Sign of the Times?: Rogue Won (sic)

In the run up to the premiere first cinematic Star Wars spin-off, famed street artist Sabo graced LA-LA land with a roguish parody which matched up Rogue One with Election 2016. 

These faux movie posted popped up all around Hollywood Boulevard.  Sabo's signs had a heroic Trump along with Steve Bannon, Ann Coulter, Sean Hannity, Julian Assange, Milo, Yiannopoulos and Gavin McInness. 

But Sabo was not the first one to make this connection. 

It seems the anti-hero depends up who is telling the story.  

Perhaps Disney will update Star Wars episode Five with "The Media Empire Strikes Back". But that may not be a part of the Culture Wars tales. 

H/T: Hollywood Reporter 

ESPN Cans Curt Schilling Over Transgendered Bathroom Tweet

ESPN fired former Major League Baseball star pitcher and TV Color Commentator Curt Schilling because of sharing a meme on transgender bathrooms on Twitter.

Disney owned ESPN insisted that the company was dedicated to inclusiveness, so it terminated someone with a view which different from the current politically correct line.  It is intriguing that Disney owned ABC Good Morning America report blurred out the image of a transvestite who would have been eligible to use whatever bathroom which he/she/zei felt like using.  It seems that the ideals of diversity and inclusiveness can not be particularized in a reductio ad abusurdum.


This was not Schilling's first run in with social media PR challenges.  A couple of years ago, Schilling went on attack mode against a Twitter troll who sexually harassed his daughter  sparked by congratulations over admission to Salve Regina University.

Later in 2015, Schilling was suspended from covering the Little League World Series for sharing a controversial tweet which compared Muslim "population infiltration" with Nazis.

There seems to be an academic and corporate corporate push to be intolerant towards "ciscentrism" and those who do not acquiesce to "the new normal" regarding self designated transgendered bathroom fluidity. It is dubious if ESPN would punish an employee for sharing progressive political memes.

Bruce Springsteen, et ali, have forgone concerts in North Carolina while the Bathroom Law is in effect. The NBA has threatened to pull the All Star game unless the Tar Heel State relents on traditional notions that those with male genetalia should not evacuate their excrement around little girls. During a NBC Today Townhall meeting, Manhattan mogul Donald Trump insisted that just not worrying about transgenders using whatever bathroom they like is no problem.

From its inception, DC-Jockularity recognized the convergence of sports and public policy.  ESPN's aggressive application of standards reinforces the idea that ABC/Disney/ESPN is a progressive entity which pushes its agenda even unto sports coverage and will not brook dissent.

H. Jackson Browne on Going Out on a Limb

Alice in Wonderland on Character

Saying Goodbye to America's Sweetheart--R.I.P. Annette Funicello

While the day's news was dominated by the death of former British Prime Minister (Lady) Margaret Thatcher, there was another significant loss in Annette Funicello who died at age 70 after a 21 year battle with Multiple Sclerosis.  Funicello gained popularity as a child star on the original Mickey Mouse Club with Disney.  Afterwards, Funicello became a teen idol by starring in a series of Beach movies with Frankie Avalon and singing pre-British Invasion popular music.

Current Disney Chairman Bob Igor released a statement eulogizing Funicello:

Annette was and always will be a cherished member of the Disney family, synonymous with the word Mouseketeer, and a true Disney Legend. She will forever hold a place in our hearts as one of Walt Disney's brightest stars, delighting an entire generation of baby boomers with her jubilant personality and endless talent. Annette was well known for being as beautiful inside as she was on the outside, and she faced her physical challenges with dignity, bravery and grace. All of us at Disney join with family, friends, and fans around the world in celebrating her extraordinary life.

The Disney corporate  homage touches upon what truly made Annette Funicello special.  While one can sentimentally remember a childhood television show or clean cut teen targeted celluloid which served as a backdrop make out movie for a generation of Baby Boomers, it was not just the roles that Funicello played, but her beautiful persona  that shined through.

Annette's inner beauty shining through was best displayed as she dealt with her multiple sclerosis.  Funicello went public with her debilitating disease which she had kept secret until 1992 to stifle rumors that her difficulty walking was due to alcoholism.   Eventually, her MS deprived her of mobility and in 2009 the ability to speak.

Funicello gave an honest interview with Entertainment Tonight which recognized the challenges yet still saw positivity to her plight.  When her autobiography was produced as a made for tv movie, the final scene had the actress playing Funicello turn around in her wheelchair and the real Annette gave a message to children.

Yet one of the messages which Annette Funicello drew from her experience with Multiple Sclerosis was life affirming.

So as she ascends the Stairway to Heaven, may Annette Funicello's spirits be lifted with the dulcet determination she sang of in Oh Dio Mio:

David Letterman on Icing the NHL Lockout

"The resolution to the NHL Lockout was so long in coming, they had started letting the 'Disney On Ice' skaters fight." 

~ David Letterman

Obama's Mickey Mouse Diplomacy

At first, when President Barack Obama was planning his trip to New York to speak at the United Nations General Assembly, he did not have enough time to schedule a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.  After the rioting at the US Embassy in Cairo on September 11th and threatening words from Egyptian President (and Muslim Brotherhood leader) Muhamed Morsi, President Obama found it convenient to cancel with Morsi. 

Rather than slight the leader of the Ummah, the "Leader of the Free World" declined to meet with any foreign leaders.  Instead, Obama's Mickey Mouse diplomacy was to go on ABC-TV's "The View". Mr. Obama had such a hard hitting interview with his wife on "The View" that he could quip that the President was just "eye candy."

But this was not the first time that the House of Mouse has bent over backwards to help the Celebrity-in-Chief.  In January, Mr. Obama wanted to announce a strategy to improve tourism and travel using Disney World's Cinderella's castle as a backdrop.  So Disney closed down Main Street for the morning to accommodate the President's 13 minute photo op. 

Serious voters may decide to exile Mr. Obama from Fantasyland on the Potomac come January 20th, 2013. 

Mickey Mouse Creeping Sharia Lawsuit

Imane Boudlal was fired as a hostess at Disneyland’s Grand Californian hotel Storyteller’s restaurant. The now 28 year old Ms. Boudlal, a Moroccan born Muslim who is an American citizen had worked at Disneyland for two years when she began wearing her hijab (head scarf) to work. After waiting two years now Ms. Boudlal is filing a discrimination lawsuit against Disney.

If only it were that simple to condemn the "Happiest Place on Earth". But there is more to the story and some might conclude that the ACLU is concocting a cacotopian fairy tale.

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