Or rather, they're going to make it illegal for DVD players to allow a home consumer to skip past advertisements.

This article doesn't say which party is behind this -- and likely it's both, given how much the Democrats rely on Hollywood -- but it is absolutely incomprehensible to me that Republicans are behaving so corruptly.

Oh, I'm not surprised that a politician behaves corruptly, liberal or conservative. Don't get me wrong. I expect a little -- well, a lot of -- corruption in politics.

I'm surprised at the shamelessness and stupidity of it.

They will catch hell for this. Not that it's such a major deal, but because it's 1) a corrupt deal made with the politically powerful for no very good reason and 2) intrusive nanny-statism and 3) pissing off consumers.

They will be forced to drop the provision. But not before a great deal of embarassment and political damage.

Can't they see more than three feet down the road? Do they think they've now got the Congress just about locked up for the next 60 years, automatically, like the Democrats did from the thirties to nineties?

What the hell are Republicans doing 1) empoweing Congression staffers to view IRS returns, at the behest of the IRS and 2) disempowering the public from skipping annoying commercials, at the behest of Hollywood? Is that what they're thinking they were elected to do?

Both cases are examples of that French saying: It's worse than a crime. It's a mistake.

Posted by: Ace at 05:23 PM | Comments (23)
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Yeahp, he's Number One with a bullet (a hefty, haunchy bullet, I imagine) on the "Frigid 50" list of celebrities we can get enough of.

Look at him. He's got the commanding presence and raw animal magnetism of a young Bill Shatner.

Film Threat opines:

"The Frigid 50 ice pack have left audiences cold with their overbearing personalities, poor career choices and chronic inability to stop making fools of themselves," the site said.

Moore qualified because of what the editors saw as an oversized ego. "Message to Michael: Remember, it's not always about you. Lose the chip on your shoulder," the editors said.

Halle Berry was rated as #2. Yeah, different sort of body type and everything.

But honestly? She's boring. I can't argue with that call. A good-looking woman that just leaves you blah.

Power Line Actually Bothered to Read the Original Piece, and Look At What Riches They Found Update: Ben Affleck at Number 10.

Man, these Film Threat guys are making me feel all warm and tingly.

Posted by: Ace at 04:58 PM | Comments (6)
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David Brock's Soros-funded Willis-employing idiocy machine Media Matters has a transcript of Hume contemptuously laughing at Juan Williams, and condescending to him. They think it's a bad thing.

You'll think it's pretty funny. It's so damn dismissive and insulting, kinda like the pimp-slapping beat-down at the beginning of Streets of Fire.

No need to give David Brock traffic, however, as Free Republic has posted the whole article.

Brit Hume has been pretty cocky lately, and he seems to be gloating almost openly. From calling Kerry's concession-speech claim that he was the representative of a "political movement" a "load of crap," to reading the words of liberals with a whiny, bitchy, effeminate tone, to just giggling at everything Juan Williams says-- Brit Hume represents everything that's wrong with modern journalism.

But if that's wrong, baby, I don't want to be right.

Media Matters wants you to contact Brit Hume and, I guess, yell at him or something. I say drop him an email at brit.hume@foxnews.com and let him know he's doing a man's job.

I will not be satisfied until he actually goes all Sergeant Hulka on Williams and calls him a "gutless.. punk" on live TV.

Posted by: Ace at 04:43 PM | Comments (16)
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I guess it's kind of a service to us. Thanks, CNN!

I saw it mentioned that CNN had a new chief. I didn't much care either way. But Kausfiles notes that the new CNN chief is none other than Jonathan Klein, he of "a bunch of guys in their pajamas" infamy.

CNN -- Klein -- Rather. All in one place. Could we even contemplate such a convenience? It's like one-stop shopping for raging douchebaggery.

Posted by: Ace at 04:30 PM | Comments (5)
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Yes, it was bad behavior. Yes, an athlete really ought never go into the stands and throwing punches.

But.

He was provoked. He had something thrown at him, right? Why aren't we focusing more on that part of the bad behavior?

Do I think Artest should be suspended? Absolutely. For life? No. He behaved badly, he lost control, he started punching out the NBA's customers, which isn't very good for business. He should be punished.

But I don't think I agree with this can-you-top-my-level-of-outrage contest.

He behaved badly. But people occasionally get into bar fights after a big provocation, and we generally don't strip away their livelihood. If you commit an assault on someone -- and throwing something at someone is an assault -- I'm sorry, but you're pretty much asking for it, and you can't complain much at what happens next.

I don't think the year's suspension without pay will stick; I think it will be negotiated down to something a lot less harsh. I hope it's not negotiated down to a slap on the wrist; he should be punished, as I've said.

But I think most men (and a few women!) would feel sorely provoked by having something thrown at them while they're just trying to do their job. And if you lash out -- well, you behaved unprofessionally and badly. But I can't say that you'd be behaving like an animal or a thug or otherwise inexplicably and unaccountably.

It's understandable behavior. Understandable does not mean "excusable" -- though many on the left seem to think it means just that -- but I think it does tend to mitigate the crime.

You throw something at this guy while I'm blogging, and you see what happens next.

Let's just say you'll be hearing the words "Lightning bolt! Lightning bolt! Lightning bolt!" in the ensuing combat rounds.

Okay, I Changed My Mind Update: Suspend this dick for life, just based on these quotes:

Meanwhile, Artest is promoting his record label, Truwarier, and said that with his other career endeavors he was trying to make his life more positive.

"Having a record company and putting out my own CD. There's clothes and shoes. There's also an upcoming book deal that I'm trying to do," he said.

"I'm trying to be positive. I'm a big fan of the Nobel Peace Prize."

Well... obviously.

Posted by: Ace at 01:20 PM | Comments (31)
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