Y'all come down now.

In Austin, we want to show our love for filmmakers who choose to film here. The recommendations made to help ease the filmmaking process in Austin:

- A single point of contact in the City for the Film Industry.
- An improved working environment and the City serving as a coordinator of resources and information.
- Utilizing the City's website as a clearing house for film-related resources and serving as a promotional venue for locally-produced clips.

So let's hope this helps us get more films made here, and less in Canada (no offense to my limited Canadian readership).

City of Austin - Study Released on Economic Impact of Film in Austin

The greatest diss of all. . .

Paul Hamm will not be on a Wheaties box:

General Mills Inc, the maker of Wheaties cereal, announced on Monday three U.S. Olympic champions will appear on millions of its iconic orange cereal boxes -- but Hamm was not among them.

Traditionally a launching pad for lucrative commercial endorsement deals, Wheaties boxes will feature record-breaking swimmer Michael Phelps, female gymnastics all-around champion Carly Patterson, and the holder of the "world's fastest human" title, 100-meter gold medalist Justin Gatlin.

Hamm Missing as Wheaties Honors Olympic Winners

NPR, Broadway musicals and more!

I found an article yesterday about how the Kroc endowment's gift to NPR is affecting its relationship with member stations. In the article, it mentions that there is a great chance that NPR will put its news programs on satellite radio. I have a problem with this. As the article explains:

Much of the anxiety about NPR's growth has less to do with changes at NPR than with broader changes on the radio landscape.

Satellite radio companies are fast expanding their services to include channels with public-radio-like content and sensibility. Last month XM Satellite Radio - the largest satellite operator, with 2.1 million subscribers - announced that it had hired Bob Edwards, the former host of NPR's flagship news program "Morning Edition," for a competing morning broadcast.

That move sparked fears among public radio stations that NPR, to remain competitive, might consider offering "Morning Edition" and its other staple, "All Things Considered," to Sirius Satellite Radio, XM's rival. The two NPR-produced programs are keys to sustaining listenership and fund-raising for many public radio stations, which pay millions in annual dues and programming fees to NPR to support their production.

"These programs have required an enormous public investment," said Ruth Seymour, general manager of KCRW in Santa Monica, Calif. "To simply sell them to a commercial entity is completely against the principles of public radio."

(with my emphasis)
The New York Times > Arts > NPR's Growing Clout Alarms Member Stations

And speaking of NPR - this morning I heard a funny story on how Broadway shows were chosen for delegates to the RNC to see. The story contains an interview with Rod, the Republican puppet from Avenue Q. It was enough to make me laugh on my drive to work.

GOP Visit to Broadway Strictly 'PG-13'

Happy Birthday, Lennie!

Today is the anniversary of Leonard Bernstein's birthday. The classical station here has actually been playing decent music all day because of it.

Right now they are playing (an orchestral arrangement of) "A Simple Song" from his Mass, which is one of my favorite vocal pieces, period. I wish I could sing it, but it was written for male voice, and I just can't pull it off.

Celebrate his day - rent West Side Story (widescreen only, please), On the Waterfront, or even On the Town. Or go buy a collection of his "greatest hits". I promise, you won't be disappointed.

Official page

Control Room

I tried audioblogging about this when it was fresh on my memory, but audioblogger has been off and on of late, and my post is lost in the void.

I caught Control Room last night at the Alamo Drafthouse downtown. The showing last night was sponsored by Third Coast Activist, with whom my friend Mel is registered, but I wasn't.

I was impressed by the film, although it seemed like a second part to a film I'd already seen, because I watched Exclusive to al-Jazeera on PBS a while ago. I recognized a couple of people, particularly the translator.

The film has the tough job of covering what many consider to be a "partisan" news agency, and tries to do it subjectively. Of course, you end up sympathizing for the workers at Al Jazeera, because they are just trying to show the Arab world the truth about the war in Iraq. The military press officer who appears off and on throughout the film compares its coverage to the "patriotism" of Fox News. I just had to laugh out loud at that.

