‘14042009339’
courtesy of ‘snarglebarf’
Seen in the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s twitter feed: “Just spotted in the museum: Academy Award-winning director Martin Scorsese, here to accept MPAA’s Jack Valenti Humanitarian Award tonight!”
It tickles me that they named a humanitarian award after Valenti, the man who created an organization that is one of the most stifling influences on speech in film ever, presided over it for 30 years as it promoted violence over sexuality and engaged in homophobia, took some time out along the way to attempt to engage in protectionism by stifling innovation and promote a draconian law that made it illegal simply to tell people about certain technologies. I have no documentation proving that he ever kicked a puppy.
I’m sure the actual physical award was designed by committee to be completely bland and uninteresting and comes with a 40 page document describing the acceptable ways and places where it can be observed. If Scorsese doesn’t have an appropriate licensed shelf then perhaps he should just buy himself a proper one that they approve of.
Well I used to say something in my profile about not quite being a “tinker, tailor, soldier, or spy” but Tom stole that for our about us page, so I guess I’ll have to find another way to express that I am a man of many interests.
Hmm, guess I just did.
My tastes run the gamut from sophomoric to Shakespeare and in my “professional” life I’ve sold things, served beer, written software, and carried heavy objects… sometimes at the same place. It’s that range of loves and activities that makes it so easy for me to love DC – we’ve got it all.
Don, you somehow neglected to mention the KNOWN FACT that Jack Valenti was involved in the conspiracy to assassinate JFK which was hatched by the MPAA in order to ensure future movie industry jobs making conspiracy pictures and Kennedy biopics – and and they gave him the job as a reward.
Hmmm, do I sense some mocking? Mayyyyybeeeeeee.
Well, not mocking you, Don. I am totally with you that Valenti’s is an inauspicious name for an award.
(Also, just think of the boon for the site’s search traffic the “Jack Valenti AND JFK assassination theory” string will be.)