Sunday, June 30, 2013
Too many trailers (and we're not talking double wide)
That's the trailer for the upcoming film The Family which opens September 13th. The comedy finds Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer and their kids leaving the mob for witness relocation which creates problems for their handler Tommy Lee Jones.
For our movie roundtable today, we all made a point to see The Heat and White House Down. The Family trailer played before each film and was a huge hit, garnering laughter and applause for lines (and for Pfeiffer grabbing flammables in the supermarket).
That's a good thing and the trailer did just what its supposed to do, create excitement about the film.
But while a trailer featuring De Niro, Pfeiffer and Jones will be remembered, others won't.
Which brings us to the problem.
Before The Heat, we had to endure trailers and more trailers. Some had four, some had eight, but six was the average.
Along with The Family, there was a trailer for Grown Ups 2, About Time, The Wolverine, We're The Millers and Runner Runner.
Grown Ups 2 is a film for every guy who wished he had his head up his buddy's ass but was too in the closet to ask. The Adam Sandler film traffics in guys who likes guys but allows enough "ew!"s to make everyone okay with the four men being forced to strip down (by other men) and jump into a body of water with one landing on top of the other. We're not done. They also get to go to a car wash and have scantily clad cheerleaders bump and grind on and in their car. Sound sexy? They're male cheerleaders. At some point, Adam Sandler's probably going to need to admit that the joke isn't about gay people but about seemingly straight people who can't come out of the closet.
About Time. Most of us couldn't even remember what this was? Then C.I. said, "It's the British comedy about the young man who, like his father, can go back in time." Oh, yeah. See, that's what we mean about too many trailers meaning some won't be remembered.
Grown Ups 2 is awful, so you don't forget it. But a pleasing trailer featuring people we don't know quickly gets lost in the shuffle.
The Wolverine grabbed us all with Famke Janssen's appearance in the trailer. Though Jean Grey is on for but a few seconds in the film, it was smart to stress that in the trailer because it reminds us all of why we care about Wolverine to begin with. There are a lot of strong battles and some great stunts. But the most memorable moment are those few seconds between Janssen and Hugh Jackman. Next time, how about Wolverine and Phoenix film?
Few trailers grabbed the audiences. As we already noted, The Family was an exception. Wolverine was as well, you could see everyone stop hunching and sit up when Janssen and James were on screen. Surprisingly, another one that did well was We're The Millers. A man hires a stripper to play his wife and two young adults to play his kids so he can go down to Mexico in an RV as a family and make it back through customs smuggling a ton of pot.
What takes this a big beyond a Cheech and Chong bong hit are the two leads, Jennifer Aniston and Jason Sudeikis. Audiences howled at this trailer.
By contrast, Runner, Runner had people talking through the trailer, making snide remarks at the screen and flat out booing. This film stars Justin Timberlake and he's just not seen as very convincing -- with that squeaky voice -- as a man. In the film, he's playing a college student and the sad fact there is that he's also not very convincing as a boy. At 32, he's way too old for the role but when you can't convincingly project masculinity on screen, you're forced into the sort of juvenile roles Joshua Jackson tossed aside as the 90s were ending. Ben Affleck plays the adult who corrupts our innocent Miss Justin. If it feels like 800 movies you've already sat through twenty times before, there's a reason for that and the reason goes to why Leo DiCaprio is producing the film but not starring in it despite that having been the original plan.
Woah, woah, woah! You say, "The Heat is a comedy and they may not have liked any thriller." That's true -- even if calling something as obvious as Runner, Runner a thriller stretches the term to the point of snapping.
But, like The Family, Runner, Runner was also a preview before White House Down. If the attacks on Justin Timberlake's non-existent onscreen manhood were harsh from The Heat audiences, you should have heard what the audiences made up of more men than women had to say about Justin as they waited to watch White House Down.
White House Down forced some of us to sit through 10 trailers but the average was seven.
One trailer was for a sequel and it gripped the audience.
No, not the Thor 2 trailer which bombed. Insidious: Chapter 2. The original film was a surprise, sleeper hit. Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne buy a new home and find that it effects their son. Barbara Hershey, as Wilson's mother, shows up with help and the truth that Wilson went through something similar as a boy. The primary cast is back and the trailer was greeted with screams, laughs and applause.
