Sunday, July 29, 2007

"The Devil Came on Horseback:" A Must-See Documentary on the Crisis in Darfur


The Genocide in Darfur in the Western region of Sudan rages on. Since 2003, hundreds of thousands have been killed at the hands of the Sudanese-sponsored Janjaweed militia. Millions have been displaced, fleeing their beloved homeland for a presumably safe haven in neighboring Chad and elsewhere. Those who remain have been systematically raped, beaten, tortured and brutally murdered. Clearly learning little or no lessons from the Holocaust, the Western world has done little to stop the carnage. But a new documentary released this week, "The Devil Came on Horseback," hopes to serve as a call to action, raising awareness of the atrocities so that they might be prevented from ever happening again.

In it's review this week, the NY Times wrote: "Brutal, urgent, devastating — the documentary “The Devil Came on Horseback” demands to be seen as soon as possible and by as many viewers as possible. An up-close, acutely painful call to action, the movie pivots on a young American, a former Marine captain named Brian Steidle, who for six months beginning in the fall of 2004 worked for the African Union as an unarmed monitor in Darfur. What he saw in Darfur was unspeakable. And then he returned home, his arms, heart and head filled with the images of the dead."

"The Devil Came on Horseback" is indeed an extremely important film; incredibly powerful and necessary. And it will bring tears to your eyes. And hopefully those tears will lead to action.

The film has special meaning to me on another level. The film's directors, Annie Sundberg and Ricki Stern, with whom I just had the pleasure of meeting over lunch in Manhattan, were the recipients of the inaugural "Adrienne Shelly Excellence in Filmmaking Award" and financial grant presented by the Adrienne Shelly Foundation at the Nantucket Film Festival in June. We at ASF commend Annie and Ricki for what they've accomplished with "Devil" and look forward to more prolific works from them in the future.

"The Devil Came on Horseback" is currently playing in Manhattan, Philadelphia, Rochester, MN and is rolling out to cities across America.

We urge you to get involved and support any one or more of the many organizations making an impact in Darfur. Here are a few we recommend:

SaveDarfur.org
GlobalGrassroots.org
GenocideIntervention.net
DarfurDarfur.org


About the Adrienne Shelly Foundation:
The The Adrienne Shelly Foundation is a tax-exempt, non-profit organization dedicated in my wife's honor to help carry out her spirit and passion, with the goal of assisting women filmmakers. Adrienne was brutally killed in NYC on November 1, 2006. Through the Foundation, her commitment to filmmaking lives on. We've established scholarships, grants, finishing funds and living stipends at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts/Kanbar Institute of Film; Columbia University; American Film Institute; NY Women in Film and Television; the Independent Feature Project; the Nantucket Film Festival; and the Sundance Institute. To learn more, and to support the mission, please visit our website. Thank you.

Saturday, July 28, 2007

The Right Wing Media's Hillary-Bashing Heats Up


Conservative radio blowhard Monica Crowley went to town Saturday...on Hillary Clinton. The syndicated talking-head, in a fit of ignorance and pathetic partisanship, trashed Clinton's character, reputation, womanhood and sexuality. As the 2008 election for Republicans seems more and more ominous, they're racheting up the Hillary-hating and it's obvious to those in the right wing media that she could handily beat the pants off their guys. So the bashing continues, and gets worse every day.

On Saturday's program, Crowley played the audio of a soldier who suggested to Clinton--during the recent Democratic YouTube debate--that she would not be taken seriously at the negotiation table by Arab and Muslim leaders who "treat women as second class citizens" in their countries. Clinton replied:

"You know, when I was first lady, I was privileged to represent our country in 82 countries. I have met with many officials in Arabic and Muslim countries. I have met with kings and presidents and prime ministers and sheiks and tribal leaders. And certainly, in the last years during my time in the Senate, I have had many high-level meetings with presidents and prime ministers in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Pakistan and many other countries. I believe that there isn't much doubt in anyone's mind that I can be taken seriously. I believe that other countries have had women presidents and women prime ministers. There are several serving now — in Germany, in Chile, in Liberia and elsewhere — and I have noticed that their compatriots on the world stage certainly take them seriously....It would be quite appropriate to have a woman president deal with the Arab and Muslim countries on behalf of the United States of America."

