DID EWE SEE BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN?
I received a letter today from someone who believes that "Brokeback Mountain" is "contrived, implausible, typically Hollywood."
What do ewe think?
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WORLD'S FIRST BASKETBALL CHAMPS WERE GIRLS!
And not just any girls; they were American Indian girls! "Shoot, Minnie, Shoot!" is their story.
I don't follow sports, however I do enjoy a damned good sports story. The original Rocky was the best of the Balboa litter; I especially loved the story behind the movie, of how Stallone fought to get it made, a story which is now legend.
Also on my list are The Natural, Field of Dreams, A League of Their Own, the underrated Victory, and, of course, Hoosiers.
Hopefully, "Shoot, Minnie, Shoot!" will be made into a movie someday, because if there were ever a feel-good sports story, this is it.
Fort Shaw Superstars
A decade before, the game of basketball had been invented by James Naismith (Springfield, Mass.,1891). It was soon picked up by the Indian schools, and in 1904 Fort Shaw fielded a girls team that could be called the world's first basketball superstars. They are the subject of Happy Jack Feder's Shoot, Minnie, Shoot!, a historical novel for juvenile readers, and based on the actual exploits of the Fort Shaw team. American Spectator online readers may recall Mr. Feder's article of the same title, the piece that was the germ for his book.
..
Fort Shaw (Minnie, Emma Sansaver, Rose La Rose, Sarah Mitchell, Katie Snell, Belle Johnson, Genevieve Healy, Nettie Wirth, Genie Butch) starts by demolishing local boys' high school teams such as the Great Falls "Rustlers." They moved on to the college level with big wins at the University of Montana in Missoula and at Montana State University in Bozeman, shutting out the latter 22-0. Using choreographed teamwork and expert passing, they easily outplayed male teams whose players were a foot or more taller. Minnie was a phenomenal outside shooter who routinely "swished" the hoop. Since hoop nets were unknown back then, the referees watched closely every time she fired one off.
Their final scores were rather lopsided, with the Montana State shutout emblematic. In those days all scored shots were only worth one point, and game totals were low. Games were much shorter. Each half was "twenty minutes, with no clock stoppage." Games were played on courts of "dirt, wood, or covered with canvas." Still, Fort Shaw crushed all opponents by scores of 25-1, 24-2, etc. Their fame grew and the state's newspapers began to call them "Montana's Team."
The author, Happy Jack Feder of Montana, explained how he came to write "Shoot, Minnie, Shoot!":
I first heard the story on a tour of Fort Shaw. Immediately afterwards a young man ranted about the cruelties of federal Indian schools. When he finished, three very old, very frail, Indian women smiled quietly and shook their heads. One spoke in a frail, silvery voice.
“Oh, but I was so happy at the Indian school. I never wanted to leave!” The others nodded. The angry young man shook his finger at them and stammered, wanting but unable to deny the truth of their experiences.
That incident prompted my writing “Shoot, Minnie, Shoot!” A moderately objective reading of the book will reveal that the theme of truth colliding with a variety of stereotypes held by both whites and Indians is frequently represented.
…
My novel is not about the cruelties of Indian schools — dozens of such accounts are available. I wanted to write a novel about one specific group of people over the course of one year at one school.
Wouldn't y'know it, the PC cops have their knickers in knots.
Politically correct critics twist story of basketball champs
A March 11 guest opinion criticized my novel "Shoot, Minnie, Shoot!."
…
Just as certain fanatical Muslims want to forbid Danish cartoonists drawing pictures of Muhammad, the politically motivated authors of the opinion piece want to forbid me, on the premise that I'm Caucasian, from writing about Indians. And, they don't want you, the reader, to know that some Indians had pleasant, beneficial experiences at Indian schools.
…
Both white and Indian readers have responded enthusiastically to the exciting story and its inspiring message. Granddaughters of the original players have wept in thanking me for writing it. Basketball coaches have bought copies for every member of their teams. Many have written in thanks for providing insight into a surprising and neglected chapter of American history.