I will insert here that I was amazed at my ability to eat a Gardenburger during the film -- there was some pretty gruesome footage. I guess I was just that hungry.

I was disappointed at the lack of intelligent Americans in the film. There was a pretty intelligent CNN reporter, but the MSNBC reporter interviewed? Oh my God, what an idiot. As for the military press officer, there were moments where I agreed with what he said. But there were even more moments that I was just disturbed.

I will admit that I thought the documentary I saw on PBS was a little better at getting me emotionally involved. Control Room kinda bounces around and you don't really stick with a few main people.

It's still quite good, and worth seeing at your local indie theatre, or renting later on.


official website

God is not a Republican. Or a Democrat.

Sojourners is trying to get an ad in the New York Times during the Republican convention. If you haven't signed the petition yet, go here.

I donated $25 (almost $75 b/c of a software fluke), and I believe it is worth it. Give whatever you can to show that the Republicans do not own Christianity, or God, for that matter. It just doesn't work that way.

Republican administration: Ted Kennedy = terrorist

Okay, the first time is funny, but Ted Kennedy has been stopped FIVE TIMES for being on the no-fly list. This is ridiculous. If the Republicans wanted to further antagonize old-school Dems, this is the way to do it. I'm not even a huge fan of his, but there is no excuse for him being on the no-fly list.

Kennedy's description of his air travel troubles -- mentioned during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing Thursday on the 9/11 panel's recommendations -- gave new life to questions about the quality and effectiveness of the no-fly list. Security, intelligence and law enforcement agencies established the list after the 2001 terrorist attacks. Critics said the senator's experience served as the latest example of how a system designed to improve security is instead targeting innocent travelers.

San Francisco Chronicle: Terror no-fly list singled out Kennedy

don't mess with Texas trademarks

I'm on TARAL's mailing list, which is how I found out about this Daily Show interview on the "mis-use" of TxDOT's tradmark phrase "Don't Mess with Texas". I can't believe TxDOT actually had someone interviewed for this show. All I know is, the results are very funny.

The Daily Show: Don't Mess with Don't Mess with Texas

a FAIR media advisory

FAIR, the national media watch group, encourages the reporters and news outlets who have been asked to reveal their sources in the Valerie Plame and Wen Ho Lee cases to cooperate with investigators. Protecting the identities of confidential sources is a journalistic right that should be recognized by the courts, but only when it protects genuine whistle-blowers, not when it shields government wrongdoing.

(emphasis mine)

FAIR MEDIA ADVISORY: FAIR Calls for Revealing Sources in Plame, Lee Cases

Goodbye, Elmer Bernstein

For some reason, I used to think he and Leonard were related. They aren't, but they were both influential composers in their own right.

I was more than a little disappointed when Elmer Bernstein didn't get the Oscar for his gorgeous music for Far From Heaven, the last movie soundtrack he composed. The music in that film was so intrinsic to the film itself. I doubt it would have been so effective in capturing the 1950s without his score.

My favorite movie scores of his:

The Man with the Golden Arm - loud, jazzy, a perfect fit to a film about a man with a heroin addiction
The Magnificent Seven - you'd recognize the score if you heard it.
Thoroughly Modern Millie - this film is so silly and fun, and his music really works with that. Sadly, this is the only soundtrack for which he ever won an Oscar.
Three Amigos! - come on, it's great.
My Left Foot
Devil in a Blue Dress

We'll miss you, Elmer!
Elmer Bernstein, Film Composer, Dead at 82

free ride coupon

Cabbies against Bush are offering free rides to Kennedy or Newark airport for any delegate or GOP member who will go fight in Iraq.

Cabbies Against Bush

Jesus: the original bleeding-heart liberal?

I knew this was happening in town this week, because Austin Area Interreligious Ministries was involved in it (I wanted to hear Helen Thomas, but oh well.). I was surprised to find this story on Myway. My favorite spots:

If ever there were a bleeding-heart liberal, it was Jesus Christ," Moore said at Congregation Agudas Achim synagogue. "I think the carpenter from Galilee was the original Democrat."
. . . . . . .

