVar Burton was in a five-car wreck. Fortunately, LeVar/Geordi/Kunta Kinte was not seriously injured.

For some reason, I never seem to mind the California traffic... especially when the sun is shining and In-N-Out burger is at the next exit.

More on LeVar at the Associated Press.

This MUST be a Joke

We read an unbelievable story at Bossip that alleges that actor Morgan Freeman is planning to marry his granddaughter.

What???

No Swim Crow?

In the video below, the owners of the swim club that ejected African-American children explain that kicking them out is not racism. Maybe after you view this video, you will understand that. Maybe.

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.

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

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?

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.