Saturday, November 19, 2005

Headliners and Meatheads

Movie producer, activist, and parent Rob Reiner has the ball rolling on a June 2006 ballot initiative in California that should have little trouble passing. Every four-year-old in that state would be guaranteed free enrollment in any public or private preschool that met quality standards. Preschool for all would be funded by a 1.7% tax increase (9.3% to 11%) on the top 1 percent of wage earners in the state-- individuals making more than $400 thousand; couples making above $800 thousand. The numbers are staggering. That modest tax hike, in California alone, would generate $2.3 billion annually. Reiner estimates the average effected taxpayer would ante up $8,700 more per year after factoring in tax deductions. That same person received a $76,000 tax cut from President Bush.

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It's not too late to get your name on Bill O'Reilly's political blacklist. Add it here.

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Roger Ebert and Oprah-- on a date! It happened.

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Old feuds never seem to die in the NFL, and I never cease to be amazed at their pettiness. The still-classic example is the league's current ban on "team celebrations" passed in 2000, specifically geared at eliminating the St. Louis Rams' "Bob and Weave" endzone scrum. It fits, of course, that a league that tolerates the ridiculous, often prop-enhanced, antics of Terrell Owens, Chad Johnson, and Randy Moss would draw the line at teammates dancing in a circle. Of course, the three coaches who served on the Rules Committee in 2000 were the Vikings' Dennis Green, the Buccaneers' Tony Dungy, and the Titans' Jeff Fisher; and the three teams the Rams beat in the previous post-season? The Vikings, Buccaneers, and Titans.

Now, Commissioner Tagliabue has awarded a Super Bowl to Kansas City, contingent on the building of a roof over Arrowhead Stadium. Doesn't Tagliabue know that St. Louis, on the opposite coast of Missouri, already has a domed stadium, one that has housed major college and professional football conference championships and the Final Four? Think maybe he still grinds an axe against Georgia Frontiere and the Rams for relocating to St. Louis from Los Angeles a decade ago?

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Upon the release of the new Johnny Cash film bio, "Walk the Line," the Village Voice has republished its Cash obit from 2003.

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TBS's "Earth to America" comedy special airs at 7pm central Sunday night. It features Larry David, Will Ferrell, Jack Black, Steve Martin, and Triumph the Insult Comic Dog. Check it out.

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