Thor: The Dark World probably would have gone over better with less Loki. The tragically ridiculous character had become a joke by the end of The Avengers -- right around the time the Hulk pummeled him. He's now about as threatening as Sir Hiss in Disney's Robin Hood. A better trailer would have focused on Thor and Jane and how she's now in jeopardy in his world.
It wasn't the worst trailer. That would be 2 Guns. This Mark Wahlberg and Denzel Washington film surely has some point. The actors wouldn't have signed up otherwise. But the trailer casts the film as a dumb and incoherent mess, as though this is The Big Hit II.
We call that the worst trailer because we believe that Washington and Wahlberg on screen have to be worth watching and that the trailer's screwed that up.
Some might argue that Elysium was the worst trailer. We disagree because it's selling the film that was made. And that film's biggest obstacle? Asking audiences to identify with the downtrodden in an escapist film. These are the hardy rogues of The Matrix, these are people who are bad off and represented by Matt Damon. And as we enter the darkened and chilled theaters to escape the heat in August are we really wanting to identify as the downtrodden? Matt's got no hair. That's what we're supposed to identify with? We're poor and and we have nothing and we don't even get to be the sexy poor? The better off are led by Jodie Foster who appears to have based her performance on Sharon Stone's villainous Laurel Hedare in the bomb that was 2004's Catwoman.
And then there is Captain Phillips. Tom Hanks has been called the Jimmy Stewart of today. Jimmy Stewart first found film success in the forties and Hanks in the eighties. Watching the trailer for this film where Hanks plays a captain whose modern-day ship is taken over by pirates, we were also reminded that Stewart's best performances and finest films were in the 40s and fifties. Like Stewart, Hanks has worn out his welcome with thirteen years now of bad performances in bad films which overshadow his work in the 80s and 90s.
The makers of Captain Phillips should be thrilled that their bad trailer was shown with so many others. All anyone will remember is that Tom Hanks has a new film coming out -- if they even remember that. But as our own reaction to About Time (which looks like a charming film) demonstrates, all these trailers don't allow many to be remembered. And we are being kind. We saw other 'trailers' as well before the lights dimmed. We saw the ad for Comedy Central's Drunk History, for example, and other TV attractions. The pre-trailer trailers, in fact, served to lower the expectations for the actual film trailers.
From The TESR Test Kitchen
With Paula Deen leaving the Food Network, all the work load can't be piled upon Rachel Ray. Fear not, The TESR Test Kitchen is here.
For years, Trina has been pushing rice cookers at her site. Reader Shawna wrote to tell us she'd found the perfect rice cooker but, there was a catch, it was at Wal-Mart -- "and I know how you hate Wal-Mart."
We're not into glorifying Wal-Mart but we don't hate it. Over the years, we've noted that, in some areas, a Wal-Mart is all that they have. We've also noted that, in those areas, they tend to be open 24 hours a day.
The product in question is the Prepsolutions Microwave Rice Cooker Set.
Traditional rice cooker machines are plugged into the wall socket. They don't burn but they can stick which was Shawna's biggest problem. Either she added oil or butter and, for her, ended up with gummy rice or she didn't add anything and had to scrape the bottom of the machine.
The microwave means that isn't a problem -- for Shawna or for us in our test kitchen.
It's also small enough that you can pack it and carry it on the road. Trina noted that you can actually use the same cooker to steam some vegetables in to serve with the rice.
The kit or set is all plastic and it includes the cooker with lid, a measuring cup and a spoon.
We tried it with simple white rice and there was no problem. We tend to eat brown rice so we were more concerned how it would do with that but it also had no problem there. In addition, Trina suggested we try out some boxed rice sets like Rice a Roni and see how that works. We cooked the Rice a Roni Long Grain and Wild Rice with no problem and we also had no problem with the Rice Pilaf.
So we strongly recommend this product and stress, again, that for those on the road, this is perfect, it's easy to pack, takes up little space and you can pop it into your hotel room microwave with no problems.
