You cannot stop Emo

You can only hope to contain him.  At least for two more shows here in L.A.

I’d also like to direct any locals looking for a theatrical adventure to Big News, a live-theater news review revue that’s as new each week as the soul-peeling national horrors they make fun of.  Like all such highwire exercises, it can be hit or miss, but when it hits, it’s funny as hell.

Last night’s recurring bit was "Barbara Bush’s Silver Linings," in which the First Mother (who in this version had a beard) mused on the bright side of famine, disease, and genocide.  Which was as dead-on and darkly amusing as it sounds.

He should have just aimed for those $1000 Ferragamos

Actual Reuters photo and caption, via First Draft via Atrios:

U.S. President George W. Bush writes a note to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice during a Security Council meeting at the 2005 World Summit and 60th General Assembly of the United Nations in New York September 14, 2005. World leaders are exploring ways to revitalize the United Nations at a summit on Wednesday but their blueprint falls short of Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s vision of freedom from want, persecution and war.

If you look closely, here’s Bush’s note to his Secretary of State while the entire world is trying to figure out how to make the United Nations work:

I did a little contrast work in Photoshop, but you can compare to the original with your own eyes.

The most powerful man in the world, and he’s not even sure if he’s allowed to pee.

He should have just aimed for those $1000 Ferragamos

Actual Reuters photo and caption, via First Draft via Atrios:

U.S. President George W. Bush writes a note to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice during a Security Council meeting at the 2005 World Summit and 60th General Assembly of the United Nations in New York September 14, 2005. World leaders are exploring ways to revitalize the United Nations at a summit on Wednesday but their blueprint falls short of Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s vision of freedom from want, persecution and war.

If you look closely, here’s Bush’s note to his Secretary of State while the entire world is trying to figure out how to make the United Nations work:

I did a little contrast work in Photoshop, but you can compare to the original with your own eyes.

The most powerful man in the world, and he’s not even sure if he’s allowed to pee.

Texas is about to execute a woman who is probably innocent

UPDATE: She’s dead.

Governor Rick Perry decided it would be better for everyone if they went ahead and killed her.

So, she’s dead.

God damn it.

Frances Newton may be executed tomorrow night, despite the lack of
credible evidence of her guilt, an absurd prosecution theory, and
significant evidence of innocence.  

The president of the American Bar Association has written the following to Gov. Rick Perry:

"[S]ignificant and compelling new evidence
regarding Ms. Newton’s case has not yet been evaluated by Texas courts. This
new evidence includes forensic evidence and evidence of a lack of motive, both
of which are made more serious by Ms. Newton’s continuing and unwavering claim
of innocence…

[T]his
evidence was not discovered earlier because of the negligence of her
appointed lawyer…  He did no investigation whatsoever, and therefore,
did not place before the jury the evidence that now casts doubt on Ms.
Newton’s involvement in this crime…

[C]ompelling new evidence has been discovered… we urge you to vacate her execution date so that the
newly discovered evidence can be tested and properly evaluated by Texas courts.

Amnesty International’s email form for contacting the Board of Prisons is here.

Given, the late hour, you can help flood the offices of the Governor and every other relevant elected official with emails here and forwarding the link around.

Should this woman really have to die because of other people’s incompetence?

You can also fax the Gov. Perry at (512) 463-1849 or simply, and perhaps most urgently, call the Governor’s office directly at (512) 463-2000.