Return of Lui Seeks to Restore 'à la Française' to Men's Magazine Market

This is interesting.

A combination of soft-porn and intellectualism?

That kind of stuff is out of style in our hyper-PC political culture.

At London's Daily Mail, "France revives Lui, the sixties magazine which combined soft-porn with articles aimed at intellectuals."

And Natassja Kinski at the link? Oh là là!

Nik Wallenda Survives Tightrope Walk Over Gorge Near Grand Canyon

I didn't like the daredevil view camera, looking down toward the canyon floor. That was making me queazy.

 In any case, at LAT, "Wallenda walks wire near Grand Canyon."

West Coast Hooters 2013 Swimsuit Finals in Santa Ana

Here's more of the Hooters girls.

And see Daley Gator for more, "Your Sunday Night Salute to Great Blogs and Hooters Girls."

PREVIOUSLY: "Hooters Girls of Orange County."

Waiting on Proposition 8 and DOMA Decisions: In Plain English

From Amy Howe, at SCOTUS Blog:

The fate of California’s Proposition 8, before the Court in Hollingsworth v. Perry, seems murkier than DOMA’s. Proposition 8 was a response to a 2008 decision by the California Supreme Court ordering the state to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Before the end of that year, California voters had passed Proposition 8’s ban on same-sex marriage. A few months later, Boies and Olson filed a lawsuit challenging the ban on behalf of two same-sex couples who wanted to get married. (My earlier “Plain English” posts on the case are available here, here, here, and here.)

The sponsors of Proposition 8 defended it in court, because the State of California refused. The two couples prevailed in the federal trial court and then in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, with the latter holding that Proposition 8 was unconstitutional because it took the previously granted right to marry away from gays and lesbians just because people didn’t like them.

There is a threshold question of “standing” that piqued the interest of several Justices – the Chief Justice and the Court’s four more liberal Justices in particular – who seemed inclined at oral argument to hold that the sponsors of Proposition 8 lacked the legal right to defend it in court. Justice Kennedy, who had recently suggested that the Court was deciding too many hot-button issues that should be decided by the legislature instead, seemed skeptical about a potential problem with the sponsors’ “standing” but offered another path to avoid deciding whether Proposition 8 violates the Constitution: the Court could simply dismiss the case on the ground that it had made a mistake in taking it on.

Pretty straightforward review. More at that top link.

PREVIOUSLY: "The Supreme Court's Blockbuster Week Ahead."

The Supreme Court's Blockbuster Week Ahead

Well, it could be blockbuster, if the Court were to strike down affirmative action at the University of Texas, and especially if the Court were to uphold DOMA and Prop.8. But either way, the rulings expected this week will have deep political repercussions. And I'm not optimistic toward any big conservative rulings, especially with Anthony Kennedy likely to be the swing vote on some of these cases, but we'll see.

In any event, here's some analysis at the Los Angeles Times, "Supreme Court decisions test chief justice's moderate approach," and at the New York Times, "Supreme Court Weighs Cases Redefining Legal Equality."

I'll be doing some legal blogging throughout the week. I've been waiting over four years for some kinda resolution on Prop. 8, especially. Weird.

Added, from Twitter:

"Equality" always means whatever liberals say it means. http://t.co/cyx95AE7GY @jamestaranto @instapundit

— Robert Stacy McCain (@rsmccain) June 24, 2013

Lee Stranahan Rips Glenn Greenwald — And His Sycophants on Left and Right

On Twitter today:

"I don't want to live in a country where you're spied on all the time" said the guy who fled to Russia.

— Lee Stranahan (@Stranahan) June 23, 2013

I hope we use the PRISM program to track Snowden down.

— Lee Stranahan (@Stranahan) June 23, 2013

Conservatives have been manipulated into defending Snowden. Now he's on a world tour giving away America's state secrets. Not. Good.