For years, Trina has been pushing rice cookers at her site. Reader Shawna wrote to tell us she'd found the perfect rice cooker but, there was a catch, it was at Wal-Mart -- "and I know how you hate Wal-Mart."
We're not into glorifying Wal-Mart but we don't hate it. Over the years, we've noted that, in some areas, a Wal-Mart is all that they have. We've also noted that, in those areas, they tend to be open 24 hours a day.
The product in question is the Prepsolutions Microwave Rice Cooker Set.
Traditional rice cooker machines are plugged into the wall socket. They don't burn but they can stick which was Shawna's biggest problem. Either she added oil or butter and, for her, ended up with gummy rice or she didn't add anything and had to scrape the bottom of the machine.
The microwave means that isn't a problem -- for Shawna or for us in our test kitchen.
It's also small enough that you can pack it and carry it on the road. Trina noted that you can actually use the same cooker to steam some vegetables in to serve with the rice.
The kit or set is all plastic and it includes the cooker with lid, a measuring cup and a spoon.
We tried it with simple white rice and there was no problem. We tend to eat brown rice so we were more concerned how it would do with that but it also had no problem there. In addition, Trina suggested we try out some boxed rice sets like Rice a Roni and see how that works. We cooked the Rice a Roni Long Grain and Wild Rice with no problem and we also had no problem with the Rice Pilaf.
So we strongly recommend this product and stress, again, that for those on the road, this is perfect, it's easy to pack, takes up little space and you can pop it into your hotel room microwave with no problems.
Tweet of the Week?
If you want to follow Iraq in the US media, lots of luck.
As The Common Ills noted Saturday night, you could read about Senator John McCain visiting Iraq Saturday in the Iraqi media or at McCain's Twitter feed.
You could find that information publicly, you just couldn't find the US press reporting on it.
Are we still confused about how badly the American press misinforms on Iraq?
As The Common Ills noted Saturday night, you could read about Senator John McCain visiting Iraq Saturday in the Iraqi media or at McCain's Twitter feed.
John McCain
You could find that information publicly, you just couldn't find the US press reporting on it.
Are we still confused about how badly the American press misinforms on Iraq?
Needed Radio Moment
A number of radio shows exist and, if you're lucky enough, you can hear a great majority of it.
Even so, it's easy to miss a lot of important moments.
Jim Lafferty (above) hosts KPFK's The Lawyers Guild (most Thursdays from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm PST). June 20th, he delivered a commentary which included:
Will the people be quiet when government spies are found working inside of anti-war groups, trying, as they did in the seventies, to discredit and disrupt the work of such groups? Will the people be quite when, as the recently enacted National Defense Authorization Act allows, the military begins picking up and holding indefinitely without charges those like myself and so many guests on this show who frequently take to the streets to protest repressive governmental policies? One is reminded today of that frog in the tub of water slowly getting hotter and hotter and who is thereby lulled into not jumping out in time to save its life. No, we do not yet live in a complete police state. But a police state, like all forms of repression, does not generally descend upon a nation and its people in one fell swoop. Rather, it tends to descend gradually. And, at first, only those who are wide awake or most victimized by it notice it at all. But gradually, and quicker than suspected, if most people are asleep, if most accept its coming as 'a small price to pay for safety,' the repression will grow until it has become complete. And, of course, by then, though all must be aware of it, the question that must be asked is this: If so few were troubled enough to raise their voice against it to a pollster when it first reader its ugly head, how many will be willing to fight it when it may already may be too late and the price for fighting it seen as too dangerous?
Last week found radio offering a lot of soggy and not a great deal of import or value. The Lawyers Guild did not air last Thursday and its absence was sorely felt.
Even so, it's easy to miss a lot of important moments.
