Monday Afternoon Open Thread

By Jeralyn, Section Blog Related
Posted on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 01:33:02 PM EST
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I'm working today so here's an open thread, all topics welcome. (I'll be back online tonight.)

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Monday Afternoon Open Thread | 94 comments (94 topical)

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More Sinatra, anyone? (5.00 / 2) (#1)
by jeffinalabama on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 01:43:35 PM EST

Witchcraft.

I haven't felt this good since surviving my second jump in Airborne school, or my son being born. Those two are about equal...and without the first, no second!

and what brought (none / 0) (#2)
by Capt Howdy on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 01:48:55 PM EST

this on?

Parent

Date two has lead to a date three. (5.00 / 1) (#4)
by jeffinalabama on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 01:50:49 PM EST

n/t

Parent

ah (none / 0) (#5)
by Capt Howdy on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 01:52:27 PM EST

I see

Parent

Will he let us know if this doesn't (none / 0) (#6)
by oculus on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 01:55:29 PM EST

work out?

Parent

I have links (5.00 / 1) (#8)
by jeffinalabama on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 02:00:41 PM EST

saved to J Geils and BB King. If it's a really ugly breakup, DOA's "Fukc you" will get links.

Oh, and George Jones, Merle Haggard, and Willie Nelson.

Since almost everyone here I consider a friend, and since I've already shared so much personal info, of course I will.

Maybe it's office entertainment for some, but I don't have a BFF to phone about my life.

embrace the public shame and ridicule. Just like Festivus!

Parent

You've got multiple BFF's... (none / 0) (#12)
by kdog on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 02:06:52 PM EST

right here holmes.

Before you get ahead of yourself to bitter songs of parting, you need a seal the deal track...may I suggest several funky mofos from Ohio and "Ecstasy"...this one has never failed me yet.

Parent

I was hoping my meaning was cear... (none / 0) (#18)
by jeffinalabama on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 02:28:03 PM EST

Y'all are my BFFs. Other folks I work with, live near, etc.

this place is family.

Parent

: All for one, and one for all, jeff. (none / 0) (#66)
by caseyOR on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 04:44:33 PM EST

Any pirate crew worth its salt is a family. What would be the point of cruising the Seven Seas (the warmer ones, that is) with anyone but friends?
So, keep us apprised, matey.

Parent

kdog, gifts for Mexico... (none / 0) (#29)
by jeffinalabama on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 02:46:45 PM EST

no joke here-- go to your local wallyworld and buy 5 or so of the cheapest nylon cooking utensils, like ladles, spoons, slotted (spider) strainers, tongs, and those things for grabbing (like giant tweezers).Also, if you ever plan on cooking, even eggs, take at least one decent spatula.

Give them all to your novia. Easy to find here for less than two bucks each.

In central and south america, these are luxuries... excellent gifts for any occasion.

I'd also, if it were me, take down one 10 inch cast iron frying pan. Incredibly useful, but there you'll see all sorts of different adaptations, and often no iron ones.

Inexpensive here, but unavailable elsewhere.

Parent

My brother makes a mean corn bread (5.00 / 1) (#30)
by oculus on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 02:51:34 PM EST

with onions and apples, using a cast iron skillet. Delish.

Parent

Recipe? (none / 0) (#33)
by jeffinalabama on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 02:54:21 PM EST

Parent

I'll ask him. (none / 0) (#36)
by oculus on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 02:56:21 PM EST

Parent

: I second that recipe request. n/t (none / 0) (#68)
by caseyOR on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 04:46:32 PM EST

Parent

Thanks man... (5.00 / 2) (#38)
by kdog on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 02:59:07 PM EST

but I got a little something all picked out for my planned Mid-March trip...a spanish translation of the book oculus gave me and Jeralyn raves about (for good reason), "Shantaram".

The special lady has a bit of a thing for India and dreams to travel there...and since I can't afford to take her to India, I can bring a literary taste of it to her, and share a piece of art I'm really digging.

Parent

kdog, you (5.00 / 1) (#62)
by Zorba on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 04:33:04 PM EST

are such a sweetie, and she's a lucky lady!

Parent

Another book I enjoyed re India: (none / 0) (#81)
by oculus on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 05:47:15 PM EST

"Indian Summer," a readable history written by a fairly young British female scholar.

