The Daily Sheet Aug 21 to Aug 27, 2006

[Ellen (tellyouwhat)]

The Daily Sheet
August 21, 2006



Book Club Discussion Begins Today

Today we begin discussing the first section (chapters one through nine) of Larry McMurtry's The Last Picture Show in the Book Club: Selection for August thread.

Our moderator, michaelflanagansf, will post our first set of discussion questions.


Action Item:  Spread BBM Love

Mooska is doing his part to keep the memory of the BBM Academy Awards fiasco alive in Hollywood.  Here is an excerpt from his post in the BBQ thread:

"I have been going to the Academy each Monday since April for their film series…and each week I bring some Brokeback love there so those that may have been responsible might remember and think about what they did.  I wear a BBM tee shirt (Auntie's last week) or a pin or a movie postcard in my pocket or something...not forgotten (or forgiven)."


Film Industry Watch

By Dave Cullen

I just read this on boxofficeguru, and it really put BBM's success in perspective:

Gindesh Pandya writes:  "After three weeks of sparkling results in limited release, Fox Searchlight's comedy sensation Little Miss Sunshine expands nationally into 694 locations from its current run in 153 sites.  Last weekend, the R-rated dysfunctional family pic averaged a stunning $17,014 which is one of the best showings in recent years for a film playing in 100-200 locations. With strong reviews and positive word-of-mouth, Sunshine should jump into the top ten this weekend and could gross about $5M pushing its cume into double-digit millions."

Sunshine is THE breakout indie hit of the year so far, and the way it's going, this sensation is likely to earn just a fraction of what Brokeback did. Brokeback was concieved and released to play in this league and it totally transcended it.  When industry people look back at the zeros decade, Brokeback will still rank as one of the biggest indie phenoms of the decade, just in business terms.

(and I'm betting Sunshine won't have a forum like this devoted to it eight months from now.)

Here's a film I'm NOT anticipating--or I guess I am, in a less charitable way.  Part of me hates watching anything/anyone fail, but I'm sorry, I just can't help quietly cackling over THIS:

Crash co-writer has written and directed 10th & Wolf, which is going into limited release today. Details at imdb.

It has quite a few indie and sorta-name stars like Dennis Hopper, Val Kilmer, Giovanni Ribisi, James Marsden and Brian Dennehy.

Only seven reviews so far (also a really bad sign, actually), but three are from major players: NYT, Variety and Entertainment Weekly. And they're not just bad, they're VERY bad.  Click here to see the quotes.

Current, early score on RottenTomatoes:

ZERO!


Thumbs Up:  We Changed Urbandictionary.com

Last Friday (only three days ago) we ran a story in The Daily Sheet reporting that only two out of thirty definitions for the word “brokeback” were complimentary, and the rest were disappointing.  The two “good” definitions were ranked at number 27 and 29, respectively.

I checked back on Sunday and found our favorite definitions have moved up to the first page!  They are now ranked at 4 and 5.  The only explanation for such a rapid climb is that YOU DID IT.

There is even more good news.  Apparently you can vote again, each time you log in.  Vote for these forum-friendly definitions (now easy to find on the first page):

Definition of brokeback:

term describing unrequited or impossible love.

Those two were meant for each other, but they could never be together. It was a brokeback situation.

And—

Relates to the movie "Brokeback Mountain" directed by Ang Lee. Won many nominations and awards from the Oscars.

Dang, did you see brokeback yet?

Click here to vote.  Remember to vote thumbs down on the higher ranked (wrong) definitions.



Post of the Day:  One Artless Moment

mouk posted in Film vs. Book – Which is Better: "The book helped understand what was happening in the characters' minds.  However, the light it sheds is ferocious, while the mood in the film is more longing and desperate.  For instance, I had taken the dozy embrace in the film to be an example of many wonderful moments of real loving and happiness they must have had, and here comes A. Proulx saying it was the ONLY moment of artless, charmed happiness, and as if this was not bad enough Ennis did not want to see nor feel that it was Jack he held.  The film takes us on a constant rollercoaster of emotions and no moment of happiness remains unspoilt.  But in the novel it is much, much worse."

Click here to read the entire post. 


Question of the Day:  Brokeback Mountain Memorabilia

Marge_Innavera posted a good question, as yet unanswered, in the Brokeback Mountain Memorabilia Thread:

"I keep wondering what happened to the quilt on Jack's bed in Lightning Flat.  Does anyone know whether it was ever sold?"

If anyone knows the answer to this question please answer in the memorabilia thread or write to me at ellen@davecullen.com


Lifestyles in the Forum

Stina posted these comments and photos in The Photo Place:

"This here was pure luck - I wanted to take a pic of a moth sitting on a flower on our roof terrace.  Like most digicams mine has a delay between flash and shutter.  So the flash came, the moth was startled and took off."

"There is this saying 'The best things in life are free', and it is true.  Here - nearly free.  Being in a childish mood, I bought a cheap bottle for soap-bubbles and yesterday sat down on the roof terrace, trying it out. Then I thought - can I make pictures of them? We did teamwork then, my hubby making the bubbles, me taking the pictures.  It was sooo much fun and I really love the results."

Summertime:  Cooking is Easy

Forum members are having way too much fun in the The Brokeback Mountain Lovesick Diet thread.  They discuss their progress, weigh-in on Friday (of course you don't have to tell unless you want to) and post pictures of Jake to inspire each other.   As an extra bonus littledarlin posts great healthy recipes.  Tonight I'm going to try her California Taco Salad, and Angel Food Cake Trifle.  Neither one of these recipes requires cooking, except for the ground beef or chicken in the salad.  Here is the link for the recipe.


Photo cap of the Day

By CANSTANDIT

Ennis: This is a 101-shot thing we got goin on 'ere........

Calendar

Forum Events

16 Sep - New York City - Forum Get Together
29 Sep - 1 Oct - Chicago - Midwest Slash Bash
30 Sep - London - Forum Get Together for all Europeans


Other Events

21 Aug - Hoboken, NJ - BBM Showing at "Movies Under the Stars"
7 Nov - Pinecreek, WY - Toast to Jack and Ennis

The Daily Sheet is a production of The Ultimate Brokeback Forum at www.davecullen.com/forum Editors:  Ellen (tellyouwhat) and Jan (CactusGal) Columnists:  PeteinPortland, DCLuke, cynical21, Jim Bond, michaelflanagansf Proofreader/Researcher:  Gonzo (twistedboy) Today’s edition produced by Ellen Raff (tellyouwhat) ellen@davecullen.com Contributors:  Dave Cullen, Mooska, mouk, Marge_Innavera, Stina, littledarlin, CANSTANDIT We count on you to send us your news items, questions, and nominations for posts of the day. To subscribe to The Daily Sheet, press the "Notify" button at the top of the page. When a new TDS is posted, it will be forwarded to your email address. Previous issues of The Daily Sheet here. Response thread for The Daily Sheet here.

