October 17, 2003

Gregg Easterbrook likely was just too excited from the last time he met NFL cheerleaders to properly word his beliefs on the violence shown in Kill Bill and it was unfortuate that he brought the religion of the movie's backers into play. For real anti-Semitism you can go to Malaysia and hear the Malaysian Prime Minister. 9:26:57 PM

The controversy Gregg Easterbrook’s comments concerning the role of Jewish movie executives in backing movie Kill Bill has reached the New York Times with a report on Easterbrook’s apology "for a really bad choice of words" that included the statement Yes, there are plenty of Christian and other Hollywood executives who worship money above all else, promoting for profit the adulation of violence. Does that make it right for Jewish executives to worship money above all else, by promoting for profit the adulation of violence? Stating that "Jews love money above all else" is a classical form of anti-Semitism. In his apology Easterbrook noted: Where I failed most is in the two sentences about adoration of money. I noted that many Christian executives adore money above all else, and in the 20-minute reality of blog composition, that seemed to me, writing it, fairness and fair spreading of blame. But accusing a Christian of adoring money above all else does not engage any history of ugly stereotypes. Accuse a Jewish person of this and you invoke a thousand years of stereotypes about that which Jews have specific historical reasons to fear. What I wrote here was simply wrong, and for being wrong, I apologize. The Anti-Defamation League is not impressed. 9:19:31 PM

CNN reports that tickets for the marathon December 15 showings of the extended editions of Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring and Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers followed by the midnight debut of Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King have quickly sold out in the United States. Theatre chains are being rebuffed in attempts to join the marathon showing which will have only 99 U.S. locations and tickets reaching up to $455 a pair on eBay. Canadian showings do not appear to be set yet. 12:18:53 AM

Yankees win 6-5 in the 11th inning on an Aaron Boone home run! No Cubs, no Red Sox. A standard NY Yankees vs. National League Team World Series. 12:18:13 AM