“Mr. Chase said the show has, on occasion, ‘indirectly heard’ from real-life mobsters. ‘After about four episodes,’ Mr. Chase said, ‘we heard, “You’re O.K.” With one caveat: “We got word about those barbecue scenes where Jim would wear shorts. A don does not wear shorts.”‘” On the eve of Sopranos Season 6 (the penultimate season, to be followed with an eight-episode coda), series creator David Chase and star James Gandolfini have a sit-down with the NYT.
Month: February 2006
States’ Rights (and Lefts.)
“In a year when fewer than one in 10 House seats appear to be in play, thanks to the power of incumbency and gerrymandered congressional districts, about half of the 36 gubernatorial contests appear to be competitive — many of them clear tossups eight months from Election Day.” Both the Post and the Times look at the political contest for 36 governorships in 2006, with the Dems poised to take back a majority of the states for the first time since 1990. “Historically, shifts in power in the 50 capitals have held long-term implications for both parties, and control of statehouses can give parties tangible organizational advantages during presidential elections.”
Farewell, Barney, Kolchak, and McCloud.
Don Knotts, 1924-2006 and Darren McGavin, 1922-2006. Update: Substantiating the old adage, Dennis Weaver, 1925-2006.
Six Years on Four Legs.
A very happy sixth birthday to Berkeley, who spent the evening celebrating with my brother (lap pictured) and sister-in-law, in town this weekend for Comic-Con. Happy b-day, l’il fella.
Dakota goes South.
Something wicked this way comes: Bucking to challenge Roe v. Wade in the Roberts court, the pro-life South Dakota legislature pass a bill outlawing abortion (with no exceptions therein for rape, incest, or non-fatal threats to the mother’s health), and it seems pro-life Gov. Mike Rounds will sign it. On the bright side, even many pro-lifers doubt the Dakota bill will pass constitutional muster — “‘If you’re just reading the law as it stands now, South Dakota’s law doesn’t really stand any chance under Roe or Casey . I have to agree with those who think it’s remote,’ said Chuck Donovan, executive vice president of the Family Research Council and a former lobbyist for the National Right to Life Committee.” Update: Mississippi follows suit.
Dubai Deal Delayed, Dubya Dumbfounded.
“There are many, many problems that we face in maritime security — and they’re not the United Arab Emirates.” Dubaigate continues to have legs, with both parties in an uproar and the port takeover now on hold so Dubya can convince Congress it’s a good idea (or at the very least get his story straight.) Well, as Dan Froomkin noted, inasmuch as this story draws attention to the broader issues of outsourcing, port security, and questionable White House decisionmaking, I’m all for it. But, given all the shadiness this administration has been up to of late, I’m a bit surprised that this relatively innocuous UAE deal has blown up as it has. (I mean, when Dubya recently decided he’d eviscerate our constitutional system of checks and balances, the Senate just rolled over.) Well, don’t look a gift horse in the mouth, I suppose.
Oohs and Ows.
“This‘ll be the last time (I think I said that last time.)” As DYFL, Lots of Co, and Quiddity have all pointed out, this week’s free download at iTunes is the quintessentially catchy “Ooh La La” by Goldfrapp. Get it while you can. And, while the Depeche Mode setlists have been relatively static this tour, as per the norm, Martin Gore unearthed an old chestnut from 1982’s A Broken Frame (right-click to save) last night for their third night in Paris. Booyah! Hopefully, this’ll be part of the main set when they swing back stateside this spring.
Secret Garden.
“It is also worth noting that much of this reclassification is being conducted by junior officers, or in many cases private contractors who know nothing about the historical context of these documents and nothing about whether the contents are sensitive or innocuous. One military historian told me that some of these junior contractors have been instructed simply to reclassify anything bearing the words ‘atomic’ or ‘restricted data,’ regardless of what else the documents might or might not contain.” Fred Kaplan offers up more info on the highly suspect re-classifying program currently underway at the National Archives.
Agent Smith?
“America, your head’s too big, because, America, your belly’s too big, and I love you, I just wish you’d stay where you is.” Oops…watch yourself, Morrissey. On the eve of a new album, the former Smiths frontman says the FBI and British Intelligence have come ’round his door.
Back in Black.
Superhero Hype! procures an impressive new pic from Spiderman III, and it’s official: Peter Parker is donning the black garb…which means the long-swirling rumors that Topher Grace is playing Venom seem to be on the money. Hmmm. Even with the Sandman involved, I’d have preferred to see more of Spidey’s classic rogues’ gallery before Raimi & co. got to the peeved symbiote in question. Update: As a keen-eyed AICN fanboy noted, is Parker asleep in this pic? That’d dovetail nicely with the comics, when, pre-Venom, the costume started getting a mind of its own.