[CactusGal]

The Daily Sheet
August 22, 2006

Photo of the Day

I thought I'd seen all the BBM photos there were to see, then mobody posted this one of Ennis - in what was probably a deleted scene. 

Mobody says, "by the jacket he's wearing and the length of sideburns, its definitely after the divorce.

Our DVD Campaign is Still Going Strong

Our DVD campaign still continues. We have already placed hundreds of DVDs in rural libraries across the US and Canada (and in a couple of other countries) and have been praised by Annie Proulx for our fine efforts. Currently two of our super volunteers, DC Luke and Wheatfields, are continuing to contact rural libraries on our behalf to help us place a backlog of over 70 DVDs that have recently been donated. We have also had a number of members recently donate DVDs to individual libraries in the name of the forum. Our great thanks to them.

If you would like to volunteer to help us contact libraries please contact cactusgal by PM or at jan@davecullen.com. At this time, we are still accepting donations of DVDs for members who would like to mail the DVD to the library themselves. If you need the name of a library (or libraries) waiting for a DVD, please contact peteinportland via PM or at pete@davecullen.com.

We wish to extend a heartfelt thanks to all of those people who have donated their time and/or money to this campaign. And for all of those people who want to know if we will do something similar for the forum's upcoming book, the answer is yes!

Book Marketing Fundraising Update

Thanks to our members, we have now raised $2,300 toward our marketing goal of $4,000. As we ready our book for publication, we are lining up a large number of volunteers to help us get the word out about our book. We have a great number of things planned, and we need help to make it all happen. If you can donate to this campaign, please go here.



Finding Brokeback#6:  Calgary

By Jim Bond  www.FindingBrokeback.com

Film:  Electra, Texas, Bar where Jack tried to score with Jimbo

and how it looks today:  King Edward Hotel, 9th Avenue SW and Fourth Street SE, Calgary, AB

Its sterling Brokeback credentials not withstanding, Calgary is an interesting place to visit in its own right.  Today, a modern commercial hub for western Canada, the town was originally a frontier outpost of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
 
Among Calgary's Brokeback attractions are the interior of the Childress Dance Hall, which is the auditorium of a downtown Canadian Legion building.  Jack and Lureen's Bar is Calgary's famous Ranchman's cowboy bar where the air sparks with masculine energy.  Jack's charms found a much cooler reception at another bar, the King Eddie, where he struck out with Jimbo.  The King Eddie seems to have struck out itself.  It is now closed.

The sad Juarez Alley where Jack would later find himself is located near a gym in the city's Ramsay neighborhood.  It is far from the façade of the house where Monroe and Alma lived.  The Grocery Store where the couple shelved peanuts is just north of Calgary in miniscule Crossfield.
 
Despite these major Brokeback attractions, for many, the site of Jack's murder in the Calgary suburb of Conrich will be the most memorable stop here.  Be prepared to stay a while and ponder the meaning of that sad spot.

Jack "drank a lot" and, after a busy day in Calgary, you might well need a drink too.  Calgary's after hours scene does not disappoint.  See www.gaycalgary.com/ for bar and event listings.

In the following weeks we will present additional simple itineraries and points of interest.  If you can't wait that long, or if you would like to do some armchair traveling to Brokeback country right now, please visit us at www.FindingBrokeback.com.


  Postcards - from amscram

amscram is visiting the Calgary area this week and luckily is sending home photos.  Today he shares with us two photos of the autographed photos of the BBM stars that hang in the Red Coat Inn where they are staying.   The Red Coat Inn is located in Fort MacLeod where several scenes were shot for the film. 

Heath Ledger



Jake Gyllenhaal

FanFic Review

By cynical21

Our featured fan fiction this week is a work in progress entitled Lost, written by forum member pairofdeuces, aka SamW.  Like most of our BBM authors, Sam saw the film and was instantly enchanted by it, and was shortly gripped by a need to write another version of the story.  Although convinced that the novella and film ended in the only way it could end, she decided to write a story that followed the path of the original, diverging only at the point of Jack's death.  In her words, "'Lost' came from my desire to write a BBM AU story where it didn't have to end like that...but still one where Ennis didn't get off too easily and escape the lessons that he needed to learn from believing Jack was dead - without which I didn't believe that he would change enough to allow a different ending for him and Jack in the first place." 

The resulting piece is a gripping, intriguing, complex work that keeps the reader guessing throughout the development of the story.  Ennis endures many of the events as shown in the film - the 'deceased' postcard, the call to Lureen, the visit to Jack's parents, and the discovery of the shirts - but the reader, meanwhile, has already learned that Jack has survived his ordeal.  From that point, everything that happens is new and unexpected, and the story becomes a journey of discovery for both Ennis and Jack, as they struggle to find their way back to each other.

The author is British by birth, the daughter of an army officer whose family traveled with him extensively, spending a lot of time in the Far East.  Eventually, she married an American serviceman she met in Hong Kong, and returned with him to the States.  She worked for several years as a television publicist for a major network, before deciding to go freelance, to allow herself more time for writing.  Now amicably divorced, she lives in the Los Angeles area, but is contemplating a move to a less congested locale.  Unfortunately, for several weeks, she has been stuck on an assignment out in the California desert, and the story (and her legion of fans) are awaiting her return. She is also the author of the Cabin Fever series, which comes highly recommended for those who enjoy well written erotica.

Follow this link to the story.

Or directly to the author's LiveJournal. 


PhotoCap of the Day

by Jannis

Alma: "We could still get a babysitter, take your friend to the Knife & Fork."
Ennis: "Nah, Jack is the spooning type."