Sounds like a logical, rational, intelligent answer, right? Guess again. Crowley ripped it apart, ridiculously accusing Clinton of claiming that she was really the president during those eight years. And, in an even more inane moment, implied that the soldier, who is stationed overseas, knows more about what Arab leaders think than a woman who's spent fifteen years as First Lady and U.S. Senator. She cavalierly mocked Clinton and summarily discredited her experiences over those many years.

Let's analyze this for a second. Arab leaders wouldn't take Clinton seriously simply based on gender? Well, George Bush is male, and no one takes him seriously, not in the Middle East, Europe or anywhere else. So much for that theory.

And what was Crowley's primary point, anyway? That because a bunch of primitive, oppressive societies hold women in little regard that that would be a reason for Americans not to elect a woman president? You'd think that the abuse women face in these Muslim countries would arouse Crowley's ire towards them, not Clinton. But Crowley's clearly a Republican first, and a woman second.

Crowley then brought on Michael Musto, the flamboyant Gay Village Voice columnist, who sophomorically speculated the Clinton was having an affair with her beautiful Pakistani/Indian aide Huma Abedin. Crowley and Musto then riffed on this, Hillary's cleavage and her "re-sexualization" for about 30 minutes, acting like a couple of gossiping high schoolers. I truly felt sorry for them both.

And by the way, what the hell is up with Musto? What self-respecting liberal homosexual would willingly go on the air with a narrow-minded, hate-spewing conservative demagogue like Crowley? And to attack another person's sexuality, no less? Perhaps he's not so self-respecting. More like self-loathing.

America is so sick and tired of this sort of divisiveness; of the personal attacks and of the politics of hate. But you'd never know it listening to Crowley or just about any other member of the right-wing spin machine. They just don't get it. Nine months after voters kicked Republicans to the curb they're still regurgitating this vomitous nonsense. I say, keep it up. Keep it up until we recapture the White House too.

It's a damned shame that in 2007, when our country is mired in war, threatened by terrorism, facing a weak economy and marred by political scandal, media types like Crowley are more obsessed with Hillary's cleavage than getting voters focused on the issues.

Friday, July 27, 2007

Will Clinton-Obama Slugfest Set the Stage for Gore?


The following scenario is something I've been writing about for some time: as the Summer heats up, so does the head-to-head political battle between the 2008 Democratic frontrunners, Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton. When only one is left standing (most likely Hillary), former vice president Al Gore announces his candidacy and becomes the clear, highly electable #1 choice among Democrats. And if he offers Obama the vice-presidency, just imagine how attractive that ticket could be on a national scale.

Well this week the bell officially rang on the Clinton-Obama slugfest, with self-proclaimed "politics of hope" candidate Obama accusing his rival of being "Bush-Cheney lite" after Clinton called him "irresponsible and frankly naive" on national security matters. She was referring to his willingness to meet, as president, the leaders of Iran, North Korea and other rogue nations. This is just the beginning, folks. In the weeks and months ahead you can bet the bloodletting will worsen as the primaries approach. So far Clinton has demonstrated that she's got more moxie and mojo than her main opponent, and all of the others in fact. Just watching her shine at the recent debates has won me over. She's the only one of the lot who's truly presidential. She's brilliant, charming and a deft politician. The junior Senator from Illinois doesn't stand a chance. He's as good as finished. I don't care how much money he's raised or how many hundreds of thousands of donors he has. Can you say Howard Dean? Remember him? He had a terrific grass-roots campaign with lots of money and donors too.

