Monday, February 2, 2009

Go Watch It!

Hey, here's a great way to spend eight and a half minutes. Our pal Jerry Beck of Cartoon Brew Films has assembled a little video history of Superman's early animated appearances and parodies. You'll especially enjoy Super (Little) Lulu. Here's the link.

• Posted at 6:00 PM · LINK

Ejector Seat

Republican Senator Judd Gregg is up for a position in the Obama cabinet. About eight seconds after this was first mentioned, the blogosphere erupted with a realization: The governor of New Hampshire, the state Gregg represents, is a Democrat and would be expected to appoint a Democrat to fill the rest of Gregg's term. Assuming Al Franken prevails in the Minnesota recount (which is looking more and more likely), replacing Gregg with a Democrat would give the Dems a 60 seat majority in the Senate and the power to block filibusters.

So Senator Gregg is now saying, "I have made it clear to the Senate Leadership on both sides of the aisle and to the governor that I would not leave the Senate if I felt my departure would cause a change in the makeup of the Senate. The Senate Leadership, both Democratic and Republican, and the Governor understand this concern and I appreciate their consideration of this position." He's also said how eager he is to work with the Obama administration and to help craft a new financial policy.

Which means his position works out roughly as follows: "I think I can help devise an economic policy that will help America but I won't take the job unless the governor replaces me with someone who'll probably oppose it."

• Posted at 5:40 PM · LINK

Puppets No Longer Dangling

Back in this post last December, we discussed the ominous fate of the Bob Baker Marionette Theater, a Los Angeles landmark that promotes the art of puppetry and hosts an endless stream of kids' birthday parties. Back then, the place was in financial trouble and it looked like it might go out o' business, which would be a shame. So we're proud to note that an unknown benefactor has come to the rescue and things are looking much better. If you're in or around Los Angeles and you have a kid who's going to have a birthday some day, consider booking a party there. You'll enjoy it as much as any child.

• Posted at 2:28 PM · LINK

Today's Video Link

Here's a nice little tribute to Gene Kelly with commentary by Christopher Walken...

• Posted at 12:25 PM · LINK

Blago

Roger Ebert writes about the laughingstock that is his (now) ex-governor Rod Blagojevich and asks, "What other name guarantees a chuckle from the audience even before the joke?" I think Michael Jackson's might qualify but I get his point. Still, I found Blagojevich rather fascinating this past week as he steadfastly refused to stick to any script that others might have expected of him. There's something nice about a politician whose actions are so illogical that they leave the news guys speechless.

What's kind of interesting is that I don't think most people who are laughing at this guy (or cheering his ouster) could tell you exactly what he did wrong. At most, they might say, "He tried to sell Obama's Senate seat" but they couldn't tell you who he tried to sell it to, and some seem to forget completely that it was never purchased. There are actually a lot of misdeeds that have been alleged against Blagojevich, some in connection with that unrealized transaction, and more are expected whenever the indictment is finally returned. But do people really understand that? Some of them seem to think he was impeached and removed from office for having an out-of-date haircut. Or should have been.

• Posted at 12:06 AM · LINK