Calendar

Forum Events

16 Sep - New York City - Forum Get Together
29 Sep - 1 Oct - Chicago - Midwest Slash Bash
30 Sep - London - Forum Get Together for all Europeans


Other Events

7 Nov - Pinecreek, WY - Toast to Jack and Ennis

The Daily Sheet is a production of The Ultimate Brokeback Forum at www.davecullen.com/forum Editors:  Ellen (tellyouwhat) and Jan (CactusGal) Columnists:  PeteinPortland, DCLuke, cynical21, Jim Bond Proofreader/Researcher:  Gonzo (twistedboy) Today’s edition produced by Jan (CactusGal) jan@davecullen.com Contributors:  mobody, mscram, Jannis We count on you to send us your news items, questions, and nominations for posts of the day. To subscribe to The Daily Sheet, press the "Notify" button at the top of the page. When a new TDS is posted, it will be forwarded to your email address. Previous issues of The Daily Sheet here. Response thread for The Daily Sheet here.

[Ellen (tellyouwhat)]

The Daily Sheet
August 23, 2006

Mark Your Calendar for BBM Screening in August, 2008

Mooska has reported that AMPAS (Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Science) runs a "Great To Be Nominated" series each summer, featuring the film from each Academy year that received the most nominations without winning the Best Picture Award. 

On Monday, Mooska learned the remaining 32 films in the "Great To Be Nominated" series will be shown in two installments over the next two years.  Because they are done in chronological order, that means BBM will be shown in the "Great to Be Nominated 5" series, and whereas the specific date is too early to pin down, it will be two years from now, in August, 2008.

Each evening will also include animated and live action short subjects, original advertising trailers, outtakes, newsreels and other surprises to offer up a snapshot of that particular year.  The very best prints available will be screened at the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater, one of the finest screening facilities in the world.
 

The theatre is located on Wilshire Blvd. in Beverly Hills, and has 1012 seats.

From the AMPAS website:  "Nearly every aspect of this world-class theater has been custom designed to present films at maximum technical accuracy.  Offering the latest in state-of-the-art projection and sound systems, the theater combines the acoustical characteristics of a recording studio with the stringent qualities of a film viewing 'laboratory'. Placement of the 1,012 seats has also been specially designed to provide an environment that is ideal in terms of sound, image and comfort."

Single tickets are sold at the theatre or by mail for each film, usually three weeks before the event.  (Get out those 2008 calendars now!)

Fancy a trip to LA in two years?  I know I do!  I plan to be there in a forum tee-shirt with my fan pin from the BBQ.


Close Range  Discussion Breaks Out in our Books Section

Forum members are no longer content with the occasional reference to the other stories in Annie Proulx's Close Range.  In the last few days an impromptu discussion of one of the stories, The Mud Below, broke out in the Annie Proulx thread.  This discussion began even as the lively discussion of Larry McMurtry's The Last Picture Show  continues in the official book club thread.  Some members are active in both threads! 

The Mud Below  refers to bull-riding, and sheds light on some of the details a bull-rider like Jack Twist would have encountered in his rodeo days.  But that is only one reason to read it.

Members discussing The Mud Below  have agreed to step back for a moment of organization, and to give others on the board a chance to join the discussion.  Jenny has posted a set of discussion questions.  Official (or not) the discussion will begin for real on Friday, Aug 25.  Dig out your copy of Close Range  and join us.


Almost Anything You Need at the Ultimate Brokeback Store

Need a book for the book club?  A bumper sticker?  A DVD of a favorite film (or an extra BBM DVD to give a friend?)  Click here for the Ultimate Brokeback Store, and support the forum when you buy from Amazon through our site.


Brokeback Mountain:  An Exception to Yet Another Rule

In the General Discussion thread, Castro quoted from a Salon  article by Heather Havrilesky which makes the point that television series (such as ER  and the Sopranos ) can develop characters more fully over a season than any movie can in the course of two or three hours.  There are exceptions, she noted, and one of them was Brokeback Mountain.

"Of course, great movies can achieve the same subtle shades of character, and the very best films never feel time-constrained.  The spare story in Brokeback Mountain  probably even benefits from the natural concision of film.  Instead of being treated to lengthy, tangential, unnecessary subplots or repetitive illustrations of the two main characters, Ang Lee presents us with a story whose elegance arises from its economy.  We're not meant to understand fully what's happening in the lives of our protagonists, nor are we expected to emerge with an extensive, detailed analysis or deep insight into why these characters behave the way they do.  The lyrical, slightly mysterious feel to Brokeback Mountain  emerges in part from its spare treatment by Lee."

mouk replied:  "This is wonderful, seeing BBM cited as an example of  best practice in general discussions about film making.  Hopefully, this will become a more and more frequent occurrence, BBM will be ever more widely recognized as the landmark and the classic that it is."


Post of the Day:  The Road Less Traveled

tulienm came out of lurkdom to post in How Brokeback Affected Me.  Here is an excerpt from his post, which describes how he rejected the path of least resistance:

"It would have been easy for me to marry Marsha, my high school sweetheart, have 2.5 children, drive the Wonder Bread truck in Moses Lake, WA until I retired then die of heart failure on my way to Yellowstone in the RV.  It would have been a life.  And maybe a good one.  Instead, I…chose a much more difficult path.  We have to make up the rules as we go along.  I actually find it exciting.  We have to utilize all our mental and physical resources to make the best decisions.  We have to stretch.  You are going to be amazed at the strength of character you are going to discover in yourself."

Click here to read the rest of his post. 


Music Awards Alert

by greylocke5

Every year in Ghent, the World Soundtrack Awards (WSA) are presented by the World Soundtrack Academy.  The Academy, which was founded in 2001 by the Flanders International Film Festival - Ghent and a number of film music composers, now encompasses over 250 leading composers.  The stated goal of the Academy is to promote music in film.

The three principal categories are:

Soundtrack Composer of the Year;
Best Original Soundtrack of the Year - Orchestral; and
Best Original Song Written Directly for a Film.

Brokeback Mountain  has been nominated for Best Original Soundtrack and for Best Original Song (A Love That Will Never Grow Old).

For more info, go to their website.

Even more important, they also have a "People's Choice" category where members of the public can vote for their favorite score of the past year.  Voting closes on Sept 15 

If you want to vote for Brokeback Mountain  you can click on the following link.  (Note: All those composers listed for BBM in addition to Gustavo have music heard at some point in the background of the film, e.g. Rimsky-Korsakov's Capriccio Espagnol  was playing on the TV in the living room at Munroe and Alma's house on Thanksgiving Day, so Rimsky gets a credit!) 

You have to provide an email address to complete the voting process.  Follow the link to vote for Brokeback.