Parent

: Here's the Amazon link. Don't know if (none / 0) (#82)
by oculus on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 05:56:17 PM EST

this book is available in Spanish. Indian Summer

Parent

Cast iron frying pan. (5.00 / 1) (#73)
by caseyOR on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 05:07:01 PM EST

I have an old, well-seasoned cast iron skillet that I would not want to live without. It originally belonged to my grandmother. She had three 10 inch skillets which passed to my mother who used them to produce many of my favorite childhood meals, foremost among them the best fried chicken evah. Seriously, my mom's fried chicken was the stuff of legends.

When I moved into my first apartment, Mom gave me one of the skillets. Luckily, there were three skillets; one for each of my mother's children.

That skillet has traveled the nation with me. When my house burned down (arsonist did not like lesbians so set our house on fire) the skillet survived unscathed. My record collection, which included all the Beatles, Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane and Starship as well as lots of midwest music (especially Chicago blues) well, those LPs just melted into a blob. But the skillet lived.

I love that skillet.

Parent

: I have an old (none / 0) (#84)
by Zorba on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 06:07:44 PM EST

fourteen inch cast iron skillet that we were given as a wedding present (40 years ago!). It is well-seasoned, I love it, and I use it all the time (although it's heavy as heck!).

Parent

Have you seen Twyla Tharp's musical (none / 0) (#3)
by oculus on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 01:49:19 PM EST

"Come Fly Away"? Sinatra songs.

Parent

No, but I will now. (none / 0) (#9)
by jeffinalabama on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 02:01:23 PM EST

Parent

Better read the reviews first! (none / 0) (#15)
by oculus on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 02:17:29 PM EST

Parent

Only time I hated (none / 0) (#17)
by jeffinalabama on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 02:26:37 PM EST

a remake of a Sinatra song was "my way," by Sid Vicous. My roommate while working on the PhD was married, his wife was on a post-doc in Ann Arbor, and he came back to Tempe to finish his dissertation.

I learned the hard way that a diagnosed PTSD and ADHD person-- myself-- doesn't make a good roommate with a diagnosed OCD person-- my roomie.

We're still good friends. But it was bizarro world for our mutual acquaintences since I'm not particularly sociable if I think a person is either patronizing or an idiot. Kind of describes young PhD students. My roomie and I were some 15 years older than the average age in our program. Geez, that was a few years ago!

Parent

Did the roomie assault your ears with (none / 0) (#19)
by oculus on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 02:28:17 PM EST

that recording?

Parent

Over and over and over (none / 0) (#25)
by jeffinalabama on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 02:34:51 PM EST

and over... He's OCD. When we roomed together, neither of us enjoyed the luxury of medications, since they cost money. Also, the VA had not, at that time, begun covering PTSD.

Parent

: I thought for a minute your roomie was Sid. (none / 0) (#35)
by oculus on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 02:55:47 PM EST

New subject: TL sidebar

Parent

A little younger Boomer (none / 0) (#11)
by brodie on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 02:05:28 PM EST

I guess, and when I was coming along, Frank I always associated with my father's generation, and so never quite warmed up to his music.

Instead, in terms of Sinatras, this and this'n here is what I recall hearing during my formative years

Parent

Me too (none / 0) (#14)
by ruffian on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 02:13:53 PM EST

For myself, the Linda Ronstadt - Nelson Riddle versions of some of those same songs rang my bells.

Parent

I thought Nancy Sinatra was the (none / 0) (#16)
by jeffinalabama on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 02:19:10 PM EST

perfect woman in '68... white Go-go boots, platinum blonde... ohhhhhh, yeah. Easy to remember!

Too bad for me I associate the song now with "Me so hooony! Boom boom long time!" director Kubrick, I can't forgive you for this one.

Parent

Well in 1968 for moi (5.00 / 1) (#31)
by brodie on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 02:51:51 PM EST

the perfect woman would have been Julie Christie.

But in terms of attractive singers, Michelle Phillips (Mamas & Papas), Chér or Grace Slick would have been more my preference. Sylvie Vartan and Petula Clark, aussi.

Nancy Sinatra, even with a nice face and good voice and a few fine tunes, didn't quite do it for me, what with the big country girl hair, though she wasn't country, and the plastic go-go boots. If I wanted a country tinge to my female musical artist, I had this outstanding singer-writer to go to, and she was authentic country at that.

Not sure about what Kubrick thought of her song -- did he consider it a metaphor for US military involvement in Nam?

Parent

As Yogi Berra said, (5.00 / 1) (#72)
by jeffinalabama on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 05:05:29 PM EST

"It was cold in Russia in them days."