"As I read the Scriptures and as I understand faith, God's side is the group that's feeding the poor, caring about children, making sure that people have enough food to eat - not killing others," said Tutt, who opposes the war in Iraq.

. . . . . .

"Interestingly, Jesus never sided with any of these groups but remained above such earthly disputes," Davis said. "This does not mean we should do the same. He was God. We are mere humans."

Religion Experts Ask How Jesus Would Vote

Can You Forgive Her?

I just started reading this book a few minutes ago, but decided to look up information about it on the internet before I invested my time into it. I checked it out from the library because I haven't read Trollope before. I may still continue to work on it, but this comment is enough to make me change my mind:

At its root, Can You Forgive Her? is a sexist novel; only to the irrational women in the story is it not clear that George Vavasour is a villain.

The review also states that his female characters tend towards one-dimensionality and the author is unwilling to give them real personalities.

Well, I'll keep on for a little more, but these points are rather daunting. I like my female characters strong and opinionated. I think the last 19th century book I read was North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell. In that work, the main female character works for the betterment of others, and resists her feelings for a man she thinks callous. True, the author's depiction of working class people is quite stereotypical. I still liked it in the end.

Review of Trollope's Can You Forgive Her?

letter from the Reverend

My sister found this letter to the editor written by the Rev. Clarence Bassett. Rev. Bassett and his wife served as missionaries in Mexico for many years, and later he served at El Buen Pastor Presbyterian Church in Austin. He has been retired for some years, and we are very lucky to have him around!

Here is his letter regarding gay marriage:

Many people are jumping at the chance to turn attention from what is really undermining families to blaming gay marriage.

The family is harmed by divorce, teen pregnancies and many other things. Gay marriage does very little, if anything, to other marriages. Extending marriage to gays can increase support for married life. Children in gay homes are better off than in a traditional home where one spouse is abusive.

If only the energy used in denouncing gay marriage were devoted to solving the many problems of other marriages, we'd all be better off.

CLARENCE BASSETT

Austin

Austin American-Statesman: Letters to the Editor

what's the point?

Reasons the Bush administration doesn't want you to vote in November:

1) there might be a terrorist attack. Just be prepared!
2) There is really no point, because everyone knows Bush will win anyway.
3) Because Al-Queda wants you to!
4) Because you live in Florida.

Okay, I made those up, but this post at TMW really irked me.

This Modern World: Employees of Jeb Bush suppressing the black vote in Florida

Bush approval ratings chart

Someone spent a freakin' long time putting this amazing chart together. Go view it, then go to JuliusBlog and give them some money for their time.

Bush Approval: Raw Poll Data

Hey, if Nader can do it. . .

Barbie Is Running for President:

She has pledged a campaign that will concentrate on creating world peace, helping the homeless and poor, and taking care of animals. Her platform was chosen by girls across America through the Barbie.com Web site.

MoveOn ads

I strongly recommend viewing the ads that Errol Morris directed for MoveOn.org. You can view the winning ad here (as well as donate money to show it during the Republican convention).

Presbyterian Church USA and Israel

I am Presbyterian, but I didn't find this out from my church. Another reason I'm glad I get SojoMail!

The PC(USA) General Assembly voted July 2 to start a process of a phased and selective divestment of its nearly $8 billion portfolio from select companies that profit from sales of products or services that cause harm to Palestinians or Israelis or both.

The effort is phased because it proceeds in stages. It is selective because it targets specific companies, since corporations differ in significance and involvement in undermining peace, as determined by the denomination’s research.

. . . . . . . . . . . .

So far, he has been trying to determine who profits most from building settlements, from constructing the wall and from selling machinery that destroys Palestinian homes, vineyards and orchards. At some point, he will check out the bank loans that finance such work, relying on input from agencies like the California/Nevada Interfaith Committee on Corporate Responsibility in San Francisco.

At its November meeting, the denomination’s Mission Responsibility Through Investment Committee (MRTI) will review the research, establish criteria and develop a work plan to approach corporations and financial institutions that provide products, strategic services and funding that the denomination has determined are harmful. Somplatsky-Jarman staffs the committee.