— Lee Stranahan (@Stranahan) June 23, 2013

ICYMI MUST READ : Bush Official Defends Obama on NSA Scandal http://t.co/NMwncbyXno via @BreitbartNews

— Lee Stranahan (@Stranahan) June 23, 2013

Some conservatives better man up on the NSA thing quickly and admit they got played. They let hatred of Obama cause them to lose judgment.

— Lee Stranahan (@Stranahan) June 23, 2013

Because the real NSA scandal is turning into how many conservatives have been supporting or distracting from Snowden's acts.

— Lee Stranahan (@Stranahan) June 23, 2013

@AmPowerBlog But you know what I'm talking about...

— Lee Stranahan (@Stranahan) June 23, 2013

If you hate America and love the idea of it being at risk, Snowden is your guy. So is Greenwald. If you don't hate America, you bet wrong.

— Lee Stranahan (@Stranahan) June 23, 2013

Snowden is no friend to the U.S. Constitution. Full. Stop. If believe that and you're conservative, you've been played. Wake up.

— Lee Stranahan (@Stranahan) June 23, 2013

If you're a radical lefist or libertarian anti-war type, I totally understand why you idolize or excuse Snowden and Greenwald. Carry on.

— Lee Stranahan (@Stranahan) June 23, 2013

Should be pointed out : Greenwald's bullying has put off many liberals for years now; but his bullying works. People afraid to speck up.

— Lee Stranahan (@Stranahan) June 23, 2013

So Greenwald took advantages of liberals afraid to challenge him and conservatives in full Obama scandal mode for this timing on this.

— Lee Stranahan (@Stranahan) June 23, 2013

Even Time's Joe Klein has been forced to back down from his harsh (and accurate) 2009 criticism of Greenwald to lame tame critique

— Lee Stranahan (@Stranahan) June 23, 2013

And when conservatives say "I don't care about Snowden's motivation' you sound JUST LIKE ends-justify-the-means leftists. Stop it or switch.

— Lee Stranahan (@Stranahan) June 23, 2013

Oh, wait -- maybe ignoring Snowden is part of some sort of conservative outreach to traitors. Get Sen. Rubio on the phone!

— Lee Stranahan (@Stranahan) June 23, 2013

There is no NSA scandal. This is what happens when you follow the 'News Cycle'; a cycle driven by the left. Wake up, conservative media.

— Lee Stranahan (@Stranahan) June 23, 2013

Rule 5 Sunday

I'm watching baseball all day. Lots of blogging throughout the day.


Meanwhile, here's some babe blogging, via Wirecutter.

And at Pirate's Cove, "If All You See……is a super awesome non-fossil fueled bike, you might just be a Warmist." And the Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup is not loading for me, so just click on the homepage for the goodness.

Also, at Pitsnipes and Gripes, "Tiffani Amber Thiessen." Plus the Right Way has "Friday Babe."

And at Blackmailers Don't Shoot, "Pretty Girls on a Thursday, Booth Babes Edition."

And at Drunken Stepfather, "CHRISSY TEIGAN IS NUDE IN GQ OF THE DAY."

From Animal Magnetism, "Animal’s Rule Five News." And at Bob Belvedere's, "Rule 5 Saturday: Miriam Gonzalez."

More at Proof Positive, "See, "Best of the Web* Linkaround," and "Friday Night Babe – Odette Annable!"

Now at 90 Miles From Tyranny, "Marilyn Monroe - In Pictures," and "Morning Mistress."

Soylent Green has hot "OverNighty: Rebecca," and "Afternooner Twofer."

Plus, at Dana Pico's, "Rule 5 Blogging: Mostly Marines."

At Egotastic!, "Lais Ribeiro Bikini Pictures Drop So Much Sexy in Miami, the Ground Shakes."

Also from EBL, "Paula Deen Nude Rule 5 Insane Democrat Edition."

And from the source of our tribulations, "Rule 5 Sunday: Father’s Day."