Jim Lafferty (above) hosts KPFK's The Lawyers Guild (most Thursdays from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm PST). June 20th, he delivered a commentary which included:
Will the people be quiet when government spies are found working inside of anti-war groups, trying, as they did in the seventies, to discredit and disrupt the work of such groups? Will the people be quite when, as the recently enacted National Defense Authorization Act allows, the military begins picking up and holding indefinitely without charges those like myself and so many guests on this show who frequently take to the streets to protest repressive governmental policies? One is reminded today of that frog in the tub of water slowly getting hotter and hotter and who is thereby lulled into not jumping out in time to save its life. No, we do not yet live in a complete police state. But a police state, like all forms of repression, does not generally descend upon a nation and its people in one fell swoop. Rather, it tends to descend gradually. And, at first, only those who are wide awake or most victimized by it notice it at all. But gradually, and quicker than suspected, if most people are asleep, if most accept its coming as 'a small price to pay for safety,' the repression will grow until it has become complete. And, of course, by then, though all must be aware of it, the question that must be asked is this: If so few were troubled enough to raise their voice against it to a pollster when it first reader its ugly head, how many will be willing to fight it when it may already may be too late and the price for fighting it seen as too dangerous?
Last week found radio offering a lot of soggy and not a great deal of import or value. The Lawyers Guild did not air last Thursday and its absence was sorely felt.
Spend the 4th in Strawberry Fields
Joan Wile is the founder of Grandmothers Against the War and has written the book Grandmothers Against the War: Getting Off Our Fannies and Standing Up for Peace. She and others will be taking part in a peace celebration Thursday the 4th of July:
Norman Siegel, the eminent civil liberties attorney, got a unique idea
44 years ago. He decided that on July 4 he would go and sit quietly and
read the Constitution and reflect on the principles underlying our
Democracy. He felt it was the most appropriate way to celebrate the
holiday.
joan wile
READ THE CONSTITUTION ALOUD WITH
NORMAN SIEGEL JULY 4 IN STRAWBERRY FIELDS
And, he did so for the next 36 years.
Wherever he was, he would find a perch somewhere in a quiet spot and
read and reflect alone on the Constitution.
Seven years ago, he decided to make it a
public event. With the assistance of New York City's peace grannies --
the Raging Grannies, Grandmothers Against the War, and the Granny Peace
Brigade -- he began his annual Reading of the Constitution in
Strawberry Fields.
This
year will mark the seventh Annual Reading in the lovely Central Park
oasis created as a tribute to John Lennon by his widow Yoko Ono. At
noon on Thursday, July 4, Siegel and his many supporters will once again
gather in Strawberry Fields to read aloud parts of the Constitution,
the Bill of Rights, and the entire Declaration of Independence and
discuss their principles in terms of recent decisions by the Supreme
Court as well as revelations of increased U.S. Government surveillance
practices.
The
Reading has become a tradition for July 4 in New York City along with
Nathan's hot dog eating contest and Macy's fireworks and is not to be
missed by people concerned with how our government is adhering to the
tenets of the great documents.
There will be guest commentators and entertainment by the Raging Grannies.
Everyone
is welcome to attend at noon on July 4 in Strawberry Fields, entered at
CPW and West 72nd Street. Follow the path for a block at the
STRAWBERRY FIELDS sign.
joan wile
Solidarity with Manning and Snowden (Workers World)
Repost from Workers World:
Progressives and anti-imperialists in Berlin, Germany, demonstrated
while U.S. President Barack Obama was visiting there June 17, carrying a
big banner: “Against war, repression and racism.” The following is an
excerpt from a statement read to the audience:
“On the occasion of President Barack Obama’s visit to Berlin, our demonstration protesting U.S. government policies approved the following declaration of solidarity with Bradley Manning, Edward Snowden and all whistleblowers:
“Manning and Snowden took on enormous personal risks to inform world public opinion of the abuse of power and the crimes of the U.S. government. They brought to light what the U.S. government had sought to keep secret and cover up. We would like to express to them our deepest gratitude and our full solidarity.”
Articles copyright 1995-2013 Workers World. Verbatim copying and distribution is permitted in any medium without royalty provided this notice is preserved.
Solidarity with Manning, Snowden
By Workers World staff on June 27, 2013 » Add the first comment.
