July 28, 2022
He responded, “Your cost of compliance is not my problem.”
But Benford says the first complaint that put the couple on the city’s radar came from a white neighbor in 2003. “That lady would ask me to come help her move things, or fix something,” Benford says. “She’d ask for rides to and from the bus stop. Come to find out she was reporting us to the city the entire time.” Radley Balko for Nashville Scene with an extensive investigation into the explosion of Metro Code violation reports largely targeting Black and low-income home owners in the city. [more inside]
You don’t support the troops, you support the war machine
Jon Stewart unleashes 9m37s of righteous outrage over the the Senate blockage of the PACT Act, meant to fund health care for veterans suffering diseases from burn pits and other such hazards during service. Salty language abounds.
UK LeGuin Prize shortlist is out!
The prize honors a book-length work of imaginative fiction with $25,000. "Since Le Guin’s death in January, 2018, her son and literary executor, Theo Downes-Le Guin has been thinking of ways to honor his mother’s work, and share her art and ideas with a new generation of readers and writers." [more inside]
A Monument With Big Verga Energy
Mexican abuela, upright member of the community, and proud matriarch Catarina Orduña Pérez had one request for her grave - for it to be topped with a turgid memorial to her symbol of the stiff joyful energy that filled her life. (SLVice, NSFW for pictures of said memorial.) [more inside]
the -o3, it does nothing
Postcapitalism. Jewish mothers. Dandelion networks. Aliens. Seeds. Hope.
Author Ruthanna Emrys talks about the inspirations and experiences that built her latest book, A Half-Built Garden, over at John Scalzi's Big Idea series: "What looks as different from modern global capitalism as capitalism looks from god-touched emperors? ... a better future isn’t something to have faith in, it’s something to work towards, regardless of how scary or frustrating or unlikely it feels." There's a brief summary at Tor.com and another summary at Publishers Weekly. Emrys previously: her post-Lovecraftian novelette The Litany of Earth; her Winter Tide; her thoughts on Jo Walton's Thessaly (Just City) books; and some discussions between Emrys and Anne M. Pillsworth about various 20th Century weird stories.
"You go and see the stars..." Bernard Cribbins, 1928-2022
Bernard Cribbins, OBE, passed away this week, after seven decades of work in film, screen and stage. His career spanned seven decades with such diverse work ranging from films like The Railway Children and the Carry On series, hit 60’s song ‘Right Said Fred’ a notorious guest on Fawlty Towers and narrating The Wombles. He worked well into his 90’s, appearing in Doctor Who and the CBeebies series Old Jack’s Boat.
Jon Voight’s an idiot. So, what can I tell you?
With Deliverance celebrating its 50th anniversary or RoboCop celebrating its 35th anniversary, the AVClub talks to Ronny Cox about his two most well-known roles. They also talk about his music and how gets recognized in public as anyone other than himself ("You’ve just been my gynecologist for 14 years!”).
Stargate SG-1 Turns 25!
The unexpected TV spin-off of a box office sleeper hit helped to create a new renaissance in science fiction on cable television. The future of Stargate could be looking brighter as word of a pilot script from one of the original SG-1 producers is being pitched to the franchise's new owner, Amazon. Also, look back at the third SG-1 film that was never made and check out members of the cast performing a script written by an AI.
Whew, THAT'S a Relief
We recalled the sweetness we left behind
Walt Disney's Field Day
Following the release of Snow White, in 1938, Walt Disney organized a Field Day. "Walt foresaw a leisurely outdoor event, one that would appeal to middle-aged family men, similar to the social festivities held by other studios," however it would be the craziest party Walt Disney ever threw. After working late nights on Snow White, being informed that the party was their bonus, the young animators had other ideas. Walt "and his wife drove home that next morning. He never referred to that party again, and in fact, if you wanted to keep your job, you didn’t mention it either.”
Where do bicycles go when they die?
Every year, thousands of bicycles are tossed into rivers, ponds, lakes and canals. Jody Rosen, author of Two Wheels Good: The History and Mystery of the Bicycle, ponders the question: why do so many bikes end up underwater?
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