Sunday Cartoons

At Flopping Aces, "Sunday Funnies."

And see Legal Insurrection, "Branco Cartoon – All Ears." More at Randy's Roundtable, "Friday Night Funnies."

Also at Reaganite Republican, "Reaganite's SUNDAY FUNNIES."

CARTOON CREDIT: William Warren.

With Newsmen Like You, 'Who Needs Government to Criminalize Reporting?'

That's Glenn Greenwald tearing into David Gregory on "Meet the Press" this morning.

See, "Glenn Greenwald DESTROYS David Gregory."

And on Twitter:

Who needs the government to try to criminalize journalism when you have David Gregory to do it?

— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) June 23, 2013

I have never seen a "journalist" be so anti-journalism as @davidgregory interviewing @ggreenwald on Meet the Press.

— Judy Berman (@judyberman) June 23, 2013

David Gregory asks journalist @ggreenwald if he's a criminal for doing journalism: http://t.co/GHTDc2hUjD

— Michael Calderone (@mlcalderone) June 23, 2013

.@DavidGregory Not sure you should be suggesting criminal charges for a journalist. http://t.co/AkOIvnVkry #irony http://t.co/nJeSwPMYf2

— David Shuster (@DavidShuster) June 23, 2013

Has David Gregory ever publicly wondered if powerful DC officials should be prosecuted for things like illegal spying & lying to Congress?

— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) June 23, 2013

Edward Snowden Seeks Asylum in Ecuador

At the Guardian UK, "Edward Snowden asks for asylum in Ecuador: live updates."

I'll have more...

Alan Chambers, Former President of Exodus International, Admits 'Same-Sex Attraction'

This is one extremely confused man.

And admitting same-sex attraction? So what. What guy hasn't thought for a moment he was attracted to another guy? Turning that into some kind of big political statement is essentially meaningless. Frankly, the dude's "pray away the gay" ministry just couldn't keep up with the changing leftist culture, and he through in the towel. What a loser.

At LAT, "Exodus leader admits 'same-sex attraction,' urges talks with gays."

And the dude says he has an amazing relationship with his wife. Well, you'd better hope so. Wouldn't want to be bonking some bathhouse brothers on the side. Idiots.

Edward Snowden Flees Hong Kong

He's got a one-way ticket to Moscow.

At the New York Times, "N.S.A. Leaker Leaves Hong Kong on Flight to Moscow":

While waiting for Snowden to touch down in Moscow, read this if you want to know why he has to flee the US http://t.co/YuTVMapbBk
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) June 23, 2013

FLASH: WikiLeaks has assisted Mr. Snowden's political asylum in a democratic country, travel papers ans safe exit from Hong Kong. More soon.
— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) June 23, 2013

HONG KONG — The Hong Kong government announced on Sunday afternoon that it had allowed the departure from its territory of Edward J. Snowden, the former National Security Agency contractor who has acknowledged disclosing classified documents about United States government surveillance of Internet and telephone communications around the world.

The government statement said that Hong Kong had informed the United States of Mr. Snowden’s departure.

A Moscow-based reservations agent at Aeroflot, Russia’s national airline, said that Mr. Snowden was aboard flight SU213 to Moscow, with a scheduled arrival there a little after 5 p.m. Moscow time. The reservations agent said that Mr. Snowden was traveling on a one-way ticket to Moscow.

Mr. Snowden's final destination could not be determined. The ticket out of Hong Kong did not appear to include a destination beyond Moscow, the Aeroflot agent said, while cautioning that Mr. Snowden might have a separate reservation or ticket. Mr. Snowden is traveling with one other person, with the surname Harrison, but the agent declined to release the other traveler’s first name, saying that she did not have the authorization to do so. The Hong Kong Bar Association Web site does not list any lawyers with the family name Harrison.