Parent

Grace Slick story. (5.00 / 1) (#75)
by caseyOR on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 05:16:57 PM EST

This is one of my favorite Grace Slick stories:

Back in the day, long before Capone's vault and Fox News, Geraldo Rivera had a late late night show on ABC. One night his guest was Gracie Slick. Geraldo, who was famously anti-drugs, talked with Gracie about the tragic deaths of musicians like Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison. He then asked her if, knowing then what she knew now, would she have done anything differently?

Grace replied, "I'd've been blonde and had bigger tits." Geraldo's jaw hit the floor and they cut to commercial.

Parent

: Ah, Grace was the (none / 0) (#88)
by brodie on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 08:28:44 PM EST

naughty and outspoken and occasionally dangerous type. Iow, just the perfect guest for Geraldo and late late night.
Alas, back then his Good Night America show -- 2 am on the left coast -- was at least one "late" too late for me, and they didn't have dvr's or vcr's back then to time shift, so I missed all but a couple of his shows. (alas too, no one yet has posted that show to YT)
My favorite Grace Slick story: the time she was invited to attend a wedding reception at the Nixon WH for Tricia, presumably because she and Grace had attended the same finishing school, Finch College. Grace shows up with radical mischief-maker Abbie Hoffman, and finally someone at the gate got wise and barred both from entering. Grace said later that she'd brought some LSD and had planned to spike Dick Nixon's punch had she gotten in.
What a scene that would have been, Tricky tripping out -- and probably would have led to a much better presidency, less bombing of Vietnam, maybe no Watergate ...

Parent

There always seemed to be a designated (none / 0) (#41)
by MKS on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 03:05:01 PM EST

s*xpot in the late 60s/early 70s.

Raquel Welch. Ann Margaret. Jill St. John.

Parent

: And of course Ginger and MaryAnn (none / 0) (#42)
by MKS on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 03:06:46 PM EST

Parent
: Ann Margaret... (none / 0) (#46)
by jeffinalabama on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 03:11:29 PM EST

I feel like Beavis and Butthead now. hehehhehehehhehehehh.
this was before I changed, however.
No, I watched her in "Any Given Sunday. s.Hehehehhehhhehehehehehehheeheheheh.
Sexual icon for U.S. Boys.

Parent

I hope not, in vietnam country music (none / 0) (#44)
by jeffinalabama on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 03:07:57 PM EST

and r&b were the big ones, IIRC. Nancy was popular in the World.

Look at all the different versions of "say a little prayer" that came out, country, r &b, and rock.

It was a strange time. If we had only three networks, and had independent radio stations, more attention might be payed to our ground war in Asia.

Parent

Oh I wouldn't doubt (none / 0) (#53)
by brodie on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 03:49:14 PM EST

NS was popular over there -- and our military contingent probably was vastly overrepresented by Southern guys, so they'd naturally be inclined to like her sound. And I do give her pop music props as she hit some interesting notes there with songwriter partner Lee Greenwood. Very successful hookup. But in terms of my kinda woman, and appealing looks, she had some strong competition back then ...

Parent

: I've moved far away from that look, (none / 0) (#55)
by jeffinalabama on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 03:54:48 PM EST

but in the '60s, I thought she was hot. Same with any bleach-blonde.
A long time ago!

Parent

Michelle Philips... (none / 0) (#60)
by desertswine on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 04:18:07 PM EST

still beautiful, the last time I saw her, pushing some PBS cd's during their fund raising time.

Parent

She taught me the pony (none / 0) (#27)
by ruffian on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 02:37:05 PM EST

The cool big sister I never had!

Parent

I remember that now... (none / 0) (#28)
by jeffinalabama on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 02:40:18 PM EST

Parent

I remember that, too (none / 0) (#63)
by Zorba on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 04:37:52 PM EST

But I'd actually prefer to forget it. I was so much more into Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Pete Seeger, et al, at the time. But then, I was a true DFH. ;-)

Parent

Check. And that's (5.00 / 1) (#69)
by brodie on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 04:46:36 PM EST

three more songstresses I preferred back then in terms of looks and sounds -- Joan Baez, Mary Travers, plus the lovely Linda Ronstadt.

Though I was too young to be a DFH -- just a youngster sitting back watching the fashions radically change and the music explode ...

Parent

Joan Baez and Mary Travers. (none / 0) (#71)
by jeffinalabama on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 05:04:36 PM EST

thank you for reminding me of Mary, and viva Joan.

Parent

Oh, Joan Baez. (5.00 / 0) (#74)
by caseyOR on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 05:09:54 PM EST

I was in those days, and remain so to this day, mad for Joan. She made this little closeted lesbian's heart go pitter-pat.

