“I don’t think anybody’s progressing with malice in mind, but the business has a way of changing.”
– Bob Mould
Bob Mould is best known for his work with the seminal punk band Hüsker Dü and his own band Sugar. But in the past few years he’s been putting out solo albums via his own record label. Now he’s stepped back from being an executive and has allowed Yep Roc Records to release his latest, Body of Song.
“I do it for fun but there’s definitely the benefit of money.”
– Bam Margera
What a ride Bam Margera has been on for the past five years. Even before he could drive he became a big skateboarding star then Jackass came a calling. After the Jackass movie became a hit he got his own TV show, Viva La Bam. He’s directed one feature film and is prepping another. Now he’s founded his own Warped Tour style show called Viva La Bands. I got a chance to talk to Bam while he was on his way to get a massage [no happy ending though].
Earlier today in Washington, D.C., George Clooney and other peaceful protesters, including Martin Luther King III and NAACP President Benjamin Jealous, were arrested by the Secret Service. Is this a fluke, or a part of the government’s crackdown on peaceful protest in the nation’s capitol and elsewhere?
(George Clooney has since been released by authorities.)
The other video (below) is from my appearance on cable news network RT yesterday in which I discuss the very real issue of government agencies misusing the provisions in HR 347 (not to mention Patriot Act abuses, as outlined by two Democratic Senators in The New York Times today) , which could have a chilling effect on peaceful protest both in D.C. and around the country.
Protest should not be criminalized, period. And if even a well-connected celebrity like George Clooney is at risk, what does that say about the protections the rest of us may (or may not!) receive?
Our Fiction Friday serialized novel, The Killswitch Review, is a futuristic murder mystery with killer sociopolitical commentary (and some of the best sex scenes we’ve ever read!). Written by bestselling sci-fi author Steven-Elliot Altman (with Diane DeKelb-Rittenhouse), it offers a terrifying postmodern vision in the tradition of Blade Runner and Brave New World…
By the year 2156, stem cell therapy has triumphed over aging and disease, extending the human lifespan indefinitely. But only for those who have achieved Conscientious Citizen Status. To combat overpopulation, the U.S. has sealed its borders, instituted compulsory contraception and a strict one child per couple policy for those who are permitted to breed, and made technology-assisted suicide readily available. But in a world where the old can remain vital forever, America’s youth have little hope of prosperity.
Jason Haggerty is an investigator for Black Buttons Inc, the government agency responsible for dispensing personal handheld Kevorkian devices, which afford the only legal form of suicide. An armed “Killswitch” monitors and records a citizen’s final moments — up to the point where they press a button and peacefully die. Post-press review agents — “button collectors” — are dispatched to review and judge these final recordings to rule out foul play.
When three teens stage an illegal public suicide, Haggerty suspects their deaths may have been murders. Now his race is on to uncover proof and prevent a nationwide epidemic of copycat suicides. Trouble is, for the first time in history, an entire generation might just decide they’re better off dead.
(Catch up with the previous installments of Killswitch – see links below – then continue reading after the jump…)
“I’d rather have people walk out of the theatre going that was so awesome…”
– Rob Zombie
Rob Zombie is really developing into a skilled director. While his first feature film House of 1000 Corpses is really hit or miss for people, The Devils Rejects, is undeniable a better quality film. The Devils Rejects‘ plot of three serial killers who kill and maim while being hunted by rogue sheriff may put some people off their lunch. It shows that Zombie is poised to become a major filmmaker.
Suicide Girls are more than just pretty faces. When they’re not taking their clothes off and posing for pictures (and writing blogs), they’re making videos showcasing their many other talents. Some are concert pianists, some sing and play ukulele, some play with puppets, some think they are Darth Vader, and some have mad diving skillz – but all are 100% amusing.
This compilation, put together by Shotgun Suicide, highlights some of the best, the most memorable, and the plain silliest, from the past month. Tune in next month for another “Best Of” compilation.
I first heard of Stevie Ryan when VH1 presented her new show Stevie TV to the Television Critics Association in January. When they showed a clip real of Ryan in impeccable makeup as Kendra, the Kardashians, Lady Gaga and Mob Wives, her point of view cracked me up.
Stevie TV (pronounced like Stevie Tevie) premiered on Sunday, March 4 on VH1. Ryan’s first sketches had Kendra breaking into dance anytime anyone chanted “Go Kendra, Go Kendra” and Justin Bieber (also Ryan) running a Bang Bus. Wait until you see her as Lady Gaga forcing children to explore and reinvent gender definitions.
Ryan got her start making comedy videos on YouTube. If you check out her YouTube channel you can even see her doing a burlesque dance in a sepia tint. Rather than many comedians who have a knack for voices and do impressions, Ryan uses makeup and costume to portray a realistic version of her characters. Perhaps it almost feels like you’re watching the real Kim Kardashian knowing what a fool she acts like.
The week before Stevie TV premiered, I spoke with Ryan by phone. As I’d hoped our talk went off on tangents that expressed her comic voice, rather than the nuts and bolts of making a show. Stevie TV airs Sunday nights at 11 PM with repeats throughout the week on VH1.