Caterpillar is one of the businesses being looked at, because apparently, the Presbyterian Foundation holds 36,900 shares of its stock.

A very informative read, that's for sure.

PC(USA) News Release No. 04341 - Taking stock of taking stock

Feminists, go home!

From the Feminist Majority:

Last week a family of three in Michigan was kicked out of a rally for President Bush because they were wearing feminist and pro-choice T-shirts. . . after the Miller family had been seated, the same campaign worker who had taken their shirt arrived with a coworker and a security guard to escort the family out before the rally began.

According to The Saginaw News, Theresa Miller, 19, was wearing a Feminist Majority T-shirt with the slogan "This is what a feminist looks like" printed on the front. "I'm not an American? I can't see my president?" Theresa asked, according to The Saginaw News.

Feminist Daily News 8/11/2004: Pro-Choice T-Shirts and Undecided Voters Not Welcome at Bush Rallies

Ann Telnaes does it again

Click to see the toon.

(It was too large for me to post here.)

Bikes Against Bush

I'm still in the Bush/Sheney Sloganator yahoo group, which is how I found out about this form of protest:

Bikes Against Bush: An Internet-Enabled Protest

Since I can't go to NYC to protest, I can at least try from my CPU.

Whom did you call last night?

Now this is interesting - if you ask Jeeves, "when do i use "whom" not "who"?", my page is the first result that comes up.

Ask Jeeves Results - when do i use "whom" not "who"?

Perhaps I should post the answer to that question, just for kicks. Here's what I found when I googled, "notes on correct grammar whom":

It's possible to memorize a rule for distinguishing who from whom, but it's easier to trust your ear. A simple test to see which is proper is to replace who/whom with he/him. If he sounds right, use who; if him is right, use whom. For example: since he did it and not him did it, use who did it; since we give something to him and not to he, use to whom. It gets tricky only when the preposition is separated from the who: Who/whom did you give it to? Rearrange the words in your head: To whom did you give it? See Preposition at the End.

Grammar and Style Notes: W

Loyalty oaths in New Mexico

Thanks to MoJo blog, I just read about a stunt the Republicans pulled in Rio Rancho, NM. To stop activists from protesting, all the attendees to a speech by Dick Cheney had to sign loyalty oaths. What a crock!

Aside from seeming utterly ridiculous, the enforcemnt of loyalty oaths seems politically questionable. The growing sense among observers is that Bush's campaign has continued to tack right, thereby repelling more moderate voters. Explicitly excluding such voters from your events, then, seems like the obvious wrong step, especially in a tight state like New Mexico.

If you can't inspire loyalty, enforce it; lessons from the GOP

last night at Cafe Mundi

Mel and I were able to catch Outfoxed last night, even after we had to call my mom for the address of Cafe Mundi (Mel had been there before, but she couldn't remember the exact location). We were late, but thanks to some technical difficulties, they had to start it up again a few seconds after we sat down. The film does what you expect it to; it is a well-deserved indictment of Fox (Faux) News Channel. The people interviewed make excellent points, which is good, because there is really no narration at all. The film is divided into obvious segments/chapters. Besides this fact, it still flows pretty well.

It definitely got us riled up. At the end, an independent producer quotes from the 1970's film Network, and a few women in the audience joined in, yelling, "I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore!" Too bad the people that need to see it won't watch it.

--And speaking of Network, I should give that film another try. I really didn't like it much when I watched it as a high-schooler.--

Even though it was freakin' hot sitting on the asphalt to watch the film, it was worth it. It isn't groundbreaking filmmaking, but it is worth renting.

Outfoxed

I've been hearing the buzz for a few weeks, and now it looks like I'll be getting to catch Outfoxed this evening. I'll post about it tomorrow.

I rant on KMFA

I was a music minor, if I haven't mentioned it by now (I'm sure I have). Taking classes in music theory and history has helped me appreciate music. I have eclectic tastes; I listen to folk, classic rock, bluegrass, opera, rockabilly, power pop, oldies, world, "real" country, Classical, Romantic, and even a good amount of 20th Century music (except Phillip Glass - urgh!).