Parent

Capt Casey, those voices... (none / 0) (#76)
by jeffinalabama on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 05:22:56 PM EST

Remember, when you're captain, don't steer toward them, they are the harpies. We ought to have plenty of CDs on board.

And since I was in field artillery AND aviation, LOUD SPEAKERS!

Parent

Sirens (none / 0) (#77)
by Capt Howdy on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 05:24:47 PM EST

not harpies

Parent

Okay, make kdog second mate. (none / 0) (#78)
by jeffinalabama on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 05:31:08 PM EST

I can't even remember my sirens... although I've used that term referring to women of a certain age and education from a specific city in Colombia...

Mesmerising. Not meant that they change shape, rip out your heart, eat it before your brain dies, then steal your children...

did I think that or type that?

Parent

: I'm an older and wiser lesbian now. (none / 0) (#80)
by caseyOR on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 05:44:06 PM EST

So, all means will be utilized to avoid succumbing to anyone's "siren song."
And the more music, the better.

Parent

LAT Sunday review of new bio of Alan (none / 0) (#90)
by oculus on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 09:59:51 PM EST

Lomax, who apparently was not all that enthralled by the 60s folksong movement: link

Parent

For pity's sakes, (none / 0) (#87)
by the capstan on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 06:54:48 PM EST

I'll take Kate Smith, Margaret Whiting, and the Andrews Sisters. And you can throw in Bing for good measure.

Parent

Don't be dissing the (none / 0) (#89)
by jeffinalabama on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 08:36:58 PM EST

The Andrews Sisters.

Those'r fightin' words!

Ohhhhhhh, Lavere...

Parent

: That was an acolade, (5.00 / 1) (#94)
by the capstan on Tue Jan 18, 2011 at 04:19:00 PM EST

not a diss. Remember 'Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy?"

Parent

I was learning how to make (none / 0) (#67)
by jeffinalabama on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 04:45:20 PM EST

the m-16 work in combat-- not the easy fix a1, but the first generation. I also learned to patch Cobras with beer cans. 2o odd years and a long break in service later, I saw the same patches I made ar Bien Hoa were still there.

Never underestimate a steel Falstaff can.

Parent

I recently read a novel about the VietNam War. (none / 0) (#83)
by caseyOR on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 06:06:58 PM EST

The book, Matterhorn, was written by Karl Marlantes. It tells the story of a young Marine lieutenant and his first foray as an officer into combat. The author was just such a young Marine lt. in VietNam. He tool over 30 years to complete the writing of this novel.

It is a long book that takes place over just a few weeks time. The senselessness of fighting a "war of attrition" and the insanity of thinking we could win such a war leap from every page of this book.

While I am of that time, I did not serve in VietNam. So, my take on the accuracy of this book's depiction of that experience is based on absolutely no personal experience. It rings true to me because of the stories I have heard from those who did serve in VietNam.

I read the book through in just three days (and nights), although I interspersed my reading with the tasks of real life.

If any vets have I read this book, I'd be interested to hear their thoughts.

Parent

: Another book worth a read: A Cat From Hue, (none / 0) (#85)
by oculus on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 06:08:50 PM EST

by a TV reporter who was in field quite a bit.

Parent

Memorable scene (none / 0) (#39)
by MKS on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 02:59:24 PM EST

memorable movie.

Matthew Modine--whavetever happened to him?

Lee Ermey is all over t.v.

And Vincent D'Onofrio has had a lot of roles....

Mezmerizing visually as are all Kubrick films...

Parent

Only saw it the one (none / 0) (#47)
by brodie on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 03:23:01 PM EST

time when it first came out, 1986. Too disturbing to want to see again.

I mean the first half. Just brutal.

The second half of the film, taking place in VN, I thought actually lost a bit of the hard-edged momentum from the first half, ironically given Kubrick was now going into the war zone portion of the film. I thought Oliver Stone's Platoon was a better film about VN. And Coppola's Apocalypse Now (Redux especially) was a better overall crafted film about the madness of war.

Mental Jacket was a bit of a disappointment despite some good acting and strong boot camp opening. The initially mixed-review Shining holds up better 25-30 yrs later.

Parent

Supposedly Kubrick auditioned (none / 0) (#49)
by jondee on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 03:34:04 PM EST

dozens of people for the drill instructer role, wasn't satisfied, and finally hired Ermey: an actual former drill instructer.