But Hillary's reign as frontrunner will last only until Gore enters the contest, which I predict he will do by October. And when he does, he will quickly raise so much money on the Internet that Clinton's head will spin. He'll also attract piles of money from fatcat Democratic supporters. And he will win...not just the nomination, but the big national prize. Let's face it, his stock has risen tremendously since 2000. Firmly anti-war, pro-environment and genuinely skeleton-free, there's every reason to believe Gore will be re-elected. Man, I like the way that sounds....

Saturday, July 21, 2007

Cheney Stages Coup. Declares Himself President During Bush's Operation


Moments after President Bush on Saturday transferred his presidential power temporarily to Vice President Dick Cheney just before undergoing a routine colonoscopy, Cheney took control of the military and declared that he is the new president of The United States. He then immediately ordered the military police to arrest Bush once he came out of sedation. This is the first time in our nation's history that a president has been overthrown.

Cheney, who's been in a veritable power grab with Bush ever since they won the 2000 election, said in a statement released to reporters that under the "unitary executive" theory he has the power to interpret Constitutional law as it pertains to the executive branch; that the Constitution creates a "hierarchical, unified executive department under the direct control of the President."

"So, I guess that makes me the top dog around here, the boss-man" Cheney snarled, with that familiar dastardly laugh out of the side of his mouth. "Hey, possession is 9/10's of the law, right? Nobody told him to go get his ass probed, did they? Cheney's in charge now!," he sniveled.

Cheney immediately named disgraced former chief Scooter Libby his vice-president and promised to further pursue his aggressive agenda for destroying Congressional oversight and for world domination.

"Look, everyone knows who's really been running this country since 2000, so just expect more of the same great leadership...just more brutal and much faster...muh ha ha...MUH HA HA...." Cheney maniacally shrieked from the balcony overlooking the White House lawn.

When asked if there was any truth to the rumors that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Ted Kennedy were about to be arrested and that the US was planning to invade Finland, Cheney just stared and let out his trademarked smirk.

Thursday, July 19, 2007

Dems End Troop Withdrawal Debate, Setting the Stage for the Next Great Big Bushevik Lie Come September


Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (NV) pulled the plug Wednesday on the troop-withdrawal debate after failing to obtain the 60 votes needed to overcome the Repug filibuster. As a result, it's kind of a dead issue legislatively until September, when the highest-ranking uniformed U.S. military puppet in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, provides his much anticipated progress report to the Bush administration. And if history is any barometer, the Busheviks--the smarmy, calculating, deceptive miscreants who brought you the other great American lies about 9/11 and the Iraq war--will ram another great fallacy down our collective throats. This time the tall tale will be about all the wonderful progress being made on the ground, the "benchmarks being met, and the success of Bush's inane troop "surge."

Yes my friends, coming this September to a theatre near you from the producers of "WMD and the Mushroom Clouds," "Yellow Cake Uranium," "Mission Accomplished" and "The Insurgency is in its Last Throes" will come their new project, "See, the Iraq War is a Success!" Is there anyone naive enough on this planet who thinks the great general is going to come to Washington to tell his delusional boss that we need to withdraw the troops because our military effort there is failing?

Forget the fact that the National Intelligence Estimate released this week stated that al Qaeda is a major threat still, indicating that six years after 911 we seem to have made no material progress in the ridiculously coined "war on terror."

So here we are, facing grave threats still from Osama bin Laden and those who attacked us on 911, and the Busheviks--despite monumental public disapproval for the war both here, abroad and in Iraq itself--will likely not only perpetuate the lies come September, but may even attempt to expand this insanity by using whatever BS Petraeus comes back with as justification to send even more troops...creating an even bigger surge since the first one is going so swimmingly. And at the very outside chance Petraeus does advise his boss it's not going well and it's time to start the withdrawal, then you can bet your ass Petraeus will follow Eric Shinseki and all the other generals who were summarily booted for not espousing the Bushevik propaganda.