Since my graduation, I have tried to listen to more "classical" music on the radio. Knowing the movements that affected certain composers, I feel like I can understand more about the music. When I was in Minnesota, I found a classical station out of St. Olaf College that played the best selection.

I thought when I moved back to Austin, the station here would be even better. However, the station here has gotten progressively worse. In the past couple of years, they have cut fun and educational shows like "The Basics" (which I was a huge fan of, whenever I remembered to catch it), and have increased the play of soundtracks. Now, I like movies, therefore, I like soundtracks. But they are not playing soundtracks like "On the Waterfront" or even "Glory"! They play "Dances with Wolves" practically every week.

They have moved to Classical Lite. They play more popular pieces, more frequently. I'm just so disappointed. It frustrates me that this my only option for classical music radio here in town. I can't afford digital radio, and I certainly can't afford to buy all the CDs of my favorite works.

Basically, I'm stuck. Brey has brought this (the death of classical music radio) up before, but I just had to rant on it today, as I heard the strains of "Dances with Wolves" starting up.

whoops!

Thanks to Billmon:

Third, this bill meets our commitment to America's Armed Forces by preparing them to meet the threats of tomorrow. Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we.

President Signs Defense Bill, Aug. 5, 2004

Of course, they won't come to Texas.

REM, Keb Mo, Dixie Chicks, James Taylor, Pearl Jam and more: coming to your area on the Vote for Change music tour.

Rockers play for change

Christian counterculture?

I just happened upon the manifesto(pdf file) of the Christian counterculture movement. I was looking for lyrics to Sam Phillips' song "One Day Late" ("Help is coming/ help is coming/ one day late/ one day late"), and found a site that sells her CDs, which is affiliated with this movement. I'm going to research more, because I'm not sure I've got an absolute grasp on their thought. Would Christian counterculture be more conservative or less conservative than our current mainstream Christianity?

If they appreciate Sam Phillips, they can't be too conservative.

update: by sifting through a couple of their online newsletters, I find that they are indeed quite conservative. I wonder, who set this movement up? Who is behind it? and why are they selling Sam Phillips CDs?

the christian counterculture project

Operation Homecoming

This sounds like a terrific idea. Troops who have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan are encouraged by writers and poets to put their experience down in words:

The program, called "Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience," is aimed at preserving stories from the battlegrounds of Iraq and Afghanistan. The endowment expects to hold 20 or so workshops at American military installations between now and next spring (Camp Lejeune was the second stop; the first was Fort Drum in upstate New York in June), with a formidable roster of participating writers selected by an independent panel of editors appointed by the endowment. It includes military thriller heavyweights like Jeff Shaara and Tom Clancy, as well as prominent literary lights like Tobias Wolff and Richard Bausch.

The program, which will cost about $500,000, is being paid for almost entirely by the Boeing Company. And the Defense Department (an unlikely-seeming bedfellow for the endowment, which is also providing $1 million for a program that will take productions of Shakespeare to military bases) is providing logistical services.

This article is definitely worth reading. Go to bug me not if you aren't registered.

The New York Times > Books > Trying to Make the Pen as Mighty as the Sword

Alan Keyes does not live in Illinois

CNN.com - Illinois GOP offers Senate nod to Alan Keyes - Aug 5, 2004

This is all because of Obama. A well-spoken, well-educated, impressive African-American Democrat runs in Illinois, and the Republicans have to go fishing for a nominee to go up against him. I do appreciate that Alan Keyes participated in Michael Moore's mosh pit, but that's really all I can say about him.

I mean, he doesn't even live in Illinois! This idea would be scoffed at in Texas. I just hope the population of Illinois doesn't fall for it.