Berlin. Photo: Uwe Hiksch
“On the occasion of President Barack Obama’s visit to Berlin, our demonstration protesting U.S. government policies approved the following declaration of solidarity with Bradley Manning, Edward Snowden and all whistleblowers:
“Manning and Snowden took on enormous personal risks to inform world public opinion of the abuse of power and the crimes of the U.S. government. They brought to light what the U.S. government had sought to keep secret and cover up. We would like to express to them our deepest gratitude and our full solidarity.”
Articles copyright 1995-2013 Workers World. Verbatim copying and distribution is permitted in any medium without royalty provided this notice is preserved.
John Kerry addresses the US diplomatic staff in Kuwait
US Secretary of State John Kerry has been on a tour of the Middle East and Asia. The former senator spoke with US diplomatic staff in Kuwait last week.
We thought it was an important speech and we're reposting the part that should have been reported on.
I was a young kid in the Foreign Service. I was 11 years old when my dad went off into the Foreign Service, and to make myself quite old, it was back in the 1950s not too long after World War II. We went to Berlin and I remember huge parts of the city totally bombed out and I’d ride my bicycle all around the city. It was a great adventure for me. And I learned enough German to still be able to go order a meal and know what I’m doing and when I’m getting into trouble, but – so it’s a lot of fun if you’re your age. How old are you? There you are; you’re exactly the age I was when I started. So you can be Secretary of State in about 50 years, how’s that? (Laughter.) You ready for that? Not yet, but you will be.
I learned what it was like to pack up the bags, to leave your friends, to go to another country, to be confronted with a culture that was just totally different and things that are different and food and habits and all those kinds of things. And for a while, I scratched my head and I said, “What’s all this about?” Now I look back on it and I am so grateful to my parents for having given me that experience. I’m so grateful for having been introduced at an early age to other people and to learn something about the way those other folks look at the world.
We don’t always do that as well as we should, any of us in places. And sometimes it’s just not taught. We don’t know how to do it, or we don’t think about it, or we think the way we do something in one country or another is the way it is everywhere, but it isn’t, as we’ve learned. And it’s so important to understand where other people are coming from, why they think the way they think, why they believe what they believe. And we can learn enormous amounts from everybody. So for all of you who represent those 23 nationalities that are helping us, we say thank you, because we learn from you, but we also say thank you because you are sort of adopting us and you’re helping us to carry our message about our country, our hopes, our aspirations for people, for the world. You’re helping us to carry that message to people here in Kuwait and anybody who happens to come through here.
And no matter what section you’re in, whether you’re in consular or whether you’re in economic or you’re working as a civil servant or Foreign Service or whatever it is you’re doing, every one of you is an ambassador for our country. You carry a message. You may be the only contact that some people ever have with the United States, or you may be the first contact that they have. And as a result, the impression that you leave and the sense of America that you give is a very, very important impression. It’s an important message. So I want to thank you for that.
I also know that this happens to be a pretty good place for families. The Ambassador was bragging on sort of the good elements of serving here with respect to families, but I also know that there are restraints. And in 1983, for some of you who were here working back then, there was a terrorist attack. And of course, during the period of Saddam Hussein, we all know there was the occupation. So there have been times of great conflict and great tension and strife and even danger. So I want to thank you. It’s really important to have you here.
This relationship with Kuwait is a very, very important one. I just had a long meeting with the Amir, with His Highness, and we talked a lot about the region and Syria, the difficulties, Middle East peace process, Egypt, all the things that are happening. But remember something: All those things that are happening represent people’s hopes and aspirations for change. Tahrir Square was not a religiously inspired event. It wasn’t an extremist-inspired event. It was young people who, using their cell phones and texting and Googling and Facetiming and whatever they did, communicated to each other and talked about their hopes for the future. They wanted jobs, they wanted opportunity, they wanted respect, they wanted education, they wanted all of those kinds of things. It wasn’t till later during the election process that the sort of religious components and other organized components began to come into it.
Same thing in Tunisia, as a young fruit vendor who was completely frustrated with corruption and with the lack of economic opportunity and the fact that some police officer was restricting him from selling his fruit and he was so frustrated that he saw fit to take his own life in front of the police station, and that ignited this sense of protest. It’s playing out in many, many, many places. We’ve seen demonstrations in Turkey that don’t just have to do with the square. We’ve seen demonstrations in Brazil that aren’t about soccer games.
