Deadwood Blog would like to know if NewMexiKen’s readers would like to ask W. Earl Brown anything. Brown is the actor who plays Dan Dority on Deadwood. He’s been in more than 60 films and televison programs — among them Seinfeld, CSI, Chicago Hope, and, of course, as Mary’s brother Warren in There’s Something About Mary.
Whom were you trying to target? The working class men who struggle for an inch of space in local trains? The working women who knit and cut vegetables in trains on their way home? Young, dreamy students discussing exams and love? The babies accompanying their mothers, smiling back at the women around them?
Darkness is fast falling. Its raining like it will not stop. Will the rains wash away the blood? Will tomorrow be a new day. Here’s to lost lifes and broken dreams.
At this writing, the death toll appears to be well more than 100, possibly 300.
From The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW), some more good Mac aps.
GasPriceWatch reports today that the highest gasoline price in the U.S. is $3.79 a gallon for regular in Barstow, California. The lowest is $2.59 in Evanston, Wyoming. And the average, nationwide, is $2.96.
Other sources report the average for a gallon of regular is $3.00, just below last September’s Katrina aftermath and the all-time 1981 level (adjusted for inflation).
The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit today ordered the chief judge of the district court to reassign the Indian trust case, Elouise Pepion Cobell, et al., v. Dirk Kempthorne, Secretary of the Interior, et al., to a new judge.
In short, in case after case the district court granted extensive relief against Interior, and in case after case we reversed, even under highly deferential standards of review. To be sure, repeated reversals, without more, are unlikely to justify reassignment. But here there is more. For one thing, on several occasions the district court or its appointees exceeded the role of impartial arbiter by issuing orders without hearings and by actively participating in evidence-gathering. For another, the July 12 opinion levels serious charges against Interior and its officials, charges that not only bear no relationship to the issue pending before the court, but also go beyond criticizing Interior for its serious failures as trustee and condemn the Department as an institution.
From all of this evidence, “an objective observer is left with the overall impression,” Microsoft I, 56 F.3d at 1463, that the district court’s professed hostility to Interior has become “so extreme as to display clear inability to render fair judgment,” Liteky, 510 U.S. at 551. What distinguishes this case from one in which a judge has merely become “exceedingly ill disposed towards [a party which] has been shown to be … thoroughly reprehensible,” id. at 550-51, is, most certainly, not any redeeming aspect of Interior’s behavior as trustee. Rather, what distinguishes this case is the combination of the content of the July 12 opinion and the nature of the district court’s actions. Given these seemingly unique circumstances, and given that “justice must satisfy the appearance of justice,” Offutt v. United States, 348 U.S. 11, 14 (1954)—that is, reasonable observers must have confidence that judicial decisions flow from the impartial application of law to fact, not from a judge’s animosity toward a party—we conclude, reluctantly, that this is one of those rare cases in which reassignment is necessary.
Kottke has the scoop. [Update: Materazzi denies calling Zidane a terrorist.]
“Sledging,” as it’s called, is part of the game — verbal abuse from opponents. It happens in all sports where there are match-ups. The purpose, if there is one, is to rile your opponent sufficiently to take his or her mind off the game.
So, is Zidane the fool for letting words get to him? Or is he justified for reacting to slurs against his religion, his ethnicity and his mother?
And don’t miss Jason’s comment.
Madness. Can there be any other word for both this World Cup and the way it ended? It would be like Tiger Woods, moments from donning another green jacket at the Masters, bringing his putter down on top of Vijay Singh’s skull. Or Michael Jordan stepping up to the free throw line in the final ticks of an NBA championship game and breaking Kobe Bryant’s nose with a basketball.
Zinedine Zidane’s agent says the France captain headbutted Marco Materazzi in Sunday’s World Cup final because the Italian made a “very serious” comment.
From a report by The Gallup Poll:
While the issue of illegal immigration has attracted scrutiny from the media and political leaders, Americans’ views of immigration more generally have become increasingly positive. The poll finds most Americans, including majorities of non-Hispanic whites, blacks, and Hispanics saying immigration is “a good thing for this country today.” In fact, the percentage of Americans who say this in the current poll, 67%, is the most positive viewpoint Gallup has measured since the question was first asked, in 2001.
Sixty-eight percent of whites, 60% of blacks, and 76% of Hispanics think immigration is good for the country today.
…Now, 42% of Americans say immigration should be kept at its present level and 39% say it should be decreased.
The Devil Wears Prada is a fine, entertaining, amusing film, well-written and well-acted. NewMexiKen thought it was formulaic (surprise!) — girl gets job, girl succeeds at job, girl quits job — but so well done, who cares. Meryl Streep was magnicent (surprise!) and the rest of the cast does her no harm (Anne Hathaway and Stanley Tucci especially). By herself, Ms. Streep justifies the $9.25.
