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Friday, July 20, 2007
News Hypocrisy Alert
Posted By Karen Shugart on Fri, Jul 20, 2007 at 4:35 PM
I'm no fan of Larry Flynt, nor do I generally don't favor "outing" people, but I've got to appreciate his efforts to expose politicians whose sexual practices are at odds with their rhetoric. And it looks like North Carolina could provide fodder for his crusade.
Witness the arrest of former state legislator and current Cabarrus County Commissioner Coy Privette (Charlotte Observer):
Privette, a prominent Republican with a 30-year career, is one of the state's most vocal opponents against alcohol sales and legal gambling. He also serves on the State Baptist Convention of North Carolina and as president of the Christian Action League of North Carolina.
From the Christian Action League of N.C.'s Web site:
We discourage the promotion and use of beverage alcohol and other drugs, pornography, sexual immorality and other sinful practices that not only undermine the spiritual lives of those who participate in them, but also undermine the strength of our State and National character.
Pam's House Blend and Pandagon, among others, have noted the rank sexual hypocrisy here. I'm just wondering ... as the (now suspended) president of the CAL, Privette opposed abortion, of course. What do you think he would have done if the 32-year-old woman he paid to have sex with had gotten pregnant?
Would he have welcomed the child has his own? Offered to take her to a pregnancy resource center? Kindly encouraged her to give it up for adoption?
Certainly, abortion wouldn't have crossed his mind. Noooo.
But that's just one of the issues raised here. Why do we keep electing people whose public stances are so at odds with our sexual practices? Most unmarried people have sex outside marriage and most adults have looked at porn occasionally. Yet we can't stomach politicians who are honest about sex. Sad.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Music Groban cancelled
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Wed, Jul 18, 2007 at 3:50 PM
I just got a call from Angelique Kidjo's publicist saying that tonight's Josh Groban concert at the Bobcats arena has been cancelled. The arena has confirmed this.
Apparently, Groban is sick/having throat problems.
Refunds can be made at the point of purchase beginning on Friday.
They are working to reschedule the show.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
News One More Grieving War Parent
Posted By Karen Shugart on Tue, Jul 17, 2007 at 5:05 PM
Cindy Sheehan was in town today, meeting with staff for Congressman Mel Watt at his West Morehead Street office. (Watt was in Washington.) The man pictured here is Carlos Arredondo, whose son, U.S. Marine Lance Corporal Arredondo, was killed in Iraq three years ago at age 20.
Arredondo, who made news after torching the van driven by Marines who told him of his son's death, said he's still grieving. "We have to carry this weight for the rest of our lives," said Arredondo, of Boston.
Arts Insightfully Disturbing
Posted By Contributing Intern on Tue, Jul 17, 2007 at 10:57 AM
The Deal: New art at the Kevin Starr a.r.t. s.t.u.d.i.o on Central Avenue. Old movies glorifying traditional gender roles and family gatherings were projected on a back wall amidst many different depictions of human beings. Kelly Carbon’s paintings depicted 1950s-esque characters struggling to live with a black and white moral imagination. Above these hung Kevin Starr’s active and colorful presentation of striking characters in dream-like settings. Steve Chellis has hung simple images of faces that have been blurred and reddened to make them chillingly resonant. Silver print photographs by Justin Hyte and Kevin Starr explore our culture’s domination of female bodies through the use of seductive imagery.
News Update on an Illustrious Ex-Loafer
Posted By Karen Shugart on Tue, Jul 17, 2007 at 10:53 AM
If you ever wonder what happened to Jared Neumark, Creative Loafing's indefatigable chronicler of strip club buffets, Elvis impersonators and pray-the-gay-away groups, wonder no longer.
He's now an editor at a humor Web site, Newsgroper.com. Well, the site just launched, and the venture looks like it's off to a good start. Check it out.
News Spay/Neuter News That Doesn't Involve Bob Barker
Posted By Karen Shugart on Tue, Jul 17, 2007 at 10:52 AM
The 2007 Charlotte-Mecklenburg animal control stats are in, and once again, it's obvious this community is failing to care adequately for animals. More than 12,000 cats and dogs were killed in the last 12 months. (The shelter stats are for the fiscal year, which runs July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007.)
As an occasional volunteer at CMPD shelter (disclosure alert), I certainly can't say it's animal control's fault. They're a dedicated bunch who work their asses off. But they can't find homes for 19,000 animals a year. Nor can they be blamed for the people who don't spay and neuter their pets.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
News File Under: No shit
Posted By Karen Shugart on Wed, Jul 11, 2007 at 9:36 AM
Did you know that if you use meth, there's a good chance you might drink or smoke too?
If not, this study is for you.
Film Transforming Numbers
Posted By Matt Brunson on Wed, Jul 11, 2007 at 9:33 AM
When summer began, it was pretty much agreed by the pundits that the battle for the title for the season's top grosser would be between the third entries to Spider-Man, Shrek and Pirates of the Caribbean. At this point, with weekly takes for all three films trickling out, it looks as if Spider-Man 3 will snag the title; to date, it’s grossed $334 million, followed by Shrek the Third at $316 million and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End with $301 million.
But not so fast. Talking with various theater personnel who had seen Transformers before anyone else (even critics), their feeling was that the Michael Bay action flick could conceivably sweep past The Big 3 and make off with the box office crown. And now, after witnessing its opening during the July 4th week, that could very well happen: In its first six days, Transformers grossed a massive $152 million, and depending on how well it holds up, it might catch up to and even surpass the high-profile summer sequels. What’s more, with a budget of $150 million, the movie has already turned a profit and will continue to score heavy bank over the weeks to come. (By contrast, it took longer for Spider-Man 3 to domestically recoup its $258 million budget, while Pirates just this past weekend — in its seventh week of release — earned back its whopping $300 million price tag.)
My feeling? Transformers will come close, but it won’t have the momentum to make it to #1. After all, attendance is sure to be drastically down with today’s opening of another family-friendly flick: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, another movie certain to give the summer crown its best shot.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
News Get Out of Jail "Free"
Posted By Karen Shugart on Tue, Jul 10, 2007 at 12:05 PM
Isn't this a hoot? The Observer reported that ex-House speaker and convicted felon Jim Black wants to serve his sentence giving eye exams to the poor!!?!
Some might say it takes an exceptional amount of arrogance, not to mention desperation, to suggest that Black's debt to the voters of this state could be best repaid by such a venture.
But just think of all the possibilities:
A bank robber could avoid prison time by working gratis as a bank teller.
An incompetent doctor could avoid hefty malpractice judgments by working in a free clinic.
A person who kills someone while driving drunk could, say, mow grass for the dead person's family for a couple of years.
I can't imagine that any judge will be loony enough to give Black's suggestion a green light.
As Bob Hall of Democracy North Carolina says, lots of incarcerated people have skills that could benefit the community. Ya think Jim Black ever cared much about letting them serve their time outside prison walls?