Yet the gloomy, pessimistic critics say "Shoot, Minnie, Shoot!" is "dangerous" because it presents a truth they don't want revealed. In clever academic coding of blatant racism, they say that I, a white man, an outsider apart from Indian culture, have no right to tell this story.
To order "SHOOT, MINNIE, SHOOT" by Happy Jack Feder, send your name, address, phone number, email and $14.95 per copy, plus $2 shipping (free shipping on two or more copies) to:
Big Sky Stories,
Augusta, MT 59410
I'm going to order the book because my son-in-law C.O. is 1/4 American Indian and his son Little H loves all ball sports. But I'm reading it first!
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FRIDAY KICKBACK QUICKIES
In case you can't read the card:Looking back, I should've slept around a little more...
Thanks, Blue!
I want to thank everyone who made my day yesterday, including: THIRDWAVEDAVE, Brainster, Chris, Aaron, Gayle, Songbird, boy michael, Dana (who survived Katrina), Dodo David, ScottG, DANEgerus, Blue, LoanCat and paul. Seriously, I've never had such a wonderful birthday, not ever.
And if anyone is wondering, but is afraid to ask, I was 56. Still am.
On to the quickies! ...
8 Mark Steyn on the John Green 'BUSH MAKES ME SICK' e-mail: I wouldn't put it on an e-mail, because I wouldn't assume that everyone who saw that e-mail agreed with me. What is reveals is that what the media think of as their impartiality is in fact rather a bland assumption that they all think the same way. And that's what's revealing about this, that he knew he could send that e-mail to all his chums at ABC, and that they would all agree that Bush makes them puke. … I'm happy that this has come clean, that Bush makes him puke.
8 As Ralph Peters points out, Baghdad isn't Gettysburg. NOT EVEN CLOSE
8 ACE replies on the subject of “civil war”: [I]s it not our entire counterinsurgency strategy to get Iraqis who believe in the new Iraq to fight Iraqis who want to restore Baathism or impose Taliban-like rule? Does not everyone who wishes us well support the strategy of standing up the Iraqis so we can stand down? And does that not mean getting the Iraqis to fight the civil war themselves?
8 You've got to hear this. In his own words last year after doing “Trapped In The Closet”: HAYES HAS NO PROBLEM WITH SCIENTOLOGY JOKES
8 Missouri teen survives ride in tornado, which reminded me of Woman Clings To Toilet, Survives Tornado Ride
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NOTE TO BOISE B
Received your note today via a Boston organization, to which the envelope had been originally addressed and inked out. They re-packaged your note, in its envelope, and forwarded it to me. I wondered why I didn't recognize the writing :~)Have a safe trip and keep in touch!
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ANOTHER YEAR OLDER
But never old.
One of the best presents I received came from THIRDWAVE Dave, and he didn't even know it's my birthday.
It all started yesterday when my DOWN THE HATCH post (below), detailing my annual adult beverage, inspired Dave to post the absolutely hysterical DOWN, DOWN, DOWN THE HATCH about my "lost weekend" -- Yes, it is sad. She's back on the booze. -- with an equally funny "churchsign" picture.
So I, in turn, posted a churchsign of my own (below). We had a great mutual admiration society thing going sparked by a bit of inspiration.
So imagine my surprise when I surfed over to Dave's this morning and read this: SHE MADE A DIFFERENCE--DID YOU? Say what you want, the gal is good. And it's folks like her that helped put George W. Bush in office in 2004. She doesn't make a big deal about it, but it's true. Few of us can make the same claim; I know I can't.
