Notes From D.R. | Random Thoughts on the Passing Scene

The delayed-reaction #1 performance of Wedding Crashers is reminiscent of There’s Something About Mary, which played in the top five for several weeks before finally emerging at #1 in September 1998. Wasn’t surprised by the failure of the critically reviled Stealth, but I expected Sky High and Must Love Dogs to do a little better. More from the Los Angeles Times.

The National Urban League calls on the producers of Sunday morning TV shows to use racial quotas when selecting guests. How, exactly, is this a civil rights crusade?

If you want to figure out whether you’re a conservative or a liberal, your reaction to these stories will give you the answer…

Conservative columnist Armstrong Williams, knocked down by a payola controversy earlier this year, gets back up.

UPDATE: More from Captain’s Quarters.

Religious-right leader James Dobson is none too thrilled with Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist’s decision to support federally-funded embryonic stem-cell research…

UPDATE: …and neither is the Weekly Standard.

SECOND UPDATE: The Boston Herald weighs in…

THIRD UPDATE: And so does Rush Limbaugh.

Controversy in Cambridge, Massachusetts, as a group opposed to same-sex marriage successfully lobbies for the removal of a billboard showing two men embracing while wrapped in an American flag, next to the tagline "Come together. Gay.com." (A photo of the billboard is included in this article.) 

Although I do think the double-entendre catchphrase is objectionable, I really don’t see what the big deal is with the photo. Maybe it’s the libertarian in me, but I wasn’t offended by the photo; it’s not as if the ad is depicting a simulated erotic act or anything. If you ask me, the ads for the new Mark Wahlberg film Four Brothers–the ones showing Tyrese Gibson holding a gun in a threatening manner–are far more offensive.

Controversy in Cambridge, Massachusetts, as a group opposed to same-sex marriage successfully lobbies for the removal of a billboard showing two men embracing while wrapped in an American flag, next to the tagline "Come together. Gay.com." (A photo of the billboard is included in this article.) 

Although I do think the double-entendre catchphrase is objectionable, I really don’t see what the big deal is with the photo. Maybe it’s the libertarian in me, but I wasn’t offended by the photo; it’s not as if the ad is depicting a simulated erotic act or anything. If you ask me, the ads for the new Mark Wahlberg film Four Brothers–the ones showing Tyrese Gibson holding a gun in a threatening manner–are far more offensive.

Will Universal Pictures buy Dreamworks Pictures? Stay tuned…

The curious departure of a Boston Herald columnist. More here.

UPDATE: Word from the competition.

SECOND UPDATE: An attempt to raise the Banner.

A New Jersey-based columnist argues that controversial talk-radio host Michael Savage should not be dismissed as an extremist, because he’s one of the few talkmeisters willing to criticize President Bush from the right.

Hard to believe it’s been a dozen years since Boston Celtics star Reggie Lewis died suddenly at the age of 27. A remembrance from the Washington Times.

There’s more talk of a large withdrawal of US troops from Iraq by this time next year. I’ve already weighed in on this development…

I cannot believe that George Pataki, who has decided not to run for a fourth term as governor of New York, is playing with the idea of running for President. No one who is pro-Roe and pro-gun control is going to get within a thousand yards of the GOP nomination. Period.

UPDATE: More from National Review.

John Kerry’s sibling Cameron makes plans to start his own political career.

UPDATE: More from Hub Politics.

SECOND UPDATE: Howie Carr weighs in.

A special-interest group attempts to throw Washington, D.C.-based talk radio host Michael Graham off the air for his strident comments about Islam. Of course, with all the free publicity, he’ll probably end up with a national syndication deal…

UPDATE: Graham and the group trade words.

SECOND UPDATE: Graham’s station knuckles under. More from Michelle Malkin.

THIRD UPDATE: The group cheers…and Powerline jeers.

FOURTH UPDATE: Let your voice be heard if you think the station is overreacting.

FIFTH UPDATE: Graham speaks.

SIXTH UPDATE: Graham is pulled from TV.