Some good news for New Orleans

Ah, we've been having beautiful weather here -- clear and sunny, but in the 70s rather than 90s, unusual for August. And if this weren't enough to put locals in a good mood, this news comes out:

"After 23 years of off-again/off-again production turmoil, script rewrites and ownership lawsuits, the making of "A Confederacy of Dunces," so close to fruition this past year is . . . off again.

"Although half the reviews of Will Farrell's recent comedy "Anchorman" say the funny man's next role will be Ignatius Reilly in "Dunces," that, in fact, is old news and out of date.

"Not gonna happen, despite so many positive movements in the past year.

"Miramax went so far last winter as to bring a director, indie hotshot David Gordon Green, to town to live in luxurious environs and absorb the city's karma, but now he's unemployed and crashing on people's couches.

"The Steven Soderbergh script -- probably the 10th rewrite in all -- is kaput. Co-producer Drew Barrymore's production company has bailed. There is no money. There is no screenplay. There is no cast. There is no movie." -- Times-Picayune

"I tend to be of the belief that a shitty movie can't "ruin" a book, but along with most of New Orleans, I never want to see this movie get made. The book is just too important to this city. It's one of our true epitomes. We shouldn't have to endure Will Ferrell and Drew Barrymore talking in magnolia-julep accents so some Hollywood pusbag can make a few bucks." -- docbrite

I wish I knew why Bill Bailey won't come home.

I wish I knew why Bill Bailey won't come home.
(Come on home)
You know, Bill Bailey, you don't have to roam.
(Come on home)
You've got her heart
She's always true
And all her lovin' is a-waitin' for you
Why did you leave your baby all alone?
(Come on home)
To get you back she's tried most every plan
(Come on home)
Even told you that she'd find another man.
(Come on home)
She's as fine a gal as she can be
Why can't you live in harmony?
I wish I knew why Bill Bailey won't come home.

Pollutants cause huge rise in brain diseases

(article from guardian.co.uk)

Scientists alarmed as number of cases triples in 20 years

Juliette Jowit, environment editor
Sunday August 15, 2004
The Observer

The numbers of sufferers of brain diseases, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and motor neurone disease, have soared across the West in less than 20 years, scientists have discovered.

The alarming rise, which includes figures showing rates of dementia have trebled in men, has been linked to rises in levels of pesticides, industrial effluents, domestic waste, car exhausts and other pollutants, says a report in the journal Public Health.
( Read more... )

Sammy Tubbs the Boy Doctor and Sponsie the Troublesome Monkey

One Dr. Edward Bliss Foote (1829-1906) wrote an interesting series of books in the 1870s, braving the Comstock censorship of the era explicitly dealing with anatomy and sexuality. His works contain such interesting aspects as warnings of the dangers of alcohol and tobacco, defence of the rights of women and minorities, and some of the first positive depictions of interracial dating.

All this is is a series of 5 books of educational fiction. For children. With comic relief provided by a wacky monkey.

Read about it on village voice site. (kudos to crasch)

Clearly "Sammy Tubbs the Boy Doctor and Sponsie the Troublesome Monkey" needs to be reissued &/or made availible on the web.