In an op-ed just published by The Washington Post, Rabbi David Nesenoff ascribes this incendiary opinion to the legendary journalist Helen Thomas, who was recently forced to retire after the rabbi posted an impromptu interview he had conducted with Thomas on the internet: “The Jew has no connection with the land of Israel.”
Saturday, May 29, 2010
After he heard about Vet Mentor, a new program run by The Veterans Project that connects military veterans seeking a career in the entertainment/media industry with experienced professionals, Marine vet Rick Reyes contacted me about his creative aspirations. We quickly found common ground. Rick told me of his interest in comedy, and I told him [...]
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Even biased judges sometimes decide cases correctly, and with free speech experts of all stripes applauding the Citizens United decision, it’s far from apparent the Supremes falsely interpreted the First Amendment for political or ideological reasons. Refuting conventional wisdom that the man who wrote the majority opinion was nefariously motivated, left-leaning constitutional scholar Jonathan Turley told Keith Olbermann: “[Justice Anthony] Kennedy is no corporate shill. He really believes in this...It’s all about limiting speech."
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Wyclef Jean’s defensive and amateurish video response to legitimate questions about his NGO, Yéle Haiti, suggests doubts about the charity are well-founded. Under fire for alleged financial improprieties and the perception he’s in over his head trying to raise funds on a massive scale for earthquake victims in Haiti, Jean simply ignored concerns about Yéle’s ability to compete with larger and more established groups such as the American Red Cross.
Monday, January 11, 2010
At a public hearing Wednesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, Chad Hummel, the lead defense attorney in Roman Polanski's criminal matter, wanted it known that although he had recently asked for an in-chambers meeting to confer about one particular issue of "great sensitivity," he had never suggested anything else shouldn't be discussed in open court.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
One reason I don't hate Roman Polanski is I don't know exactly what he did with or to Samantha Geimer in 1977. Moreover, compared to those who perniciously enable systemic corruption by obsessing over the punishment of one person, I think Polanski's reaction to evident judicial misconduct is laudable. Why should anyone take that crap?
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Demonstrating the same lack of self-esteem as prisoners who beat up child molesters, noisy segments of the American population continue to hyperventilate over Roman Polanski as if the sexual abuse of minors were not already sufficiently condemned by our society.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
When Emily Bazelon of Slate.com recently asked Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley about the Roman Polanski case, “Cooley’s deputy tried to shush him.” But the DA was apparently in no mood to remain silent.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
It’s a fallacy that there’s a morally or legally significant difference between what Robert Halderman stands accused of doing, and what agents and lawyers do all the time. Halderman had a marketable story to sell. Just because most agents and lawyers wouldn’t go to David Letterman’s house doesn’t mean that going to Letterman’s house is a criminal act. It’s not unlawful to sell a story without using an agent or a lawyer, and making a proposal to someone who might be embarrassed by the dissemination of a story isn’t prohibited.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Gary Gordon, a brilliant musician-satirist who nails it every time he takes the stage, suggested we approach The Lowdown as sort of an updated version of The Dick Cavett Show with each of our events focusing on a particular topic that changes from show to show. Even though he had fed me half a Quaalude while groping me in a hot tub just prior to making that suggestion, I really think it’s a good idea. It’s so good, in fact, that I’ve decided not to press charges, although I have no control over what the DA or Swiss authorities might choose to do.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
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