What Dave is referring to is this post I did at KerryHaters in 2004. As much as I'd like, I can't take that much credit for exposing Kerry's Excellent Cambodian Adventure as an out'n'out LIE. While Kerry did make a pit stop in Vietnam -- yes, it is true -- he didn't slip into Cambodia under the cover of darkness on that particular night. The real credit for exposing Kerry as L'Fraude goes to Pat. From a reader's tip, Pat began some laborious research into Kerry's military experiences using none other than that sloppy-kisses bio, Tour Of Duty, by Douglas Brinkley. Simply brilliant! Poor Pat slogged through at least TWO cover-to-cover readings, taking notes and highlighting passages while rendering his copies dog-eared in the process. Believe me, Pat deserves a Purple Heart for work.
Someone once told me, "I hope I don't offend you, but sometimes I think you fell off a turnip truck." He could be right, because I didn't truly understand the real significance of what I had posted on KH until a reader left a comment about the timing and Pat took it from there. The point of my post was to show how friendly Kerry was with known American enemies.
The whole point of Dave's post is an excellent one: Take the time to make a difference in the future of your country, and the future of your children. Let's leave them something worth fighting for. ... The democrats are organizing now--what are you doing?
I can't thank you enough, Dave, for one of the best birthday surprises ever!
On with the merriment! ...
8 OMG! It's an F5 HORROR-SCOPE!: Your Horoscope for March 23, 2006
IF IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY
No matter your age or social position you will get the chance to better yourself in some way over the coming 12 months. Just remember that "better does not necessarily mean richer or more powerful. The meaning of life is to love, laugh and learn, so forget about material things and focus on the growth of your soul.
8 Speaking of Pat: Google deems Pat “sane”! Glad that was cleared up.
8 Her Royal C has hauled Jesus into her campaign. Watch the VIDEO! Internal polling must have told her that religion is an asset, which is only fitting since an asset is a small, female donkey. h/t boy michael
In the Chef corner ...
8 AnkleBitingPundits coined a new term: South Park Nails Scientology - And Issac Hayes Gets "Chefed"
8 CHEF NEEDS JOB: ISAAC Hayes may not have quit "South Park" at all - or at least not willingly. Turns out Hayes has been away from Comedy Central's hit show for the past three months because he had a stroke. According to foxnews.com, he's at home recuperating and did not issue the press release which said he was quitting because the show made fun of his faith. That release was put out by fellow Scientologist Christina "Kumi" Kimball, a fashion executive for designer Craig Taylor. According to foxnews.com, "Hayes loves 'South Park' and needs it for income. He has a new wife and a baby on the way."
8 But don’t worry ‘bout Chef cuz Hayes has gotta brand new gig! h/t LoanCat!
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MY "LOST WEEKEND"
T'hell with that AA meeting tonight.
I'm going to THIRDWAVE Dave's!
Your serve, D ;~)
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THANK GOD IT'S HUMP DAY
Ldot Pin Chronicle #87; The real story behind that testy exchange at Bush's press conference yesterday: I told you Helen [Thomas] that I'm not giving you my Ldot pin! You'll have to buy your own.Elsewhere in the news ...
8 Paris youths are still revolting: Yelling "Police everywhere, justice nowhere!" rioters tried to attack metal police barriers cordoning off the Sorbonne. Some tried to take down a metal street sign to use it as a missile, while others set two mattresses on fire and hurled them at police.
To which Bulldogpundit points out: [M]any Democrats in this country want to go down the same road that has caused much of the problems in France. With their fantasies of cradle-to-grave socialism, heavy regulation, strong unions, burdensome taxes, an insane program of worker protections, and disincentive to growth, today's American liberals refuse to look the consequences of their preferred policies in the eye.
8 ACE posts on The original "Operation Swarmer" in 1950: In early May of 1950, the Army staged the largest peacetime airborne operation, the namesake for the air assault operation in Iraq in March of 2006. Time Magazine featured an article about it just before it commenced.
