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6/30/04
Dude, where's my paperback?
The buzz and the bucks surrounding the release of Fahrenheit 9/11 has encouraged Warner Books to rush publication of the paperback edition of director Michael Moore's 2003 book Dude, Where's My Country?. The paperback, originally scheduled to be released closer to Labor Day and the Republican National Convention, will be in bookstores this weekend, according to Warner insiders. After hype over Moore's movie caused a bump in the sales of the hardcover edition, which has been on shelves for 20 months, the publisher decided that now was the time to strike with the cheaper version. The book, which topped the New York Times bestseller list, is essentially the storyboard for the cinematic rant that Moore has unleashed against President Bush. Warner is printing up to half a million copies of the book, but sources say the number keeps changing hourly.
Michael Moore’s homepage: www.michaelmoore.com
6/17/04
Arkansas bowling team: Clinton and Rather
When Bill Clinton slipped into Arkansas last weekend, he already had the interview course for Dan Rather and 60 Minutes mapped out. His goal: really show Rather the roots of his life and career to provide a good backdrop for his coming-out interview to promote his new bio, My Life. Our Suzi Parker reports that Clinton took Rather to Hope, his birthplace, and Hot Springs, where he grew up. In the state's sin city, they ate lunch at McClard's, Clinton's favorite barbecue joint, then went bowling and visited the high school from which Clinton graduated. In Hope, the pair sat on the front porch of Clinton's birthplace. The Amazing Bubba Tour then traveled to Little Rock, where Clinton showed he is still king: He took over the governor's conference room in the state capitol, where he served as governor for 12 years. Secretary of State Charlie Daniels–an old friend of Clinton's–organized the capitol event. Clinton then took Rather on a tour of his library site.
Those familiar with Rather's interview for the CBS Sunday magazine show also said that the Arkansas State Troopers who normally man the Clinton motorcade were asked by the Secret Service to keep it quiet–no sirens or lights. And instead of letting troopers come and go as their shifts ended, the cops were asked to stay for the whole trip so word wouldn't get out.
6/11/04
A grits-styled G-8 buffet
God bless the South, or so foreign diplomats and journalists covering this week's Group of Eight economic summit thought. That's because they were introduced to the best of the South's fast-food treats, hot Krispy Kreme doughnuts and breakfast cakes from Waffle House. Our man on the spot, diplomatic reporter Thomas Omestad, tells of how reporters lined up to get a free box of glazed Krispy Kreme treats right out of the fryer. "Wow!" he heard one Japanese reporter yell.
Economic summits attract thousands and typically feature the best of the local cuisine, so it was not surprising that the Sea Island, Ga., summit included the two southern institutions. But instead of just shipping in the food, both arrived with mobile units. Krispy Kreme trucked in a factory and store. Waffle House set up a crowded mini-restaurant–complete with counter–in the main dining hall at the media center. The waffle choices: pecan or plain. Yum.
6/3/04
Scare shuts down House mail
It's happened again: A mysterious substance sent to a House office has shut down mail service. Officials revealed Thursday afternoon that all U.S. Postal Service deliveries were canceled because a test of one letter came back positive for a suspicious substance. Officials, however, didn't say if it was anthrax again or something else. A memo sent to all House offices from Jay Eagen, chief administrative officer, said: "This disruption is the result of an inconclusive test discovered during routine testing. The suspension is expected to be temporary and updates will be sent when further information is available." The mail service suspension only affected mail coming into the central House facility from the outside, like letters from constituents. Internal mail and courier deliveries weren't affected.
Brian Walsh, spokesman for the House Administration Committee, says the move was precautionary: "We're erring on the side of caution." In the past, he says, additional tests have proved negative for anthrax and ricin and the mail has resumed within two days. "There have been a few false alarms." After arriving in Washington, all House mail is sent to a testing facility in New Jersey, then to one in Maryland where every single letter is opened and inspected before being shipped to House offices.
Read Eagen's memo.
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