A Little Of The Old In And Out



(image via timeinc)

Reflections Of The Roman Empire. As the American Empire runs out of gas, Roman Imperial Chic is everywhere on the cultural radar. On feet (How fashion-forward is Sarah Jessica Parker?). At the British Museum. At the Baryshnikov Arts Center. On the campaign trail.

Everywhere echoes of Rome and Caesar. Except, unfortunately, on the increasingly lowbrow PBS, which is missing a perfect fucking opportunity to re-run "I, Claudius," the greatest television series ever (Alex Hailey's "Roots" is a close second).



What landed and died on the Pakistan Presidents head? (image via nixonisinhell)

Out: President Musharraf. Ironically, the ouster of Pakistan's Musharraf as strongman -- seen as a plus for the forces of freedom and the principle of law and order -- in control of both the military and the government has led to rougher going in the relationship between the West and the ISI, which has recently been aiding the Taliban in Afghanistan. And we cannot fail to note that Pakistan and it's neighbor India, are nuclear (and not very close as neighbors go). It is not inconceivable that the India Embassy bombing on July 7 may be a tipping point in the Afghanistan war.

"Pakistan's coalition government pledged to start impeachment proceedings against President Pervez Musharraf, nine years after the former army chief took power in a bloodless coup.

The president should seek a vote of confidence in parliament and the government will try to impeach him, Pakistan Peoples Party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari said in a joint press conference with former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Islamabad.

"'Musharraf had promised to resign if his party is defeated in the elections,' Zardari said. 'Despite the verdict in elections, he is clinging to power.'"

"The 64-year-old former general has been under pressure to quit since he sacked 60 judges, including Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammed Chaudhry last year, before the court could rule on the legality of his re-election as president.

"'Musharraf is an illegal and unconstitutional president,' Sharif said. 'How can such a man remain president.'"

(image via gawker)

In: David Simon. Simon, lately of HBO's "Generation: Kill," which, admittedly, we haven't quite warmed to yet, has another HBO show in the bumper. The former Baltimore Sun columnist -- He got out just in time -- was recently on Charlie Rose talking about how the wonderful ride of newspaper journalism -- at least how he envisioned it -- is essentially over. Simon seems to be now taking his stories to the small screen, namely: HBO. From TheHollywoodReporter:

"'The Wire' creator David Simon is recruiting some old friends for his new HBO pilot 'Treme.'

"'Wire' alums Wendell Pierce and Clarke Peters are set and Khandi Alexander, who worked with Simon on 'The Corner' is in final negotiations to star in 'Treme,' which Simon created with Eric Overmyer.

"'Treme,' which takes its title from an area in New Orleans and is executive produced by Simon, Overmyer and Nina Noble, is a post-Katrina-themed drama that chronicles the rebuilding of New Orleans through the eyes of local musicians."

We're so there.