8 Check out the new kid in the blogosphere, Red America. Pachyderms in the Mist: Red America and the MSM: During the discussions about the launch of this new blog, the good folks at washingtonpost.com spent far too much time in sessions with markers and whiteboard, trying to settle on a name for the column. The suggestions were all over the map - but one suggestion provided a reminder of the sociopolitical divide in this country. "What about 'Red Dawn'?" said one helpful editor.
"Well, only if you want to make people think it was a gun blog," I said, to puzzled faces.
8 Personally, I love it when liberals flap their jaws because most of them make asses of themselves. Check out THIRDWAVE Dave’s YET ANOTHER EXPERT SPEAKS OUT
8 Speaking of which, The Man Who Reads 20 Newspapers a Day is Still An Idiot
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DOWN THE HATCH!
Last night I tasted my first Cosmopolitan. For those of you who don't know me, I don't drink. Not that I didn't give it the good old college try long before I was of college age. I drank 14 whiskey sours one night at a company Christmas party when I was 18, which was the legal drinking age back then, and I didn't even really like whiskey sours. While most adult beverages taste like gasoline to me, I did learn that after a few, they tend to go down like water -- drinks that is.However, the real reason I stopped drinking had more to do with vanity: I didn't want to age prematurely. Alcohol, tobacco and too much sun will turn the most beautiful female into a shoddy ripoff piece of Luis Vuitton luggage. I didn't quit completely; I average one drink each year.
Last night I decided WTF. So I had a Sex & the City special, the drink that Carrie Bradshaw made famous: A Cosmopolitan. I braced myself for that first sip. I must say, it was delicious, so down the hatch!
Next year I'm thinking of a dirty martini :)
And now for some cocktail chatter ...
8 Bathroom lip service? Now, if they'd only wash their hands.
8 For Muslims who want that homeboy image: The bagginess is to ensure the wearer avoids stiffness while bending down repeatedly during prayers. The pockets are for holding all the accessories Muslims have to take off while they worship. And the jeans have green seams — because green is the sacred color of Islam.
8 Page Six blind item: WHICH political reporter attends so-called "circuit parties" while flying high on ecstasy? "It stuns me that a prominent figure with public responsibility would show such poor judgment," said one witness, "not to mention that it's totally illegal."
8 First “Brokeback Mountain” and now THIS: COUNTRY duo Big and Rich eating sushi with Cowboy Troy at Tao.
8 In no uncertain terms, and an ironic choice of words, Hands off Kevin, rep tells blogs: Kevin Costner's camp is vigorously denying that the "Field of Dreams" star engaged in sexual self-gratification in front of a horrified masseuse at a posh Scottish golf resort.
Michael Douglas is another possibility.
Cheers!
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LIKE A BAD PENNY
Since this will be timed out by tonight, and because it's so delicious I found it impossible to edit, I'm posting it in its entirety.BARBRA TO HIT THE ROAD AGAIN
PEOPLE who love Barbra Streisand concerts are the luckiest people in the world - because the legendary songstress is doing another farewell tour, Page Six has learned.
The Brooklyn-born diva - who previously bid her fans goodbye in 2000 - is to hit the road this fall, says our insider, but there's already plenty of behind-the-scenes intrigue.
We're told that Streisand's tour will have 20 shows, in which she'll perform "in the round" from the middle of arenas. She'll be paid $2 million per show, and the best tickets will go for $1,500 a pop.
Streisand's handlers have yet to secure an opening act. "They've tried unsuccessfully for Rod Stewart, Neil Diamond and Andrea Bocelli as opening acts," says our music industry snitch. "They're trying to get [operatic vocal group] Il Divo now."
Our mole continued, "The big worry is, 'Can Barbra lose the extra 50 pounds she's put on?' She feels that confirming the dates is the only thing that will make her lose the weight.
"The promoter is Michael Cohl, who does the Rolling Stones. The industry is freaked out about her ticket prices as the greediest ever. Her manager, Marty Erlichman, has screwed [talent agency] CAA out of their involvement, so there's a lotta bad blood out there about this one."