Of course you can vote for just about any film score imaginable that was written last year, but I thought this thread would be most interested in supporting Brokeback Mountain  as "the people's choice".


Gyllenhaal to Play Cyclist Armstrong in Biopic

According to Metro Source, a biopic on seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong will star actor Jake Gyllenhaal in the title role.

According to the "New York Daily News," Armstrong has told various sources at ESPN, that Gyllenhaal will portray him in the film. The 25-year-old apparently beat out actor Matthew McConaughey for the part. The film is said to be the reason why Armstrong has been photographed hanging out with both Gyllenhaal and McConaughey numerous times this summer.



Report from BBM Screening in Hoboken

Twist and Shout posted in the General Discussion:

“Last night was a fabled night in Hoboken, NJ: Brokeback Mountain up on a wide screen in a park on the Hudson River's edge. We the audience, facing east to New York City, not only had the delight to view one of the finest films ever made with some of the best acting ever seen, but the most awe-inspiring skyline of New York dazzled you the second you might glance away from the screen. The weather was a non-humid, delightful 80 degrees, and the approximate audience of 200 was the most reverent one I've had the pleasure to be part of.... What more could we have asked for? We had the unmatched stars on the screen framed by the unsurpassed stars above in a cloudless night and complimented by the breathtaking man-made lights glittering a mile due east. The word "magical" doesn't even begin to describe the whole experience or do it justice!”



Brokeback Warning Label
by tfmisc
 

Objects in mirror are closer than they appear.

Calendar

Forum Events

16 Sep - New York City - Forum Get Together
29 Sep - 1 Oct - Chicago - Midwest Slash Bash
30 Sep - London - Forum Get Together for all Europeans


Other Events

7 Nov - Pinecreek, WY - Toast to Jack and Ennis

The Daily Sheet is a production of The Ultimate Brokeback Forum at www.davecullen.com/forum Editors:  Ellen (tellyouwhat) and Jan (CactusGal) Columnists:  PeteinPortland, DCLuke, cynical21, Jim Bond, michaelflanagansf Reporter in the field:  karind1 Proofreader/Researcher:  Gonzo (twistedboy) Today’s edition produced by Ellen Raff (tellyouwhat) ellen@davecullen.com Contributors:  Mooska, castro, mouk, tulienm, greylocke5, Twistandshout, tfmisc We count on you to send us your news items, questions, and nominations for posts of the day. To subscribe to The Daily Sheet, press the "Notify" button at the top of the page. When a new TDS is posted, it will be forwarded to your email address. Previous issues of The Daily Sheet here. Response thread for The Daily Sheet here.

[CactusGal]

The Daily Sheet
August 24, 2006

Our Ultimate Brokeback Store

We have a wide variety of items in our signature lines such as some of the many items available in the "Jack Nasty" line shown above.  Check these and our other lines by going to our site store.     (Remember, there is always a link to the store on the opening Forum page.)


Post of the Day

For sometime, I've thought that one of the best parts about being part of our Forum is the acceptance here of each other for who we truly are - no pretenses needed here.  Our thoughtful member, Jenny, has posted a very insightful piece about this and I encourage you to read the excerpt below and then know you'll want to read it in it's entirety. - her post.

"Ennis and Jack suffer from profound loneliness.  Their secret cuts them off from those around them and condemns them to emotional isolation, even from each other, because that secret isn't just that they desire another man, but that each of them loves another man with all his heart.  It's a secret Ennis keeps even from himself, and a secret Jack can never tell anyone.  When we deny and cut ourselves off from love, we can't be completely known by others, and that keeps us from seeing how much our love and caring mean to others and how beautiful we actually are, despite the shortcomings and stains we all see in ourselves.  Part of the aching tragedy of Brokeback Mountain  is that had Ennis and Jack been part of a community that could accept them as they were and support them in their struggles with themselves and each other, they would have had a decent chance to overcome their loneliness and be the lovers they were meant to be, giving and taking joy in their lives together.

What I think we who listen and speak to each other in these forums receive is the love and support and understanding of a community that accepts and embraces us, wherever we may be in dealing with love and loss and ourselves.  What Brokeback Mountain  gave us was a vehicle for reaching out to each other, describing some of our deepest feelings and sharing many of our most painful and overwhelming experiences.  Because it is a story about the most central aspect of humanity, the longing for love and the fear of being seen and known for who we really are, which makes us terribly vulnerable to rejection and hatred from others.  It is an awful paradox that, although love creates and sustains us and is the only thing which has the strength to overcome the fear of living, it can also utterly drain and ultimately destroy our ability to trust in each other and share ourselves completely, while fear, though it imprisons us and condemns us to be less than fully ourselves, can also protect us from terrible pain and loss.  Jack gambled on love, and lost the game; Ennis lived in fear, and lost even more.  We all know love and fear and loss, but because we found each other and a way to start sharing ourselves and our experiences, we are no longer as alone and unknown to others as we were before."


  Postcards – from amscram

The del Mar Apartment in Riverton

amscram – re-enacting the Ennis on the stairs, saying "Jack F**king Twist!"

amscram sitting in the same table Ennis was sitting at in the Cassie scene, eating a piece of apple pie

Observations and Ruminations

by DCLuke

Brokeback Mountain  has been described as "daring, groundbreaking," and a "cultural milestone."  Yet it was not the first serious motion picture to address the issues of homosexuality and homophobia. The Children's Hour, a 1961 film directed by William Wyler and starring Audrey Hepburn and Shirley MacLaine, also addressed those themes, but without the same cultural resonance that Brokeback achieved forty-five years later.

(Warning:  spoilers ahead) Based on the 1934 play by Lillian Hellmann, The Children's Hour  delves into the frustrating and terrifying ordeal of two New England schoolteachers (Hepburn and MacLaine) falsely accused by a malicious student of being lovers.  Their lives slowly disintegrate as they lose their employment, reputations, friends, and garner national attention in an unsuccessful libel case.  The film ends with one of the young women making a dramatic confession of Sapphic attraction to her shocked heterosexual counterpart before committing suicide.

The Children's Hour  does not include the words "lesbian" or homosexual.  Instead, the women are repeatedly described as "unnatural" and in one scene the word "lovers" is used.  Despite the absence of descriptive language and no depiction of erotic attraction, The Children's Hour  came with the tagline "Because of the adult nature of its theme - this motion picture is not recommended for children."  Still, The Children's Hour  is by no means an anti-gay exploitation film.  The sympathetic depiction of a lesbian character and frank portrayal of the terrible injustice of homophobia were undeniably gutsy career moves for all involved with the film.