Rather than lying down and admitting defeat, Reid and the rest of the Democratically-controlled House and Senate should take this issue to the American people and force the Repugs' hand. Until the Dems play very rough hardball, the Busheviks will continue to deceive, distort and lie their way throuigh this war. It's their war. And it's their legacy. They have nothing to gain from calling it quits. So, the war will continue over there until the political battle can be won by the Dems over here. Remember Harry, in Washington, nice guys finish last. Stay tuned....

Friday, July 13, 2007

How Can Bush Win a War When He's Delusional About the Enemy?


Fear, fear, fear. Notice how much the deceptive rhetoric about terrorism and al Qaeda has increased these past couple of weeks? As the 2008 election gets closer, and the campaign heats up, the Busheviks are ratcheting up the lies and distortions in a last-ditch attempt to cling to power and justify this colossal fiasco known as the Iraq war.

In his press conference Thursday, Bush invoked al Qaeda 30 times as he, as usual, deftly morphed his Iraqi disaster to the one that took place here on September 11, 2001. So much so that the NY Times Friday has a front page article (finally, for crap's sake) devoted to Bush's BS. Later that night, Press Secretary Tony Snow-job told "fair and balanced" Bill O'Reilly that the war is necessary and we gotta keep fighting because al Qaeda still wants to kill us.

And to seal the deal, Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff earlier this week announced that his "gut" says another al Qaeda attack could be headed to U.S. shores this Summer. No major substantive evidence to support his theory, mind you, just some good old fashioned GOP pre-election intuition. And no raising of the color-coded terror alerts, either. I wonder what his gut says about the 8th race at Aqueduct tomorrow. My kid's headed to boarding school in September, and I could use the extra cash.

Fear, fear, fear. These one-trick ponies are relentless, and they will keep turning up the volume on the incendiary terrorism rhetoric right up until the last voter pulls the lever on election day '08. All of which is designed to continue justifying the Iraq debacle and keep Americans afraid...very, very afraid.

But how does Bush intend to win a "war" in which he clearly is misguided and delusional about the enemy we're fighting? How does a supposed Commander-in-Chief lead his nation to "victory" (whatever the hell that is) when he's the only one standing who believes in the mission? By all accounts, the insurgents killing us in Iraq, are Iraqis; holdover Sadaam loyalists, Baathists, Sunnis, Shiites...take your pick. They're killing us because we invaded their country. They're killing us because, according to all the latest polls, they don't want us there. They're killing us because we're now in the middle of their civil war. There is a small faction of terrorists--al Qaeda of Mesopotamia--that's indeed killing our soldiers in roadside bombings and suicide attacks, but they total well under 5000 and did not exist until after the U.S. invasion in 2003, according to the Times. To say AQOM is why we're in Iraq is utterly preposterous and shameful, but that doesn't stop the president.

"The same folks that are bombing innocent people in Iraq," Bush told reporters Thursday, "were the ones who attacked us in America on September the 11th, and that’s why what happens in Iraq matters to the security here at home."

Either he is a liar of criminal proportions, or he's truly delusional and believes his own propaganda. If he's intentionally deceiving the public, then he should be impeached, removed from office, and be thrown in jail as a war criminal. If not, then the President of the United States of America, the most powerful leader of the greatest nation in the world, is sending his soldiers to die in battle where there's no clear enemy. I ask again, how can this impulsive lunatic win his equally insane war if he is clueless as to the mission and the enemy?

It's truly unfathomable how Bush can stand before the press, Congress and the American public and continue to spew this fear-mongering rhetoric--or delusional psychobabble--about Iraq and al Qaeda and the need to "stay the course" despite the facts on the ground, the wishes of the Iraqi people, the monumental dissatisfaction here at home, and the desertion by his own party. He's pathetic, dangerous and ill-equipped to lead our great nation. My stomach literally churns at the thought of having to look at him for another 17 months until he's gone.