These are people everywhere who are looking for governance that meets their needs. I do like to think that in the United States of America, we have a special sense of that responsibility and a special opportunity with the freedom of our government, the freedom of our press, and the freedom of anybody to go out and say what they want and not get thrown in jail for it and do what they want, running for office, or anything else, that that’s a model worth fighting for and carrying to the rest of the world. So you’re all doing that. Not a bad deal to have a job where you can get up in the morning and feel good about what you’re doing and know that you’re making a difference in the world. A lot of people don’t get that privilege.
So I thank you again on behalf of our country, on behalf of the President, and personally as the Secretary of State who has the privilege of leading this great Department that is so involved in trying to make this planet we live on a better place to live. I’m grateful to you and I thank you. For those of you who will celebrate Ramadan soon, Ramadan Kareem. I wish you well. And I hope for everybody that the days ahead bring you everything that you need and want. Thank you for your service. God bless. (Applause.)
We thought it was an important speech and we're reposting the part that should have been reported on.
I was a young kid in the Foreign Service. I was 11 years old when my dad went off into the Foreign Service, and to make myself quite old, it was back in the 1950s not too long after World War II. We went to Berlin and I remember huge parts of the city totally bombed out and I’d ride my bicycle all around the city. It was a great adventure for me. And I learned enough German to still be able to go order a meal and know what I’m doing and when I’m getting into trouble, but – so it’s a lot of fun if you’re your age. How old are you? There you are; you’re exactly the age I was when I started. So you can be Secretary of State in about 50 years, how’s that? (Laughter.) You ready for that? Not yet, but you will be.
I learned what it was like to pack up the bags, to leave your friends, to go to another country, to be confronted with a culture that was just totally different and things that are different and food and habits and all those kinds of things. And for a while, I scratched my head and I said, “What’s all this about?” Now I look back on it and I am so grateful to my parents for having given me that experience. I’m so grateful for having been introduced at an early age to other people and to learn something about the way those other folks look at the world.
We don’t always do that as well as we should, any of us in places. And sometimes it’s just not taught. We don’t know how to do it, or we don’t think about it, or we think the way we do something in one country or another is the way it is everywhere, but it isn’t, as we’ve learned. And it’s so important to understand where other people are coming from, why they think the way they think, why they believe what they believe. And we can learn enormous amounts from everybody. So for all of you who represent those 23 nationalities that are helping us, we say thank you, because we learn from you, but we also say thank you because you are sort of adopting us and you’re helping us to carry our message about our country, our hopes, our aspirations for people, for the world. You’re helping us to carry that message to people here in Kuwait and anybody who happens to come through here.
And no matter what section you’re in, whether you’re in consular or whether you’re in economic or you’re working as a civil servant or Foreign Service or whatever it is you’re doing, every one of you is an ambassador for our country. You carry a message. You may be the only contact that some people ever have with the United States, or you may be the first contact that they have. And as a result, the impression that you leave and the sense of America that you give is a very, very important impression. It’s an important message. So I want to thank you for that.
I also know that this happens to be a pretty good place for families. The Ambassador was bragging on sort of the good elements of serving here with respect to families, but I also know that there are restraints. And in 1983, for some of you who were here working back then, there was a terrorist attack. And of course, during the period of Saddam Hussein, we all know there was the occupation. So there have been times of great conflict and great tension and strife and even danger. So I want to thank you. It’s really important to have you here.
This relationship with Kuwait is a very, very important one. I just had a long meeting with the Amir, with His Highness, and we talked a lot about the region and Syria, the difficulties, Middle East peace process, Egypt, all the things that are happening. But remember something: All those things that are happening represent people’s hopes and aspirations for change. Tahrir Square was not a religiously inspired event. It wasn’t an extremist-inspired event. It was young people who, using their cell phones and texting and Googling and Facetiming and whatever they did, communicated to each other and talked about their hopes for the future. They wanted jobs, they wanted opportunity, they wanted respect, they wanted education, they wanted all of those kinds of things. It wasn’t till later during the election process that the sort of religious components and other organized components began to come into it.