I have often regarded Brokeback Mountain  as a celluloid ambassador for gay people in America.  Through its haunting and stark portrayal of tragic romance and homophobic cruelty, Brokeback Mountain  is remarkable in its ability to foster reflection on the struggles and discrimination encountered by gay and lesbian people.  That The Children's Hour  did not have a similar effect as a catalyst for social discourse and examination is a reminder that film alone cannot be a proponent of social change.  The social power of The Children's Hour  was hobbled by a lack of voices to draw attention to the film and the real-life consequences of bigotry.  That is what makes our work on behalf of Brokeback ---from the book project to the DVD campaign---so important.  By raising our voices, drawing attention to the film, and engaging our friends and neighbors in dialogue about gay and lesbian issues, we ensure that Brokeback remains relevant and achieves its full power as a force for social change and understanding. 


A Jake Encounter

Several of our members including felicia and paulh were able to attend a poetry reading by Stephen Gyllenhaal on Martha's Vineyard this week.  paulh found himself in the enviable position of sitting next to Jake.  Here is how he descibes that fateful moment:

"I just happened to sit at the end of a big, comfy sofa next to the area where Stephen chose to stand for his poetry reading.  A little later I looked up, and saw that Maggie was sitting at the other end, with Naomi next to her.  There was one space left on the sofa (next to me), and Jake approached.  I realized that this might have been selected as the Gyllenhaal sitting area, so I offered to get up to make room for them.  Jake said, "no no no no no" really fast, so I stayed.

Here are a few photos of the event thanks to our Eyelashers!  To read more about all of this, go to Jake's Eyelashes, Part 4

Stephen Gyllenhaal - with part of paulh

Jake Gyllenhaal - with another part of our paulh!

The Gyllenhaal Family

Photocap of the Day – an Oldie but Goodie

by Lucee

Ang: Now for the last time, will you two please remember that this is
not the scene where you kiss.  We finished shooting that one already.

Heath: Uhhh...sorry...forgot

Jake: Um, wasn't me it was him.  He started it.

Calendar of Events

Forum Events

16 Sep - New York City - Forum Get Together
29 Sep - 1 Oct - Chicago - Midwest Slash Bash
30 Sep - London - Forum Get Together for all Europeans


Other Events

7 Nov - Pinecreek, WY - Toast to Jack and Ennis

The Daily Sheet is a production of The Ultimate Brokeback Forum at www.davecullen.com/forum Editors:  Ellen (tellyouwhat) and Jan (CactusGal) Columnists:  PeteinPortland, DCLuke, cynical21, Jim Bond Proofreader/Researcher:  Gonzo (twistedboy) Today’s edition produced by Jan (CactusGal) jan@davecullen.com Contributors:  Lucee, mary, amscram We count on you to send us your news items, questions, and nominations for posts of the day. To subscribe to The Daily Sheet, press the "Notify" button at the top of the page. When a new TDS is posted, it will be forwarded to your email address. Previous issues of The Daily Sheet here. Response thread for The Daily Sheet here.

[Ellen (tellyouwhat)]

The Daily Sheet
August 25, 2006

Spam Alert

Please don't open a PM from Don Johnson. It contains a pornographic image and links. In the eight months our forum has been in operation, this is the very first PM spammer we have had on our forum. Maybe it is a sign of our success. Please be aware we are working to try to make sure this does not happen again. We are very sorry this happened, and we greatly appreciate all of the members who PM'ed or emailed to let us know of the problem.


September Film Festivals to Premier Candy

The website AddictedtotheMovieCandy reports that Candy is one of eighteen titles that will receive a North American premiere at this year's Toronto International Film Festival, scheduled for September 7 through September 16. 

Candy is also on the list for Kansas City's FilmFest, September 8 through 18.  Can't decide which one to attend?  If you want to see Heath, he is listed as one of the guests expected to attend in Toronto.


Post of the Day

Boris touched many forum members with a long post in How Brokeback Affected Me.  Here is an excerpt:

"…What Brokeback provided us, and what is evident in this forum, is that it gave us a frame of reference to share ... We could use the imagery, the characters, the story, screenplay, actors, score to express our private language.  Through the movie we could understand each other better because we shared some images, words that could be used to explain who and what we are. And I believe that is the ingredient that has given us the space to explore the realm of within.  The movie didn't only cut through the protective layers we had built around our souls, it also provided means and language to share what the movie had exposed.

…What if the right question is 'why now' instead of 'why us'?  What if we who were touched so deeply for the movie were (for some reason) in a moment in time and in relation to our histories in life, that the movie could make that effect.  I… would suggest that people who were hit hardest were somehow ready for the message.  Maybe there was some turning point, need for change, sorrow, fear, unfinished resolve or unsolved problem, something they may not have been even aware of, but what was so close to surface that Brokeback could penetrate the protective layers (or walls like they now say) surrounding it.

The place in soul that was hurting but was ready to be healed.

Movie can't heal us and this forum can do only something.  The change in our lives, should it ever happen, can only be done by us ourselves.  And hopefully the people here can support us while we make those changes happen…I believe that I was given a second chance through the movie and this forum."

Here is the link to read the entire post.


Members Photo Album

Normally we reserve this space for a photo of Heath or Jake, but this week we have something different.  This painting by Tom Ryan hangs in the lobby of the Best Western in Boerne, where Mooska stayed during the BBQ.

"To me the guy is Ennis, his 'a bit awkward' stance.  The other cowboys in the back-ground coming toward him.  Maybe it's their alternate life--the Sweet Life--the two cowboys in front another couple he and Jack met.  Jack in the back coming to see his Ennis...  I don't know, I stared at that painting a good while every day!"

Here is a link to see more of Tom Ryan's western-theme art.


Your Photos Here

If you have a favorite photo of Jake or Heath please send it to ellen@davecullen.com, and explain why it's your favorite.


Sig-Lines in the Forum

Dal is inspired by these words from the novel Ulysses by James Joyce:

---"But it's no use," says he.   "Force, hatred, history, all that.  That's not life for men and women, insult and hatred.  And everybody knows that it's the very opposite of that, that is really life."
---"What?" says Alf.
---"Love," says Bloom. "I mean the opposite of hatred."