Parent

I use the basic training (none / 0) (#50)
by jeffinalabama on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 03:36:33 PM EST

boot camp part for teaching now. It was brutal, but compressed. I tell students that, no, this isn't every minute, but the gist is correct A film can't show the entirity of basic. it did hit the high points.

The Vietnam part fell extremely flat, cinematically nice, but not there. Historically... I need not say more. It was a movie. I own it, I rarely watch beyond the boot camp.

Iraq vets, on the other hand, seem to identify strongly with the combat. they lived urban warfare.

Parent

: The Vietnam part had a couple of (5.00 / 1) (#52)
by jondee on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 03:47:17 PM EST

memorable scenes: "private Joker's" encounter with that colonel, "..I guess I'm trying to say something about the duality of man..the Jungian thing, sir.." "You better get your head and your as* wired back together son.." and that bit in which Joker's superior is telling him to get close to the stage at the USO show so he can get shots of Ann Margaret's "fur and morning dew"

Parent

I think (none / 0) (#54)
by Ga6thDem on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 03:50:57 PM EST

all guys were wild over her back then and little girls like me wanted to dress like her. We all had hideous white patent leather boots.

Parent

"Facts are facts, truth is truth," (5.00 / 1) (#7)
by Capt Howdy on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 01:59:11 PM EST

GREELEY, Colo. -- A local school board member and radio station owner has come under fire for airing an editorial denouncing the holiday honoring slain civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The broadcaster remains unrepentant and defiant in the wake of community outcry.
Brett Reese is airing the editorial four times daily -- up from two -- on his station KELS-FM 104.7. He is unapologetic that portions of the editorial that call King a "plastic god," a "sexual degenerate," and "an America hating communist" appear verbatim on a website with links to a white supremacist group.
"Facts are facts, truth is truth," he said, adding that he might pre-empt other programing to air the editorial round the clock. The 40-year-old former carpenter claims he helped build houses for Habitat for Humanity in the Mississippi Delta and once dated an African American woman. He insists he's not racist.

well
after all
he dated a black woman

At least Reese is out front (5.00 / 1) (#48)
by jondee on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 03:28:55 PM EST

with it. Because lets face it, if King were alive today and threatening to exert the kind of influence that he did in the sixties, he'd be facing an anslaut of red baiting and Swift Boating coming from the knuckle walkers of talk radio and at Fox, that would make whats directed at Obama look like love letters in the sand.

Parent

indeed (none / 0) (#51)
by Capt Howdy on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 03:39:18 PM EST

Parent

: I could write Beck's (none / 0) (#58)
by jondee on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 03:58:22 PM EST

script now: "false prophet".."libertation theologian".."proven socialist ties.."
But, whats truely beyond laughable is the present day tenor of so many conervatives, who try to make it sound as if they'd always embraced King with open arms and would to continue to if he were alive today.

Parent

A real piece of work, that one. (none / 0) (#64)
by MileHi Hawkeye on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 04:38:19 PM EST

Typical RW nut with a bad case of "I'm the victim" syndrome. Wanted to conceal carry at the School Board meeting because of all the "threats" (none have been reported to Greeley police or any other authorities), so the Board moved the last meeting to a school so he couldn't. They're going to pass rules that restrict carrying on all school property at the next meeting.

His radio station is at the bottom of the barrel in the Greeley market and more than a few advertisers have pulled their ad buys.

People turned out in-force for today's MLK celebration in Greeley, mainly due to people standing up to the hate.

Parent

: Thanks for link... (none / 0) (#70)
by kdog on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 04:50:41 PM EST

Mile...ya always gotta dig for the counter-love-attack.
The haters are loud, but they are few.

Parent

More Music: Celia Cruz (5.00 / 1) (#61)
by jeffinalabama on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 04:19:50 PM EST

Azucar!!!!

BTD, has oiste?

What will be made in America? (5.00 / 1) (#79)
by Politalkix on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 05:35:59 PM EST

More depressing news about the economy.
American companies are in a race to set up manufacturing and R&D in China to benefit from partnerships with state-owned companies in industries of the future like solar, wind and aerospace.

Yes, state-owned Chinese companies and state owned banks and local governments are the magnets that are creating
the boom in industrial investment in China. The Chinese Government euphemistically calls itself a socialistic democracy these days. But God forbid any talk of infrastructure spending by the Government in the United States! That would be socialism and as you all know, socialism is such a bad thing!

: Our only future growth industry (none / 0) (#91)
by MO Blue on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 10:10:22 PM EST

will be our endless wars.
Added Benefit: No jobs means the military will not have an enlistment problem.
IIRC some of our stimulus money went to a joint venture between Texas businessmen and China for wind tunnels. 2,000 jobs for China and 3 full time jobs for the U.S.

