Whew!

Okay. Ever been so busy that you didn't have time to be sick and then as soon as things let up a bit, boom! Viral smackdown? Soiree Dada wrapped up Saturday night. On Sunday, I was sneezy and congested all day and assumed that it was my usual allergies. I took a Claritin to no effect. Late in the afternoon, my throat started to feel scratchy. I laid down for an hour, had some dinner, hypnotically watched the movie Stargate on the Sci-Fi Channel and noticed for the first time that French Stewart was in it as a bad ass marine, and started feeling worse. I don't think the miscasting of French Stewart had anything to do with this. Through my girlfriend's recommendation, I took a bath by candle-light with a bath bomb. Okay, the candle-light was my idea. Shut up. I'm sick.

I crawled into bed around 8pm and slept for nearly ten hours.

So, at the moment I feel much better, albeit quite achy. Today, all I have on the docket are my Columbia classes. I'm free this evening to come home and chill out. And, if I'm still not feeling well, take another bath by candle-light. I said shut up.

Things have been a little slow around here for snarky political and social commentary or talking about theater and writing. There's lot for me to write about, so we'll get those pistons fired back up this week.


If you're a geek like me, this is good news...

Young Actors Audition For Justice

George Miller, director of the upcoming Justice Leage of America, flew from his native Australia over the weekend to audition young actors for roles in the much-anticipated comic-inspired film, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The marathon casting session started Oct. 14 and continues on the 15th, with 35 to 40 actors testing for roles, including Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, Flash, Aquaman, Green Lantern and the Martian Manhunter. A few nonhero parts might be testing as well.

On the roll call are Adam Brody (The O.C.), Joseph Cross (Running With Scissors), D.J. Cotrona (Windfall), Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Final Destination 3), Michael Angarano (Sky High), Teresa Palmer (Wolf Creek), Max Thieriot (Jumper) and rapper Common.

The cast of NBC's Friday Night Lights is well-represented as well, with Minka Kelly, Adrianne Palicki and Scott Porter also among those testing for parts. No costumes are involved in the tests, which are being taped as actors read script pages.

Miller is looking for actors to grow into their roles over the course of several movies. Sources told the trade paper that Miller, known to be a methodical director, is testing not only for the roles themselves but also how the actors interact with one another while keeping an eye on the look of the whole group. The director is due to present his findings to the studio midweek.

George Miller also did the Mad Max film series and that other bloody revenge franchise, Babe.



THE BS NEWS QUIZ OF THE DAY

Saturday, I asked...

"Australian performance artist Stelios Arcadiou recently had what grafted to his body?"

25% picked "A Horn"
- I wasn't specific as to if I meant a horn like a rhino or a horn like a car. I'd love it if I had a truck horn I could use on escalators where lazy people block the paths of those of us who want to use our legs while escalating. But it doesn't matter which, because neither is right.

25% "Pig Nipples"
- I'm sure the pig would feel great about this. "They chop me up for science and for sandwiches. They part out my body like a used car and some asshole gets to wear my nipples for art? I wish they had just clubbed me in the head when I was born." Don't worry little piggy. Your nipples are safe. For now.

No one thought it was "A Duck Bill"
- Too hard to imagine, I guess. Where would you put it? It's too small to graft to your lips. I think they'd make pretty cool eye lids.

50% got the right answer with "A Third Ear"

According to the BBC, an Australian performer has had an ear grafted onto his forearm in the name of art. Stelarc, aged 61, said it had taken him years to find a surgeon prepared to perform the operation. The ear does not function, but he hopes to have a microphone implanted to allow others to listen to what his extra ear picks up. Um, I think the extra ear on his forearm is going to pick up the rustling of his shirt as well as everything else that his other two ears hear. My question is, did this jerk get a grant for this?