I did think the one real element of mystery/tension in the plot — what’s going to happen? — came and went too quickly. But it’s a comedy more than a drama, so I’m probably mistaken.
Enjoyable film.
Donald Rumsfeld is 74. This from The Writer’s Almanac:
It’s the birthday of the Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, born in Chicago, Illinois (1932). In 2003, he published Rumsfeld’s Rules: Wisdom for the Good Life, a list of guidelines for his colleagues that he’d gathered over the years. It includes advice such as, “It is easier to get into something than to get out of it.”
Brian Dennehy is 68 — guess he’ll be playing one of the old folks in any re-make of Cocoon. Dennehy won a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Guild award for his portrayal of Willy Loman in the 2000 made-for-TV presentation of Death of a Salesman.
Chris Cooper is 55. Cooper has appeared in over 50 films and television productions, winning a best supporting actor Oscar for Adaptation.
Jimmy Smits is 51. Smits was nominated six times for an Emmy for supporting actor for L..A. Law. He won once. He was nominated five times for best actor for NYPD Blue. No nominations for his work as Senator Bail Organa in Star Wars. But, then he was elected President on West Wing.
Tom Hanks is 50 today. Hanks has been nominated for the Academy Award for best actor five times, winning for Philadelphia (1993) and Forrest Gump (1994). His other nominations were for Big, Saving Private Ryan and Cast Away.
Kelly McGillis is 49, Courtney Love is 42, and Fred Savage is 30.
And Orenthal James Simpson is 59 today.
(Gonna find ’em)
(Gonna find ’em)
(Gonna find ’em)
(Gonna find ’em)
Yeah, I’ve been searchin’
A-a searchin’
Oh, yeah, searchin’ every which a-way
Yeah, yeah
Oh, yeah, searchin’
I’m searchin’
Searchin’ every which a-way
Yeah, yeah
But I’m like the Northwest Mounties
You know I’ll bring ’em in someday
(Gonna find ’em)
(Gonna find ’em)
Well, now, if I have to swim a river
You know I will
And a if I have to climb a mountain
You know I will
And a if he’s a hiding up
On a blueberry hill
Am I gonna find ’em, child
You know I will
‘Cause I’ve been searchin’
Oh, yeah, searchin’
My goodness, searchin’ every which a-way
Yeah, yeah
But I’m like the Northwest Mounties
You know I’ll bring ’em in some day
(Gonna find ’em)
(Gonna find ’em)
Well, Sherlock Holmes
Sam Spade got nothin’, child, on me
Sergeant Friday, Charlie Chan
And Boston Blackie
No matter where he’s a hiding
He’s gonna hear me a comin’
Gonna walk right down that street
Like Bulldog Drummond
‘Cause I’ve been searchin’
Oooh, Lord, searchin’, mm child
Searchin’ every which a-way
Yeah, yeah
But I’m like the Northwest Mounties
You know I’ll bring ’em in some day
(Gonna find ’em)
(Gonna find ’em)
… was renamed on this date in 1952. It had been first designated Coronado International Memorial, but an adjoining Mexican memorial was never created.
“As a result of this expedition, what has been truly characterized by historians as one of the greatest land expeditions the world has known, a new civilization was established in the great American Southwest” reported the House Committee on Foreign Affairs in 1939. “To commemorate permanently the explorations of Francisco Vásquez de Coronado…would be of great value in advancing the relationship of the United States and Mexico upon a friendly basis of cultural understanding,” stated E. K. Burlew, Acting Secretary of the Interior in 1940. It would “stress the history and problems of the two countries and would encourage cooperation for the advancement of their common interests.”
A must read essay from Tony Horwitz includes this:
This national amnesia isn’t new, but it’s glaring and supremely paradoxical at a moment when politicians warn of the threat posed to our culture and identity by an invasion of immigrants from across the Mexican border. If Americans hit the books, they’d find what Al Gore would call an inconvenient truth. The early history of what is now the United States was Spanish, not English, and our denial of this heritage is rooted in age-old stereotypes that still entangle today’s immigration debate.
Amen.
Did you know that the 32 commercial radio stations that earned a share in recent audience rankings for the Albuquerque market are owned by just six companies and one Albuquerque church?
Once upon a time, not very long ago (1981), a broadcaster could own and operate just one AM and one FM station in the same market — and only seven of each nationwide. Clear Channel now owns more than 1,200 radio stations.
Danny Boy, starring Clint Howard and Gabriel Damon.
The film itself is 10 minutes. This trailer is 3:54. Go figure.
Louisiana has joined 21 other states in banning Internet hunting, the practice of using a mouse click to kill animals on a distant game farm.
The cyber-shooting idea was the brainchild of Texan John Lockwood, who started the web site Live-Shot.com.