FAIR's analysis of the Democratic convention coverage

I think FAIR makes some excellent points (as usual). The only place I knew I would get adequate coverage of the convention was CSPAN. I basically flipped between CSPAN and PBS. Even the commentators on the PBS coverage bugged me at times, especially David Brooks. I missed the Al Sharpton speech, but FAIR brings up some interesting comments made after Sharpton's speech:

The MSNBC pundits were none too thrilled about Sharpton before he took to the podium, deriding his effect on the entire primary process: Chris Matthews asserted that Sharpton "probably hurt this campaign. He was a humorist. Everything was a joke." Newsweek's Howard Fineman agreed that Sharpton's campaign "was not to be taken seriously, frankly." Historian Doris Kearns Goodwin asked the panelists to "think of the contrast between Jesse Jackson in '88…. or you think of Obama the other night, last night, where he's a future candidate." Goodwin didn't make clear why Sharpton could only be compared to other African Americans. Nor did Fineman, noting derisively that Sharpton "stayed first class wherever he went," explain where he thought Sharpton ought to have been staying on the campaign trail.

The response from the convention delegates to Sharpton's address was very enthusiastic, but MSNBC actually cut away from the speech in order to resume its panel discussion, where the pundits were having a markedly different reaction. Matthews pondered: "I have got to wonder tonight, Howard and Doris, if this is doing any good for the Democratic Party. They're trying to reach those middle 20 percent." Fineman echoed his consternation, saying he was "very surprised, given the way the Kerry campaign has tried to control and modulate this message here. They didn't need to do this tonight. African-American voters are going turn out in droves for John Kerry and John Edwards regardless. They will walk through walls for them…. He is the only guy-- he could actually turn off the black vote, yes." Goodwin concurred: "In fact, the yelling in the rally right now is like chalk on a board, a blackboard. It's grating. You can't bear to listen to it." Instead, MSNBC viewers were treated to more analysis on the order of this from Fineman: "I think, frankly, it's an insult. It's an insult, I think, as an outsider, to African-American voters that they're giving this guy as much time as they are."

Matthews finally summed up MSNBC's vision of public service: "We're doing a favor to the Democratic party right now. This is a partisan act. We've taken him off the air." The pundits shared a laugh, before Fineman added: "It's completely counterproductive to what the aim of tonight was, to introduce John Edwards as the spokesman of and tribune of rural people, moderate voters, you know, not necessarily African-Americans, who are already in the camp, already in the camp of the Democratic Party."

Interviewing Sharpton after he spoke, even NBC anchor Brian Williams appeared clueless about Sharpton's speech, referring to the "teleprompter that just sat there for what seemed like a half-hour while you did a riff on whatever you did a riff on." Has it really come down to reporters taking politicians to task for *not* just reading off a teleprompter?

The bolded sentences are my emphasis, as always. Gosh, I just love our liberal media.

FAIR MEDIA ADVISORY: Covering the Convention

Henri Cartier-Bresson

Photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson Dies

I foolishly thought he was already dead. As a fan of photography (and amateur photographer), I'm sorry that we lost such an amazing artist.

For samples of his work:

Tete a Tete: Portraits by Henri Cartier-Bresson - by the Washington Post
Henri Cartier-Bresson - bio and more pics

One of my favorite pictures of his is of a man jumping off of a flat ladder, surrounded by a flood of water. You can see it here. I wish the image were clearer on the site, but I think you can still get some of the effect.

I love the pic of Marcel Duchamp also.

He had much impact on the history of photography, and has left us with an abundance of works to learn from and enjoy.

Dubya at home in Crawford

A special message for you from Bushie (aka Will Ferrell)

I just finished watching this video, which caused me to bother my co-workers with my raucous laughter. I am now going to forward the link on to friends. Yes, it is just that good.

review of events

This weekend a murder/suicide happened near my apartment complex, so I haven't really been thinking about much else news-wise. It was over a girl, that's what gets me. Her current boyfriend killed her ex-boyfriend, then shot himself.

I'm a little freaked out about it happening so close to home, as they say, but this kind of thing can happen anywhere. Mostly, I'm just sad that it happened at all. I'm not going to say that "any man's death diminishes me", but that statement is pretty darn close.

I've been left to introspect for a short while (and have made some posts at my other blog). I'm sure I'll get out of it soon.