On another subject......we could use your help at The Adrienne Shelly Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated in my wife's honor to help carry out her spirit and passion, with the goal of assisting women filmmakers. As you may know, Adrienne was brutally killed in NYC on November 1, 2006. Through the Foundation, her commitment to filmmaking lives on. We've finalized a scholarship with NYU's Tisch School of the Arts/Kanbar Institute of Film; and grants with Columbia University, American Film Institute, NY Women in Film and Television, the Independent Feature Project, and the Nantucket Film Festival. Other initiatives will follow. Please visit our website to learn more about our mission and to make a donation. Every little contribution helps preserve Adrienne's legacy, and to help create something positive out of this horrible tragedy. Thank you.

Adrienne's film "Waitress" opened in theatres May 2nd to incredible rave reviews from the NY Times, LA Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Time, People, Entertainment Weekly, Ebert & Roeper ("Two Thumbs Up"), Leonard Maltin and more. Since then, it's been playing to packed audiences across America. It's a truly wonderful film that you're sure to love. A link to the trailer is below. Enjoy.

http://www.apple.com/trailers/fox_searchlight/waitress/trailer/

Thursday, July 12, 2007

Michael Moore, "Sicko" and the Right Wing Attack Machine


On Wednesday, MSNBC talking-head (and man, what a big head it is) Joe Scarborough was discussing Michael Moore’s new documentary “Sicko” on his morning program. After viewing the film, Scarborough’s only socially-redeeming take-away was that Moore is fat, and as a fat person he therefore should not have the right to call attention to the glaring inefficiencies, amoral behavior and illegal activity of the health care industry. And why, according to Scarborough? Because obesity is rampant in the U.S. and it’s a drain on the system. If Moore cares so much about the health care industry, Scarborough ignorantly railed, then he should lose weight. Am I missing something here? Is this the best the right-wing has to offer as it desperately attempts to defend itself against the shameful cronyism that’s made its pals in the hospital, insurance and pharmaceutical industries disgustingly filthy rich?

But wait, that same day CNN health correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta split hairs with Moore on the Larry King show over their differing claims of how much Cuba spends for health care on each of its citizens. The difference, according to the good Republican doctor, was a whopping $20, the fact of which now proves, of course, that everything in “Sicko” according to the truth-averse right wing, is false. So much so that Gupta had dedicated an entire CNN segment this week to fact-checking the documentary’s overall claims. I guess he felt investigating the health care industry itself was not worth his time.

The reality is, “Sicko” was not presented in any partisan manner. It is unbiased and objective in its indictment of Congress—including both Republicans and Democrats (Hillary Clinton is #2 on the list of Senate recipients of health care industry payoffs)—over its inability to provide universal health coverage and a socialized medicine program like those that exist in every other Western nation. The state of health care in this country is a huge embarrassment, and Moore’s film shines a spotlight on the problem.

As Moore told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer this week, history has proven that he was right about the claims he made in his previous film, “Fahrenheit 911,” which was a scathing expose of the Bushevik lies, deception and corruption. And he says he’s right about those made in “Sicko” as well. We should all believe him.

Moore is a true American hero. A modern-day Tom Paine. Our country needs independent watchdogs like him, especially when our elected leaders have shamefully neglected to carry out their responsibilities to protect and provide for our citizens. Of course ring-wingers hate Moore and his new film. They know he’s right about how they’ve allowed their insurance and pharmaceutical cronies to screw Americans out of their health coverage. They know they are guilty of putting the terrorism-fear-of-God into our citizens to keep them down and controlled. They know they are guilty of diverting their attention away with non-issue distractions such as gay-marriage. And they know Americans are much smarter today, and angrier with Washington, than ever before…and that scares the bejesus out of them as the ’08 election rapidly approaches.

Hopefully, “Sicko” will do for health care what “Fahrenheit-911” did to expose the Bush crimes and start the GOP house of cards falling. I suspect 3-4 years from now we’ll look back on “Sicko” and credit it, at least in part, with finally forcing politicians to improve our nation’s ailing health care system.


