Greg Mitchell's Blog, page 143

Another Mall Shooting Spree

 UPDATE bulletin from AP, 10 p.m.  "Police say they disabled crude attempts at explosive devices found in gunman's bag at Md. mall." Latest story before that broke.   "Domestic dispute"?

Earlier:  It's not enough that we have almost daily school shootings this month, but now you have your basic monthly mall shooting.  Three dead at Columbia Mall in Maryland.   "Authorities reported that an active shooter was on the second floor of the sprawling mall in Columbia in Howard County, according to CNN affiliate WBAL. Local scanner reports had authorities requesting multiple mass casualty units."  Classic: "One of the bodies was located near a gun and ammunition, according to the Howard County Police Department Twitter account." Updates indicate sedan may have fled with shooter.  Employees of shops locked in back rooms. Helicopter landed on roof. UPDATE  NBC in D.C. reports that the man found near the gun shop was "the suspect." Two store employees killed, five injured.

Still the Greatest Bob Dylan Story

You may remember this was 2007 (like others, I covered it at the time, as one of Bob's biggest fans since 1963):  police officer in Long Branch, NJ--former home of Bruce Springsteen--putting Bob in the back of her squad car, thinking he was a homeless man peering into a house in the rain...You know, When you're lost in the rain in New Jersey and it's....

Well, Esquire has just posted a piece in which she tells her story in first-person at full length for the first time.  Yes, her name is Buble but pronounced "Bubble." Too many fun lines to quote but just one:  "He talked a lot. And I wasn’t even paying attention to some of the things he was saying because in my head I was wondering, 'What am I going to tell the hospital, what am I going to tell my supervisor?' He’s just blabbering in the back. I actually remember he said, 'Just take me over there, I’ll give you tickets to my show, you can see me play.' I remember he said that. And I thought, this guy is crazy."  -- G.M.

'Ode' Happy Day

Our film "Following the Ninth," about theamazing influence of Beethoven's symphony and "Ode to Joy"--see recent segments on Bill Moyers' show and "All Things Considered"--has been playing in dozens of cities around USA and will screen in historic Rheinbeck, N.Y. on the evening of Feb. 27. We're looking for a musical guest or guests to sing or play the "Ode" after the screening (we did a highly successful flash mob here in Nyack, if anyone wants to try that). Could just be a local musician with guitar singing Billy Bragg's new lyrics to the "Ode," featured in the film. Or a pianist or choir. Whatever. Anyway, if you know anyone who might take part in this let me know here, thanks.  Contact me at:  epic1934@aol.com    -- G.M.

The Temp Does Paris

Almost as good as Henri le Chat's feline existentialist musings, and showcasing convincing French accents: B. J. Novak's New Wave trailer for his upcoming book One More Thing. --B.B.

Slow-Jamming With Mitt

Surprise guest last night on Fallon, as "Mitt" doc hits Netflix. 

Jack D. Ripper vs. Fluoridation

Continuing my 50th anniversary tribute to Dr. Strangelove (released in late-January 1964):  fun parody trailer taking on fluoridation from Gen. Ripper's perspective.  Previous posts: original trailer, LEGO version, behind-the-scenes doc, Kubrick's warnings proven true.

Friday Cat Blogging

Just in time for Winter Olympics:  Curling champion.

AP Stands Its Ground vs. George Zimmerman

You remember that flap a few weeks back with Trayvon Martin slayer and wife abuser and gun nut George Zimmerman tried to make a different kind of killing selling one of his "original" paintings of a flag that seemed to be copied from a photo.  Now the AP has demanded that he stop selling another painting. -- G.M.

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - The Associated Press has demanded that George Zimmerman halt the sale of one of his paintings because the news agency says it directly copies an AP photo. AP spokesman Paul Colford says that Zimmerman clearly copied the AP photo, which was taken for the AP by freelancer Rick Wilson at a 2012 news conference. The attorney who received the letter Thursday, Jayne Weintraub, said she no longer represents Zimmerman but said she will forward the letter to him.

Zimmerman's painting depicts Jacksonville-based prosecutor Angela Corey holding her thumb and fingers together. Text on the piece that is apparently made up reads, "I have this much respect for the American judicial system."  Corey's office prosecuted Zimmerman for the 2012 shooting death of Trayvon Martin. Zimmerman was acquitted last summer.

Give Me a C...an H...an E...an A...a P...

[image error] Clearly I should be grateful that my high school years as a cheerleader did not lead me to seek professional employment as one. Though the job is meant to be part time, the glory--and opportunity for paid appearances--evidently does not quite make up for the grind. This week the San Jose Mercury News  reported on a suit filed by current and former Oakland Raider cheerleaders, claiming the team  “withholds all pay from the Raiderettes until after the season is completed, does not pay for all hours worked and forces the cheerleaders to pay many of their own business expenses." The Raiderettes' attorney said he'd never seen an employment contract with so many illegal provisions.

I imagine Raiders players will demand to be paid only after the season, in solidarity.
But as the Atlantic reports, the Raiders are not even the worst in the cheapskate department:  the San Diego Chargers cheerleaders get $75 for each home game, along with two game tickets and one parking pass.  The Baltimore Ravens cheerleaders make $100 for each of 10 (mandatory) performances at home games, which includes showing up five hours before the game starts, and practicing twice a week for three hours 
We will not mention the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders, legendary for their extreme audition process, but it is detailed here in the Dallas Morning News, beginning with the question: "How much would you give up for a part time job, one that’s only guaranteed for a year and pays as little as $150 a week? What if that job involved stars and white boots?" -- B.B.

Byrd Who Took Flight Returns

Surprising story in NYT today on one of my old faves, Gene Clark of the original Byrds.  Great singer and songwriter and wild character, first to leave group--oddly,  feared flying--and then a kind of founder of alt-country with Dillard & Clark and his solo albums.  Didn't know there's been a national tour, with young stars (the Walkmen etc.),  based on his 1974 No Other  album,  which was a dud--though I promoted it at Crawdaddy--and then a cult classic.  Over-produced (just listen to the demos in the re-release).    Always loved his "Strength of Strings" off that lp, see below, and then as a special treat, he does his "Feel A Whole Lot Better" with the Byrds, one of the great '60s rock songs.  He also had two tunes on the hit Robert Plant-Alison Krause lp, such as.