His departure is a setback for the United States, which had been pressing Hong Kong to surrender him to American law enforcement officials. The Hong Kong government said on Sunday, in its first detailed statement about Mr. Snowden, that the United States had made a legal request for the issue of a provisional warrant of arrest against Mr. Snowden, but that the Hong Kong government had concluded that the request “did not fully comply with the legal requirements under Hong Kong law.”

The statement said that Hong Kong had requested more information from the United States but had not received it. Because the government “has yet to have sufficient information to process the request for provisional warrant of arrest, there is no legal basis to restrict Mr. Snowden from leaving Hong Kong,” the statement said.

This is huge, an epic slap in the face to the Unites States government, who reportedly put heavy pressure on Hong Kong to relinquish Snowden. Expect updates.

More: Memeorandum is a little slow today, but some links are starting to show up.

Clint Eastwood Continues to Make Great Films

And Robert DeNiro doesn't, according to Betsy Sharkey, at the Los Angeles Times, "Brad Pitt is a model for aging actors":

So what is to be done as the years tick by?

For the bible on how to do it right, there is no place else to start but with Clint Eastwood, who at 83 is turning out to be the best closer in Hollywood history. He keeps making great movies — directing, starring and collecting awards. A screen version of "Jersey Boys" is rumored, so apparently Eastwood's ambition — and energy — isn't dimming.

Robert Redford is another. He hasn't had Eastwood's consistent success behind the camera since the Oscar for his 1980 directing debut, "Ordinary People." But like his brilliant "Quiz Show" in 1994, the actor-director commits to projects he loves and stories he believes are important to tell. Not a Focker in the bunch. About to turn 77, his acting is getting a serious second wind too in J.C. Chandor's new film, "All Is Lost." The role was a risk, Redford goes solo, alone in a boat with nothing but his intellect and the elements. The camera — notably — in someone else's hands.

Whether by choice or circumstance, Warren Beatty, 76, hasn't starred in a film since the 2001 bomb "Town & Country." It may be nothing more than adopting the Jack Nicholson approach — leave the work behind and spend the days playing elder statesman. After a series of great performances, "About Schmidt" in 2002 when he was 65 and 2006's "The Departed" when he was 69, the 76-year-old Nicholson has drifted into the forgettable.

For Michael Douglas, 68, the right role was on television. His recent glittery turn as Liberace in "Behind the Candelabra" was his best performance in years. It's not so much TV but surprising us. Tom Hanks, most memorable in the last 15 years for giving voice to "Toy Story's" Woody, tried out Broadway this year — "Lucky Guy" got him a Tony nod. Bill Murray completely changed his acting persona at 53 with "Lost in Translation." Suddenly the funny goof was introspective, edgy in a new way.

But that sort of sea change is rare. Douglas is up next in "Last Vegas," an old-boys buddy comedy with Robert De Niro, 69, and Morgan Freeman, 76. Are old guy buddy comedies becoming Hollywood's version of retirement living? Nicholson had a room with a view alongside Freeman in 2007's "The Bucket List." Last year, Al Pacino, 73, Alan Arkin, 79, and Christopher Walken, 70, got together as aging mobsters for "Stand Up Guys."

Sadly, the book on what not to do is being written by De Niro. One of our greatest working actors has lost himself in crummy, mindless comedy. I honestly believe the Oscar nod for "Silver Linings Playbook's" crusty dad was a part of the academy's positive reinforcement program so he wouldn't do another Fockers film. Because if you look closely, the distance between the dads is mostly the pedigree of the movie.

RTWT for the discussion of Brad Pitt.

I watched "Trouble With the Curve" yesterday, an enjoyable film, if not all out excellent.

Either way, Clint Eastwood has aged well in the movies.

Netroots Nation 2013 Obsessed With Michelle Malkin #NN13

Wow, just saw the buzz on Twitter.

See Twitchy, "Netroots Nation struggles to counter ‘Michelle Malkin effect’."