Streisand's last "final" tour began on New Year's Eve 1999 in Las Vegas and ended at a sold-out Madison Square Garden show in September 2000, which drew the likes of Rosie O'Donnell, Sarah Jessica Parker, Penny Marshall, Madeleine Albright and Drew Barrymore.
In June of 2004, Streisand, a vocal critic of President Bush, sang at a Los Angeles fundraiser for Sen. John Kerry, raising $5 million for his campaign.
More recently, Streisand worked on a new album with former Bee Gee Barry Gibb, starred in "Meet the Fockers," and holed up at her Malibu mansion with her husband of seven years, James Brolin.
Erlichman was said to be traveling yesterday and could not be reached for comment. Streisand spokesman Ken Sunshine declined comment.
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CURIOUSER & CURIOUSER
In case you haven't heard, tomorrow night's episode of South Park will feature chef, although nobody is saying who will be doing the voice.
'South Park' has Chef's surprise
Contrary to popular assumption, "South Park" fans have not seen the Chef sling his final serving of hash.
The character, who until last week was voiced by Isaac Hayes, is back tomorrow in the first of several new episodes of Comedy Central's top-rated show.
…
A Comedy Central spokesman would not confirm or deny that Chef's voice in tomorrow's episode is provided by Hayes, but he did reiterate that Hayes is no longer involved with the show.
…
It's unclear whether tomorrow's episode involves Scientology.
But Parker and Stone's penchant for topical sacred-cow-bashing is well-known. So it would not be a stretch to assume that "Chef Returns" is the latest salvo in the battle between "South Park" and the religion that counts Tom Cruise and John Travolta among its devotees.
And then I read this interesting tidbit. IMHO, Defamer's supposition rings true.
Isaac Hayes suffered a stroke, so Isaac Hayes May Have Quit 'South Park' By His Own Not-Free Will: It's enough to make you think this message may have been composed for him, perhaps by the same team of handlers who abducted Hayes from the evil clutches of his neurological rehabilitation treatment program, replacing it with their far more effective vitamins-and-heating-pad-on-your-head stroke-Thetan-reducing technique.
If Hayes did suffer a stroke, I wish him a speedy and full recovery. I felt from the beginning that there was more to his "quitting" than met the eye.
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IT MUST BE MONDAY
While real success is being made in Iraq, by Iraqis, the Paris youths are still revolting -- this time about job security. Paris youths work? Who knew?
8 Here at home 19 ARRESTED IN CITY PEACE RALLY
Members of the War Resisters League carried mock coffins and anti-war signs as they walked in silence along the sidewalk.
"As we march, bombs are falling on cities and villages," said Frida Berrigan, a spokeswoman for the group.
"War is never a necessity. It is a product of failure of imagination."
8 Mark Steyn skewers the left again :) We shall fight them at the water cooler
'Bloody battle' strategies are for daily life. God forbid we use them in bloody battles.
8 Et tu, Boise? From a "red state rebel" who's "resisting conservative extremism since 2003":
I love Boise
I am feeling fortunate indeed to live in a city that's becoming ever more diverse in its politics and its population ... a city where people consider their kids' needs (and even other people's kids' needs) before their own wants ... and a city where many people are taking a serious look at how we can be more green and how we can be more kind.
8 ACE reports that If you have a gun in San Francisco ... you are a criminal who knows innocent victims don't
8 Still crazy after all these years ... John Kerry: Boston Under Water In 30 Years
Esteemed climatologist John F'in Kerry made a dire proclamation on Imus in the Morning.
And the beat goes on.
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THE L.DOT PIN CHRONICLES
Each day Lucianne posts a new Ldot pin story in her Must Reads.
The above are just two in The Ldot Pin Chronicles.
Buy a pin and share your story!