Parent
: Just got back (none / 0) (#93)
by Rojas on Tue Jan 18, 2011 at 07:10:25 AM EST

an I swear the national bird of China is the tower crane.
I saw ONE piece of Caterpillar equipment out of thousands of earth moving machines.
We have sold our souls.

Parent

How Caroline Kennedy blackmailed Disney (none / 0) (#10)
by Capt Howdy on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 02:04:22 PM EST

to scrap sexed-up Camelot series

Toward the end of the first week of January, an assistant in the office of Abbe Raven, president of the A&E cable channels, made a courtesy call to net work partner ABC.
Was there any conflict if the His tory channel, one of A&E's affiliates, scheduled its new, eight-hour mini series "The Ken nedys" to air in March?
The answer came back: Not March -- not ever.
Why?
Caroline Kennedy had leveled an ultimatum to the companies -- dump the reportedly warts- and-all miniseries or lose her cooperation in the planned fall release of never-before-heard conversations with her mother.

Wow, "blackmail"??? (5.00 / 3) (#13)
by brodie on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 02:12:43 PM EST

Isn't that a little strong, especially on a legal blog?

How about just properly using her available leverage to get that network to stop the airing of a fraudulent fictional miniseries which many viewers, seeing it on The History Channel, might easily have confused with fact.

Nothing wrong in my book in attempting to keep outright false history off channels like THC, and most other places if at all possible.

In fact, I call this good, smart, tough negotiating -- something I recall many posters here berating Obama for months for not being adept at.

Parent

Yeah, I agree (5.00 / 1) (#21)
by ruffian on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 02:32:24 PM EST

I know what you mean Capt, but I call it trading for something she has and they want.

Parent

totally stupid (5.00 / 1) (#23)
by Capt Howdy on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 02:33:05 PM EST

I agree. it was the title of the story. I just cut and pasted

Parent

Methinks someone needs to (5.00 / 2) (#40)
by Anne on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 03:03:31 PM EST

educate the headline-writer on the meaning of the term "blackmail," no?

It is kind of nice, however, to see that some people do know how to leverage their positions to maximum advantage.

Inside the Beltway, the same situation would have resulted in the series being released, as planned, the tapes being given over, as planned, and Caroline Kennedy would be crowing "victory!" about how she really stuck it to those vultures at Disney by getting them to agree to run some sort of plain-vanilla disclaimer (in teeny-tiny font) in advance of the airing of the Camelot series.

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: guess I should have (none / 0) (#43)
by Capt Howdy on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 03:06:49 PM EST

said it was the NY Post.

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: Inconcievable! (none / 0) (#57)
by jeffinalabama on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 03:57:19 PM EST

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Never mind :-) (none / 0) (#26)
by ruffian on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 02:35:22 PM EST

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This is why BTD and I both aspire to (none / 0) (#32)
by oculus on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 02:52:26 PM EST

write headlines.

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Headless Body (none / 0) (#34)
by Capt Howdy on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 02:54:46 PM EST

in Topless Bar?

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I lean more towards sports--since (none / 0) (#37)
by oculus on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 02:57:11 PM EST

I don't know about any sport except baseball.

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: Baseball is ready for decent headlines, though. (5.00 / 1) (#56)
by jeffinalabama on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 03:56:53 PM EST

Padres offer last rights to Dodgers
just an example.

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it was (none / 0) (#20)
by Capt Howdy on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 02:31:52 PM EST

a quote

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: from (none / 0) (#22)
by Capt Howdy on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 02:32:26 PM EST

the NY Post

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: I get it (none / 0) (#24)
by ruffian on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 02:34:39 PM EST

Like 'caroline eviscerates disney'

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good luck with that (none / 0) (#45)
by Capt Howdy on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 03:10:07 PM EST

Reince Priebus faces many challenges in taking over the Republican National Committee, but among the trickiest will be building support from the anti-establishment tea party without offending big GOP donors or the independent voters the party needs in 2012.

: Yes, (none / 0) (#65)
by Zorba on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 04:42:14 PM EST

I agree. And I look forward to him twisting himself into a pretzel to try and accomplish this. ;-)

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: The big GOP donors have (none / 0) (#92)
by ruffian on Mon Jan 17, 2011 at 10:15:22 PM EST

never minded humoring even their most unhinged ground troops. They will pour money into this election. They don't need money from independents, just votes.

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