When I asked Dal what these lines mean to him, he explained:

"Mistah Bloom is in the bar listening to his acquaintances enumerate the endless catalogue of wars, massacres, invasions, oppressions etc  that is Ireland's history under the English (human history, really); and his 'Irishness' is challenged along the way.  He listens with increasing bewilderment as they just go on and on.  Then he breaks out in this one beautiful statement which I find absolutely lovely 'cause it's not hoity-toity or pious or pretentious, but something a common person would say who 'gets' it.  Bloom is just a regular guy, going through his familiar crappy world, who somehow is blessed by love.  So are Jack and Ennis, right?  Us too."

If you have a favorite sig-line in the Forum, please nominate it for Sig-Line of the Week.  Write to me at ellen@davecullen.com.


Lost in Translation:  Jack Who is Bad

BBM-Intern posted in the Asian thread:

"I recently made one of my twice-a-year trips to Malaysia.  While there, I couldn't help myself and bought a (non-official) copy of BBM.  It's sad really, the film wasn't cleared by the government for screening, so the illegal copies are the only way the public will get to see the film…I was curious to see what they'd do to the dialogue, as often times, TV programs end up with terrible translations.  Well, BBM was not spared, whomever did the translation came up with some howlers!"

Here are a few examples:

Original Dialogue: Your folks from ranch people?
Bahasa Malaysia: Kamu berasal dari Nashville?
Translation: Are you from Nashville?

OD: 'Cause the Big Horn Mountains ain't in Texas.
BM: Sebab ikan jenis Big Horned tiada di Texas.
TR: Because the Big Horned type of fish isn't found in Texas.

OD: Jack Nasty!
BM: Jack yang Jahat...
TR: Jack who is bad...

There is much more, follow the link. 


Close Range  Discussion Underway

TGIF, because if it's Friday then we can start posting in the Close Range thread about The Mud Below.  If you have read this Annie Proulx short story please join us.


Wyoming Real Estate Section

élan wrote to the Daily Sheet:  "I'm in Pagosa Springs, CO and just saw in the August 21st issue of High Country News  the following unclassified ad:

"AUTHOR ANNIE PROULX is selling her Wyoming house on the east slope of the Medicine Bows.  Views, four bedrooms, three baths, large office, serious bookshelves.  Twenty-seven miles to Laramie and the University of Wyoming." 

For information, see www.ranchbrokers.com/smallerproperties


Who Was on the Phone With Aguirre?

by JasonWV

Guy who spent first Summer with Jack: So you found another herder with Jack?  Can't you
use an extra one?  I'll take a pay cut!  Hell I'll work for free!  Just let me go up there with Jack again!
Aguirre: NOT ON YOUR EFFING LIFE!

Calendar

Forum Events

16 Sep - New York City - Forum Get Together
29 Sep - 1 Oct - Chicago - Midwest Slash Bash
30 Sep - London - Forum Get Together for all Europeans


Other Events

7 Nov - Pinecreek, WY - Toast to Jack and Ennis

The Daily Sheet is a production of The Ultimate Brokeback Forum at www.davecullen.com/forum Editors:  Ellen (tellyouwhat) and Jan (CactusGal) Columnists:  PeteinPortland, DCLuke, cynical21, Jim Bond, michaelflanagansf Reporter in the field:  karind1 Proofreader/Researcher:  Gonzo (twistedboy) Today’s edition produced by Ellen Raff (tellyouwhat) ellen@davecullen.com Contributors:  Boris, bbm-bliss, Mooska, Dal, BBM-Intern, elan, jasonwv We count on you to send us your news items, questions, and nominations for posts of the day. To subscribe to The Daily Sheet, press the "Notify" button at the top of the page. When a new TDS is posted, it will be forwarded to your email address. Previous issues of The Daily Sheet here. Response thread for The Daily Sheet here.

[CactusGal]

The Daily Sheet
August 26, 2006

Member Profile:  Sparky

Today's Member Profile, Sparky, is one of my favorites, and if he isn't already, he's soon to be one of yours too.  Sparky shares his life with us:   

"This could, and perhaps should be a novel, but I will make it a blurb.

After the middle point of the 60's I emerged, a bouncing baby Sparky, into the wet greenery of Portland, Oregon.  Until the early 90's, I remained mostly in the Pacific Northwest.  Quite by accident, after I graduated college, fate delivered me into the film industry.  An education in the theatre and other poverty guaranteeing subjects found me strangely equipped for the odd and wonderful world of filmmaking.  After working in various departments on commercials, features, and anything else that the local industry offered, I happily landed in the Art Department.  It was an unexpected yet perfect fit, designing and creating sets.  In pursuit of furthering this career and living in sunnier pastures, I moved to Los Angeles.  My arrival dovetailed with an enormous earthquake.  The shambles, trashed house, and drama were epic.  Undeterred, here I have remained.  Yes, I work with rich and famous people.  It's no big deal.  I have met every one of them I ever wanted to meet.  Except Joni Mitchell.  She is one of the only ones that ever really mattered anyway.  Give a shout out if you can help the Sparkster land dinner and cocktails with that last elusive idol that made a difference.  I would offer you love, undying gratitude and affection.

Currently, I earn my keep making sets pretty for a few different television shows.  Happy in my isolated hilltop hideaway, I share my home with two small parrots.  Some of you may already know about the unstoppable Coco and the irresistibly cute Banjo.
 
In my spare time, I enjoy investing in real estate, avoiding landscaping, music (making it and listening to it), reading, rodeos, doing handy stuff around the house, swimming, bicycling, and obviously, communing with people on the internet.  The forum has given me a priceless opportunity to forge some new friendships.  I am thrilled to have met so many interesting and good hearted people.  Y'all know who you are.  For that, I will be forever grateful.  My life has been quite enriched by this special place.  Special thanks to Killer's Mom for the hoedown.

When I bought my house, there was a broken down trailer up by the pool.  An antique trailer collector bought it and hauled it away.  There are ruts in the earth where it sat for 30 years.  I could fill the ruts up, and plant something there under the lemon tree.  I don't know if I will.  The actual trailer was hauled away years ago.  As far as the metaphorical one goes, I'm holding out for a stellar offer."

