November 10, 2002

NewSpeak, American-Style
For those of you who aren't George Orwell fans, I vaguely recall NewSpeak as the term used in the book 1984 to describe the way that Big Brother manipulated the use of language to control thought in that imaginary facist culture. Keep that in mind as you read this article about the insidious new form of pro-war propaganda that's going to be coming to a multiplex near you, whether you like it or not. This, like so many of these kinds of ventures, is also funded by yet another insanely rich, old white man with very strong feelings about right-wing conservative politics. Somebody should get these guys some therapy.

Meet Ice Cube, the rapper turned Hollywood player
I bet you didn't know that Ice Cube has had his own film production company for the last 5 years, did you? I sure didn't. Favorite quote: when commenting on the fact that ALL of the films he's produced for New Line have turned a profit Cube says,''I know people respond to profits. And I knew that the only way that I would get respect in this town is to be a person who takes a small thing and turns it into a big thing." Aspiring producers, take note.