Same thing in Tunisia, as a young fruit vendor who was completely frustrated with corruption and with the lack of economic opportunity and the fact that some police officer was restricting him from selling his fruit and he was so frustrated that he saw fit to take his own life in front of the police station, and that ignited this sense of protest. It’s playing out in many, many, many places. We’ve seen demonstrations in Turkey that don’t just have to do with the square. We’ve seen demonstrations in Brazil that aren’t about soccer games.
These are people everywhere who are looking for governance that meets their needs. I do like to think that in the United States of America, we have a special sense of that responsibility and a special opportunity with the freedom of our government, the freedom of our press, and the freedom of anybody to go out and say what they want and not get thrown in jail for it and do what they want, running for office, or anything else, that that’s a model worth fighting for and carrying to the rest of the world. So you’re all doing that. Not a bad deal to have a job where you can get up in the morning and feel good about what you’re doing and know that you’re making a difference in the world. A lot of people don’t get that privilege.
So I thank you again on behalf of our country, on behalf of the President, and personally as the Secretary of State who has the privilege of leading this great Department that is so involved in trying to make this planet we live on a better place to live. I’m grateful to you and I thank you. For those of you who will celebrate Ramadan soon, Ramadan Kareem. I wish you well. And I hope for everybody that the days ahead bring you everything that you need and want. Thank you for your service. God bless. (Applause.)
Highlights
This piece is written by Rebecca of Sex and Politics and Screeds and Attitude, Cedric of Cedric's Big Mix, Kat of Kat's Korner, Betty of Thomas Friedman is a Great Man, Mike of Mikey Likes It!, Elaine of Like Maria Said Paz, Ruth of Ruth's Report, Marcia of SICKOFITRADLZ, Stan of Oh Boy It Never Ends, Ann of Ann's Mega Dub, Isaiah of The World Today Just Nuts and Wally of The Daily Jot.
Unless otherwise noted, we picked all highlights.
"Now we know where Barack draws the line" -- most requested highlight of the week by readers of this site.
"Iraq snapshot," "Elijah Cummings -- bald face embarrassment," "Managing the IRS' real estate portfolio? (Wally)" and "Was the witness able to understand" -- C.I., Ava, Wally and Kat report on the House Ways and Means Committee hearing. (C.I. also covers a House Veterans Affairs Committee hearing.)
"Iraq snapshot" -- C.I. reports on Iraq's Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari's presentation to the United Nations Security Council on Thursday.
"The vast decline of ESPN," "666 Park Avenue," "Mistresses," "ABC comedies" and "Under The Dome" -- Mike, Betty, Ruth, Stan and Marcia cover TV.
"Today we're all equal," "Grab bag," "Tears of joy," "Simply historic," "Anita Bryant can't stop screaming" and "THIS JUST IN! MAJOR VERDICT FROM THE COURT!" -- Betty, Ann, Ruth, Marcia, Cedric and Wally weigh in on the historic vote.
"Tomato Sandwich in the Kitchen" -- Trina offers an easy recipe.
"She betrayed Trayvon's memory," "The sexism of The Root and other Black America problems" and "Again on the Hood Rat" and "I'll say it" -- Betty, Ann and Marcia weigh in on the court proceedings.
"look who's attacking ed snowden now" -- it's Vanity Fair, if you can believe it.
"Barack's Joe McCarthy moment" -- Ruth's important post.
"Ignored problems do not go away" -- Kat breaks down the basics.
"Clare Daly, a real politician for the people" -- Mike notes an Irish politician speaking out.
"my blogging tantrum" and "Responding to a best friend" -- Rebecca and Elaine.
"A wonderful day" -- Elaine on the basics.
"Levine offers some truth, Baldwin some questions" -- Mike surveys the week.
"The drip, drip of Barry O" and "THIS JUST IN! THE STAINS ON HIS PRESIDENCY!" -- Cedric and Wally continue to cover the spectacle.
"as isaiah says, the world today just nuts" -- Rebecca offers agreement.
"Why I fear for the future of the left" -- Ruth has some concerns.
"World of music" -- Kat says give it up to music.
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