Sparky and Rascal at the BBQ

   

Profile Questions

01. Currently listening to?  I am listening to nothing newly released.  I am however, in the midst of a year long jag of alternating between Bon Jovi and Joni Mitchell.  Joni makes me think, and transports me to another world entirely.  Currently I am listening to Travelogue, Night Ride Home, and Hejira.  JBJ is my favorite rah rah testosterone party music.  If I want to get riled up and pumped I listen to Crush, Bounce and a mix of all their fast power chord stuff.  Their ballads are Hallmark at its worst, and I skip them.  The big arena stuff like Livin' On A Prayer, It's My Life, and Have A Nice Day  get my blood flowing.  I roll down the windows in the pickup, push up the volume and belt my guts out.  This is actually a very accurate picture of the two sides of my personality.

02.  Currently reading?  Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All  by Allan Gurganus.  It is fantastic.  I have been wanting to read it for 10 years and it was worth the wait.

03.  Biggest challenge?  Resolving the difference between what I want and what I have.  Not a considerable gap, but still annoying.

04.  Your perfect day?  There are so many ways to have a perfect day.  One of my best is going on a two hour Sunday bike ride, coming home, then hitting the local diner for breakfast with the LA Times.  I spend a little time communing with my birds, have a swim, and laze away the rest of the day with pals or just doing things around the house.

05.  What's your indulgence?  Food wise it is Pepperoni Pizza and Doritos.  Life wise, it is spending too much money to run around the country to see Bon Jovi and Stevie Nicks (Joni is retired, folks !).  I may soon have to add to this traveling around the country for forum events.
 
06.  What's your inspiration?  Mostly my inspiration is my own ambition.  I feel compelled to do my best, and do well by the people I care about.

07.  Last major Purchase?  An investment property in Oklahoma.

08.  First job?  Pulling weeds and mowing lawns at a nursing home.  I was 14 and started the day I got a work permit.

09.  What do you know for sure?  Life is brutally short.

10.  Favorite Movie besides BBM?  Tough one.  I was very moved by Moulin Rouge, which is saying something for me, as I detest musicals.  I also am a big fan of The Year Of Living Dangerously.  To tell the truth though, I am not much of a movie fan.

11.  If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?  I don't care what he says.  I will say, "Gimme the list of who else is here.  I am not spending eternity here if I am in bad company."

12.  What brought you to the Forum?  A google search, if I recall correctly.

13.  Your favorite threads?  Currently I enjoy The Daily Sheet,  the BBQ thread, and the Diner.  In the past I really liked the Masculinity and Brokeback thread and the How BBM Affected Me thread.  But I can't really deal with the emotion of it anymore.  It has tuckered me out.  The social threads are more fun for me now.

14.  How many times have you watched BBM?  Five times in the theater and two tragic times on a flight from Australia.  None since.

15.  Your favorite BBM scene?  I don't know that I have a favorite scene.  One that makes me feel all mushy inside is the one where they are drinking and talking in camp and Jack tells the Pentecost story.   No one talks about that one much.  I love the feeling of camaraderie that is forming.  I can feel them getting closer to one another in that scene.  It reminds me of the zingy thrill of getting to know someone, realizing that you want to know more and the tremendous rush of that moment.  There is no greater thrill in life.

Sparky's Pacific Parrotlet, Banjo, . . . . . .  .and his Peach Faced Lovebird, Coco.

London Get Together

Zudos and bbmbliss have been busy planning a fun get together for members in London and Zudos brings us this message for all those who are considering attending:

"Hey all,

After a lot of deliberation bbmbliss and I have planned the activities for the day...!!!

We are emailing the details out as per the email address provided...

If you have not received this within the next couple of days, please let Bliss and I know...

Look forward to seeing you all on 30th.... 

Note:  For security reasons, no locations will be discussed on the open thread, and we would ask that this is kept to PM and email discussion... Thanks"   Zudos


     Postcards:  lolita is here! 

lolita is visiting the US from Australia and from the photos, it sure looks like she has had a great time with her slash buddies in San Francisco

B73, lolita, Sheera and City Girl

B73, City Girl, lolita, Sheera and amdaz

lolita, City Girl and B73

Pat's Prints

by PatSinnott

The BBQ Group in watercolor.

PhotoCaps of the Day

Cantstandit had an original idea:  BBM – The Short Version.  B73 took that idea and ran with it.  Here are a couple of the special ones:

BBM – The Short Version #1

"Wanta FNIT and SNIT then get your heart stomped for twenty years?" 

"Sure."

BBM – The Short Version #2

"Jack."

"Jack."

     

Calendar

Forum Events

16 Sep - New York City - Forum Get Together
29 Sep - 1 Oct - Chicago - Midwest Slash Bash
30 Sep - London - Forum Get Together for all Europeans


Other Events

7 Nov - Pinecreek, WY - Toast to Jack and Ennis

The Daily Sheet is a production of The Ultimate Brokeback Forum at www.davecullen.com/forum Editors:  Ellen (tellyouwhat) and Jan (CactusGal) Columnists:  PeteinPortland, DCLuke, cynical21, Jim Bond Artist in Residence:  Pat Sinnott Proofreader/Researcher:  Gonzo (twistedboy) Today’s edition produced by Jan (CactusGal) jan@davecullen.com Contributors:  Sparky, Zudos, Melisande, B73 We count on you to send us your news items, questions, and nominations for posts of the day. To subscribe to The Daily Sheet, press the "Notify" button at the top of the page. When a new TDS is posted, it will be forwarded to your email address. Previous issues of The Daily Sheet here. Response thread for The Daily Sheet here.

[CactusGal]

The Daily Sheet
August 27, 2006

Member Profile:  Cynical21

Today's Member Profile is The Daily Sheet's own FanFiction Columnist and esteemed slash writer, Cynical21.  Her insight into slash fiction has been a real asset to our slash readers and her well-written love story Fractured Moments, Broken Dreams  is well-respected in that world.   

Cynical21 has been twice married, once widowed, once divorced and is now happily and permanently unattached.  She is the mother of five, grandmother of eight with a new one due next month.   She lives in South Louisiana, and works for a public hospital - with a  job title of Grants Coordinator, but she says "It should be Flunky."

She loves to travel, to read, and - most of all - to write; loves music and movies - and adores the theater, musicals especially.  Periodically she bankrupts herself to zip up to New York to squeeze in as many shows as she can.  She says, "I am proudly - age-wise - a contemporary of Jack and Ennis, and a first-generation hippie, now and forever.