The idea was this: Hunters sign up on the web site and pay some $1,500 or more. They schedule a session, then log on at their appointed time to watch a feeding station on the computer screen. The animal that was ordered–from wild hogs to antelope–is in the area, and when it approaches the food, the hunter moves on-screen crosshairs into place. A click of the mouse fires a rifle to kill the animal.
The armchair hunter’s trophy animal would then be mounted and shipped for display.
You know what it means, of course, that 22 states have banned internet hunting? It means 28 have not. Click/Bang!
… of Anjelica Huston. The third generation Oscar winner is 55. Anjelica won the best supporting actress Oscar for Prizzi’s Honor; she has two other nominations. Her father John was nominated for 15 writing, directing or acting Oscars, winning director and writing for The Treasure of the Sierra Madre. Grandfather Walter was nominated four times for acting Oscars, winning the supporting award for The Treasure of the Sierra Madre.
… of Kevin Bacon. He’s 48. And no, Kevin Bacon has never been nominated for an Oscar. He’s only a few degrees of separation however, from many who have.
Nelson Rockefeller, grandson of John D., was born on his grandfather’s birthday in 1908. Rockefeller was governor of New York 1959-1973 and vice president 1974-1977. He died in 1979. NewMexiKen once witnessed Rockefeller stirring his coffee with the temple of his eyeglasses. It was kind of endearing.
John D. Rockefeller was born on this date in 1839. The world’s first billionaire, Rockefeller essentially retired from Standard Oil in 1911. Even so, his taxable income in 1918 was $33,000,000 and his personal worth was estimated at more than $800,000,000. By then, he had already donated about $500 million to charitable causes.
When Rockefeller died at age 97 in 1937 The New York Times obituary had extensive details, including this:
He believed in conserving his strength. After he was 34 he made it a practice to take a nap of an hour or two after luncheon every day and frequently took three or four afternoons away from his office for golf or puttering around his country estate, laying out roads and paths and planting trees. He never bustled and never was excited. He used to say that after he had established himself he could hardly be called “diligent in business” in the copybook sense and that he was only a fifth wheel in the Standard Oil organization.
Mr. Rockefeller took up golf in 1899 and played it constantly thereafter. It was his sole exercise in his later years. When well past 80 he played a good nine holes in 41 to 45, and was delighted when he defeated an opponent or when his side won in a foursome.
On his eighty-second birthday he played a round of golf with his physician and lifelong friend, Dr. H. F. Biggar of Cleveland, also 82, and planned a game of golf for his 100th birthday.
He played the game all the year round on his private links at Pocantico Hills and at Ormond Beach, Fla. In his eighties he sometimes played on hot Summer days with an attendant following him around to hold an umbrella over his head to protect him from the sun.
Early in 1928 he cut his daily course from eight holes to six at Ormond Beach, remarking that eight holes was too much for a man of 88 and that it was better to play a good game for six holes than to be a dub for eight.
Ron Chernow has written a recent highly-regarded biography, Titan.
Scott Adams doesn’t seem pleased to see a kid on a leash:
My first reaction to the kid on the leash is that it was humiliating and wrong. But the kid seemed happy enough. And so it made me wonder if the father is ever tempted to take it to the next level, i.e. walking the kid naked and picking up the turds with a plastic bag. That has got to be easier than changing a diaper. If it weren’t, dogs would wear diapers. I think that’s obvious. And once you’ve decided that humiliation isn’t an issue, all bets are off.
An encyclopedia of book and publshing statistics compiled by Para Publishing.
I found this fascinating:
81% of the population feels they have a book inside them.
BUT
58% of the US adult population never reads another book after high school.
42% of college graduates never read another book.
80% of US families did not buy or read a book last year.
70% of US adults have not been in a bookstore in the last five years. (Or this one: Only 32% of the U.S. population has ever been in a bookstore.)
(By the way, I’ve been watching the World Cup for four weeks trying to decide which NBA players could have been dominant soccer players, eventually coming to three conclusions. First, Allen Iverson would have been the greatest soccer player ever — better than Pele, better than Ronaldo, better than everyone. I think this is indisputable, actually. Second, it’s a shame that someone like Chris Andersen couldn’t have been pushed toward soccer, because he would have been absolutely unstoppable soaring above the middle of the pack on corner kicks. And third, can you imagine anyone being a better goalie than Shawn Marion? It would be like having a 6-foot-9 human octopus in the net. How could anyone score on him? He’d have every inch of the goal covered. Just as a sports experiment, couldn’t we have someone teach Marion the rudimentary aspects of playing goal, then throw him in a couple of MLS games? Like you would turn the channel if this happened?)
NewMexiKen also wonders how a few NFL running-backs or safeties might do on the pitch.