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YOU KNEW THIS WOULD HAPPEN
When Hollywoodinterrupted.com posted the entire South Park episode (commercial FREE!) of Trapped In The Closet, you knew it would be yanked. I figured it was very possibly a Comedy Central copyright infringement. Then, of course, there are those Scientologists with whom to contend. However, if you have yet to see the episode, you can still find it. I understand it can easily be found at YouTube.com :)
DoS Shuts Down Scientology Critic HollywoodInterrupted.com
Apparently, some script-kiddie asshole(s) chock-full of Lord Xenu thetans have attacked HollywoodInterrupted.com with a denial of service attack, knocking it offline to all access. Journalist Mark Ebner's site was the first to break the story on Tom Cruise's blackmailing of Viacom over a South Park episode mocking Scientology and his sexuality.
Until the site is up again...The original story and a few other of Mark's articles is mirrored here.
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GOT THE MUNCHIES ;-)
Read the article and check out the pictures of the candy!
Police Raid 'Marijuana Candy' Factory in California
Federal drug enforcement agents in Northern California shut down an elaborate "marijuana candy" factory that produced drug-laced snacks called Rasta Reece's, Pot Tarts, and other parodies of popular products.
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"V FOR VENDETTA" -- THE COMIC BOOK
I consider Pat, over at Brainster, an authority on comics; he's made comic books a serious hobby. If you're thinking of seeing the movie "V for Vendetta," you might want to read Pat's post first.
Some Comments on V for Vendetta the Comic Book
The comics were written starting in 1981, and they posited a future England under the control of a Nazi-like government. … Uh, the Russians invaded Poland? Remember this is before the end of the Cold War. And the notion that President Teddy Kennedy (gah!) would have started a nuclear exchange over that "invasion" is risible. Africa's not there anymore? Why? Did the US or Russia have a large number of their missiles aimed at the Dark Continent? But Britain didn't get bombed? Sheesh, must have been because Labour got those American missiles out of the UK.
You see what I mean? It doesn't even make good speculative fiction because you're too busy snorting and rolling your eyes in disbelief.
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HOW VERY BONFIRE OF THE VANITIES
Since this piece will be timed out by tonight, I'm posting it in its entirety.
'TRASH' TOTS RILE FANCY SCHOOL
CLASS warfare is threatening to break out at the Episcopal School, the East 69th Street institution that sits at the apex of Manhattan's private pre-school pyramid.
Parents at the pricey nursery are up in arms about the "quality" of the families whose kids are being accepted, and are blaming the director of admissions, Judith Blanton, for her more inclusionary policies.
"Parents don't like that Judith brought in 'white trash' like me," one self-deprecating parent told Page Six. "The parents on the board are upset because there are families turning down Episcopal for the first time to go to other schools. Apparently, it's because there are middle-class people in the school." And, the parent added, "There's a petition to get her out because of the quality of the people in the school."
Pia and Christopher Getty, Harvey and Eve Weinstein , Jann and Jane Wenner, Ronald Perelman and Patricia Duff, Jerry Della Femina and Judy Licht, and Edgar Jr. and Clarissa Bronfman have all sent their 4-year-olds to Episcopal to the tune of $17,000 a year.
The school's atmosphere is old-fashioned formal. Students are required to greet the director every day with a handshake and do the same when they leave.
Instead of calling teachers by their first names, the tykes address instructors with honorifics and their last names. Students also must wait for everyone in the class to sit before eating snacks.
Parents are likewise expected to behave with the utmost decorum, particularly at the mandatory weekly chapel services, whether they're Episcopalian or not.
This isn't the first time there's been a controversy surrounding the school's director of admissions. Blanton's predecessor, Cheryl A. Kelly, was asked to resign by school's board of directors in 2002 after serving for eight years.
The New York Observer reported that the firing took place because of "a cultural clash between Ms. Kelly's no-nonsense managerial approach and the school's high-powered, favor-ridden social bent," which sounds not unlike the situation with Blanton today. Blanton would only say, "We don't discuss our admissions policy." Board chairperson Joy McLendon did not return calls.
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