Profile Questions:

01. Currently listening to?  Dixie Chicks Not Ready to Make Nice

02. Currently reading?  Aside from BBM fan fiction, of course, Jeffery Deaver's Cold Moon

03. Biggest challenge?  Finding enough hours in the day to do everything I want to do.

04. Your perfect day?  Oceanside, with my grandchildren playing in the surf, a pitcher of Margaritas, a stack of brand new books to choose from, and a couple of hunky lifeguards around to provide - um - visual interest.

05. What's your indulgence?  Books.  New, hardbound, ridiculously expensive books, and - running a close second now - DVDs, the newer the better.

06. What's you inspiration?  Two people who live in my heart, though they no longer live anywhere else.  The love of my life - and the mate of my soul who - as it happens - were not the same person.

07. Last major Purchase?  Trip to London last fall.

08. First job?  Summer receptionist for dentist

09. What do you know for sure?  That there is entirely too much hatred and ugliness in this world for anyone to feel justified in being upset over love between two consenting adults - no matter who they are.

10. Favorite Movie?  You're kidding - right?  Brokeback Mountain, hands down.  But before that, it was Moulin Rouge.

11. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? "Hi, BJ.  Ben is right over there - waiting for you."

12. What brought you to the Forum?  After reading the original story and then seeing the film, I felt compelled to take pen in hand - figuratively - and see if I could write some 'missing scene' type stories, to fill in the blanks that the book/movie never addressed.  Then I went looking for others who had been so touched by this incredible phenomenon.  Found several websites, but none felt quite right, until I landed here - and the rest is history.

13. Your favorite threads?  Well, I've lurked around in almost all of them - and been tremendously touched by the outpouring of feeling and the candor of people so willing to share their own stories.  For posting, though, I tend to stick to the Slash threads, where the debate can be lively because the regular visitors there are so passionate about their devotion to the characters and message of the original story.  Also rather fond of Jake's Eyelashes - for obvious reasons.

14. How many times have you watched BBM?  I saw it at least a dozen times in the theater, and have no idea how many times on DVD - once or twice a week at least.

15. Your favorite BBM scene?  Oh, my.  How to choose.  Well, like everybody else, I'm fond of both tent scenes, and the reunion scene, and the dozey embrace.  But if I had to choose the one that I find most touching, it would probably be the scene just before the big trailhead confrontation - the "Sometimes I miss you so much I can hardly stand it" scene.  For some reason, this one always breaks my heart all over again.  Jack's pain is so real and immediate - and Ennis is so helpless to ease it.

BBM FanArt

We sure are a talented lot, aren't we?  Here is a drawing by our member, Janie-G that I know you will like and probably want to capture!

by Janie-G

Post of the Day

WLAGuy's post this week on the How Brokeback Affected Me Thread really hit home to me and it started a very good discussion going there.  Here is what he had to say:

Just wanted to throw this out there and see what you all think.  Ever since I began posting and reading posts on this board, I've seen one recurring theme in particular.  A lot of people (myself included) have been confused and a little freaked out by their strong emotional reactions to BBM, to wit, the tears that seem to come almost non-stop in the weeks after first seeing the movie or reading the book, and indeed seem to kick right back in at the drop of a cowboy hat in the months that follow.  (Personally I've just resigned myself to the fact that I'm going to be constantly on the verge of tears, if not actually in tears, for the foreseeable future.)  Some have said it felt like BBM uncovered a bottomless well of sadness in them that they didn't know existed (which also applies to me), but what didn't make sense to me was why people with seemingly little in common -- male or female, straight or gay, happily married or divorced, single or partnered -- all ended up the same way -- sobbing as if our hearts would break.

Well, I was re-reading AP's "Getting Movied" essay in the Story to Screenplay book last night, and I ran across one sentence that leapt off the page at me.  In the essay, Annie talks about her first meeting with Ang Lee, when she was still worried about whether he would be able to do the story justice, and how after they had spoken, she began to believe "he might be able to show the grief and anger that builds when we must accept severe emotional wounding."  Those words, I think, are the key to why most, if not all of us, have experienced the same overwhelming emotional response to BBM, no matter what our personal history.  I think each of us who have had this reaction has experienced severe emotional wounding that up until now has never been healed by grieving.  And I think the reason we had not grieved up until now is that the wounding, even though severe, was a slow process, so slow that many of us didn't even know we had been hurt until we saw the indisputable proof laid out before us on the screen or the page, and realized that, to varying degrees, it was the story of our wounding being told.

To join in the discussion, go to How Brokeback affected Me Thread


     Postcards From lolita:  Sightseeing

Monday some of the Slash gang had hors d'oeuvres with City Girl, Sheera, lolita, B73, Melisande and amdaz present.  On Tuesday they took Lolita sightseeing and on Wednesday was dinner was with CityGirl, Sheera, lolita, Meilsande, amdaz, Elventwilight, Sid401K, and michaelflanagansf.

lolita and City Girl - "Ennis and Jack"

lolita and Sheera  - on the San Francisco Cable Car

City Girl - Looks like she knows how to ride that thing!

lolita and Sheera - in Grace's Evita-like balcony in her lobby.

Poem of the Day

by Gnash

PhotoCaps of the Day

Those PhotoCap'rs seem to always come up with an original idea.  This week they are into "Add a Letter".   Check these out below:

Add a Letter:



That sonofabitch is cuttin' us out of a whole month's play

by Sunny

Add a Letter:



Ennis: You been to Mexico Jack?  I heard what they got in Mexico for boys like you

Jack: Dammit Ennis, I wish I knew how to quiet you!

by Sunny

Calendar

Forum Events

16 Sep - New York City - Forum Get Together
29 Sep - 1 Oct - Chicago - Midwest Slash Bash
30 Sep - London - Forum Get Together for all Europeans


Other Events

7 Nov - Pinecreek, WY - Toast to Jack and Ennis

The Daily Sheet is a production of The Ultimate Brokeback Forum at www.davecullen.com/forum Editors:  Ellen (tellyouwhat) and Jan (CactusGal) Columnists:  PeteinPortland, DCLuke, cynical21, Jim Bond Proofreader/Researcher:  Gonzo (twistedboy) Today’s edition produced by Jan (CactusGal) jan@davecullen.com Contributors:  Cynical21, Janie-G, Sunny, Melisande, WLAGuy, GNash We count on you to send us your news items, questions, and nominations for posts of the day. To subscribe to The Daily Sheet, press the "Notify" button at the top of the page. When a new TDS is posted, it will be forwarded to your email address. Previous issues of The Daily Sheet here. Response thread for The Daily Sheet here.