On another subject......we could use your help at The Adrienne Shelly Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated in my wife's honor to help carry out her spirit and passion, with the goal of assisting women filmmakers. As you may know, Adrienne was brutally killed in NYC on November 1, 2006. Through the Foundation, her commitment to filmmaking lives on. We've finalized a scholarship with NYU's Tisch School of the Arts/Kanbar Institute of Film; and grants with Columbia University, American Film Institute, NY Women in Film and Television, the Independent Feature Project, and the Nantucket Film Festival. Other initiatives will follow. Please visit our website to learn more about our mission and to make a donation. Every little contribution helps preserve Adrienne's legacy, and to help create something positive out of this horrible tragedy. Thank you.

Adrienne's film "Waitress" opened in theatres May 2nd to incredible rave reviews from the NY Times, LA Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Time, People, Entertainment Weekly, Ebert & Roeper ("Two Thumbs Up"), Leonard Maltin and more. Since then, it's been playing to packed audiences across America. It's a truly wonderful film that you're sure to love. A link to the trailer is below. Enjoy.

http://www.apple.com/trailers/fox_searchlight/waitress/trailer/

Tuesday, July 03, 2007

A Few More Words About the iTard Nation


A point of clarity is obviously needed on my piece from yesterday. Apparently, some have completely misinterpreted my central point. Let me be very clear about one thing in particular: my issue is not with Apple, Inc. Many who've posted comments are indeed correct. Steven Jobs is a brilliant entrepreneur. A true visionary who's created revolutionary products that have had tremendous positive impact on society and have literally changed the way we live, work and communicate. Products that I myself are in awe of and use every day. On this point we clearly agree.

But Apple and Jobs are not what's wrong with our culture today. It's the people who seem to care more about high-tech toys and gadgetry than what really matters in the world. Next time you walk down the street observe how many people have a cell phones stuck to their heads or iPod earphones in their ears or Blackberrys between their fingers. We've become a society of people who seem lost in the technology. Go into a cell store and see just how much time our youth devotes to choosing the right phone. Yet, in the 2006 election just 25% of them felt it was worth choosing a new Congress. Go into a coffee house and see how many people are talking to each other versus being alone with their laptops.

Our young people today are Instant Messaging and texting their way through life. Email has become the new "relationship-building" technique. Teenagers who haven't a clue about the Iraq war know about the battle between Apple/iTunes and Universal/Vivendi. The point is, that gleeful young man in the photo represents much of our disaffected, disillusioned, disconnected and disinterested youth. How do we get these young people inspired to show as much enthusiasm for global warming and politics as they have for their iPods? Say what you want about the 60's generation, but back then their relentless protesting brought an end to war. And the media back then focused on truth and justice and brought down a president. Today, our media is fixated more on Paris Hilton, Anna Nicole Smith and who's on line to buy iPhones. Just think: what if the media obsessed on Iraq and the Bushevik crimes and corruption. Might our youth become less indifferent? Might they become as outraged as they are when they learn iTunes may lose a third of its music content?

No, it's not Apple's fault, nor Jobs'. I hope I'm now making that very clear. But the main point is still that until our society takes as much interest in world affairs as in its precious tech-toys, leaders like Bush and Cheney will continue to misuse and abuse the nation's trust and piss on the Constitution.

Monday, July 02, 2007

Why I'm Happy About Libby's Sentence Commutation


So it's official: King George on Monday exercised his powers of clemency to commute the 2 1/2 year prison sentence of Lewis "Scooter" Libby. Did anyone ever really think "Cheney's Cheney" would spend even a nanosecond in jail? But while most of the Democratic world is furious and calling for Bush's head I, on the other hand, am happy and celebrating this joyous moment.

"I respect the jury's verdict," said the King. "But I have concluded that the prison sentence given to Mr Libby is excessive. Therefore, I am commuting the portion of Mr. Libby’s sentence that required him to spend thirty months in prison....My decision to commute his prison sentence leaves in place a harsh punishment for Mr Libby. The reputation he gained through his years of public service and professional work in the legal community is forever damaged."