Well, it seems like NetrootsNation invokes @michellemalkin at every panel event I attend #nn13 @watchdogorg

— Tori Richards (@NewsWriter2) June 22, 2013

Hooters Girls of Orange County

Some nice ladies:

And some West Coast Hooters here, "2013 Girls of the Month."

Pilot and Wing Walker Dead in Ohio Air Show Crash

At the Columbus Dispatch, "Two die in plane crash at air show near Dayton."

Graphic footage, with moment of impact, here: "Horrific Plane Crash Dayton Air Show."

Monkey Attacks Texas Cop During Traffic Stop

Protective little guy.

At Death and Taxes, "Carnival monkey bites police officer during routine traffic stop."

Sarah Palin With Eric Bolling on Fox News

I'm really glad she's back at the network.

Netroots Exploits Emerging Technologies to Block the 'Corporate-Funded, Right-Wing Assault' on Americans

From Francesca Chambers, at Red Alert Politics, "Lefty activists at Netroots concede the Right is killing it on Twitter."

The photo's of a woman attending the panel on "Fighting Together to Block the Right-Wing Agenda":

Labor unions, women’s rights organizations, environmental watchdogs, voting rights groups and activists across the progressive movement must work together to withstand the corporate-funded, right-wing assault on all of our rights.

Sounds like a plan.

Here's Glenn Greenwald on the Espionage Charges Against Edward Snowden

As always, readers should know that few people can out anti-American Glenn Greenwald's anti-Americanism. I just love his tenacity for beating back against the bear, and right now, Barack Obama is the biggest bear in the woods.

See, "On the Espionage Act charges against Edward Snowden." (At Mediagazer.)

For a politician who tried to convince Americans to elect him based on repeated pledges of unprecedented transparency and specific vows to protect "noble" and "patriotic" whistleblowers, is this unparalleled assault on those who enable investigative journalism remotely defensible? Recall that the New Yorker's Jane Mayer said recently that this oppressive climate created by the Obama presidency has brought investigative journalism to a "standstill", while James Goodale, the General Counsel for the New York Times during its battles with the Nixon administration, wrote last month in that paper that "President Obama will surely pass President Richard Nixon as the worst president ever on issues of national security and press freedom." Read what Mayer and Goodale wrote and ask yourself: is the Obama administration's threat to the news-gathering process not a serious crisis at this point?

Few people - likely including Snowden himself - would contest that his actions constitute some sort of breach of the law. He made his choice based on basic theories of civil disobedience: that those who control the law have become corrupt, that the law in this case (by concealing the actions of government officials in building this massive spying apparatus in secret) is a tool of injustice, and that he felt compelled to act in violation of it in order to expose these official bad acts and enable debate and reform.

But that's a far cry from charging Snowden, who just turned 30 yesterday, with multiple felonies under the Espionage Act that will send him to prison for decades if not life upon conviction. In what conceivable sense are Snowden's actions "espionage"? He could have - but chose not - sold the information he had to a foreign intelligence service for vast sums of money, or covertly passed it to one of America's enemies, or worked at the direction of a foreign government. That is espionage. He did none of those things.

What he did instead was give up his life of career stability and economic prosperity, living with his long-time girlfriend in Hawaii, in order to inform his fellow citizens (both in America and around the world) of what the US government and its allies are doing to them and their privacy. He did that by very carefully selecting which documents he thought should be disclosed and concealed, then gave them to a newspaper with a team of editors and journalists and repeatedly insisted that journalistic judgments be exercised about which of those documents should be published in the public interest and which should be withheld.

That's what every single whistleblower and source for investigative journalism, in every case, does - by definition. In what conceivable sense does that merit felony charges under the Espionage Act?

That post is chock full of other interesting links, but you'll have to RTWT, and take your time perusing through them.

Greenwald's sounding the tocsin on this administration. Whether he's right about the gravity of danger to American liberty remains to be seen.