So why am I celebrating? Because this decision by Bush is the nail in his political coffin...and with it his legacy. He will forever be known as the president who not only committed the worst military/foreign policy blunder in our nation's history, but the one who defiled and made a constant mockery of our sacred Constitution. I am happy because it really doesn't matter anymore whether Libby served time, does it? He's a convicted felon who committed egregious crimes against freedom and free speech, and he's done his job quite well in tarnishing his vile bosses' reputations. But the greater benefit through all this is that it cements Bush's legacy as a de facto criminal himself. There's no doubt left as to Bush's true motivations and blatant disregard for everything we've held sacred in this country for 231 years. And our children's grandchildren, and their grandkids, will be reading about this buffoon and his corrupt administration as long as there are history books.

Hillary Clinton summed it up best: "Today's decision is yet another example that this Administration simply considers itself above the law. This case arose from the Administration's politicization of national security intelligence and its efforts to punish those who spoke out against its policies. Four years into the Iraq war, Americans are still living with the consequences of this White House's efforts to quell dissent. This commutation sends the clear signal that in this Administration, cronyism and ideology trump competence and justice."

Make no mistake: the person George Bush hurt most with this decision is, well, Bush himself.

Apple is Creating a Generation of iTards


I received an email from my pal Nathan Dean the other day. It included some biting commentary about our dispassionate, distracted and disconnected citizenry--especially young people--in America today. Dean's spot-on rant was focused on Apple, Inc., and it included this photo of the victorious young man who was first in line to buy the company's revolutionary new iPhone. "Not a young man that is so passionate about his fellow youngsters fighting an illegitimate war, or a corrupt executive branch," Dean railed, "but the face of the majority of our youth and much of our country."

We have become the iTard nation. A subculture of bazillions of disciples of their guru and chief Tard Steve Jobs, who've become fallen-down drunk on the "i" kool-aid. iMac, iPod and iPhone is their religion. A whole generation of iTards who seem to care more for the state of technology than they do the state of America's domestic and international health. They'll wait on line for days to buy this newest of i-gadgetry, but just ask them why we're in Iraq. Or who Bush's cabinet is comprised of. Or who the 2008 presidential candidates are. Or what the burning issues of the day are. Their political apathy and indifference can be mind-numbing. Victory for them is not bringing our 150,000 soldiers home from war without any further casualties. No, for these iTards victory is scoring two of these frighteningly efficient toys that can do just about everything but wipe your iAss.

This year we are celebrating the 40th anniversary of the fabled Summer of Love. Yet in 1967, students and society in general were rabidly curious about, and passionate for, national and world affairs while their 2007 contemporaries are essentially comatose. What a sorry state we live in today. No wonder the Busheviks have been able to trample on the constitution with reckless abandon. The nation has been too busy making Steve Jobs rich to notice.


On another subject......we could use your help at The Adrienne Shelly Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated in my wife's honor to help carry out her spirit and passion, with the goal of assisting women filmmakers. As you may know, Adrienne was brutally killed in NYC on November 1, 2006. Through the Foundation, her commitment to filmmaking lives on. We've finalized a scholarship with NYU's Tisch School of the Arts/Kanbar Institute of Film; and grants with Columbia University, American Film Institute, NY Women in Film and Television, the Independent Feature Project, and the Nantucket Film Festival. Other initiatives will follow. Please visit our website to learn more about our mission and to make a donation. Every little contribution helps preserve Adrienne's legacy, and to help create something positive out of this horrible tragedy. Thank you.

Adrienne's film "Waitress" opened in theatres May 2nd to incredible rave reviews from the NY Times, LA Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Time, People, Entertainment Weekly, Ebert & Roeper ("Two Thumbs Up"), Leonard Maltin and more. Since then, it's been playing to packed audiences across America. It's a truly wonderful film that you're sure to love. A link to the trailer is below. Enjoy.

http://www.apple.com/trailers/fox_searchlight/waitress/trailer/