NEW YORK, March 21, 2007
"300" Fails To Conquer Cyberspace
Bloggers Say New Spartan Battle Flick's Portrayal Of Iranians Is Offensive
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Play CBS Video Video Welcome To Wikipedia The web-based encyclopedia, written entirely by volunteers, has revolutionized information sharing. But critics point to Wikipedia's open nature as the source of its problems. Serena Altschul reports.
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(AP Photo/Warner Bros. Pictures)
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Sinbad is seen in this Monday Oct. 16, 2006 file photo in Beverly Hills, Calif. (AP)
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Hollywood History Lesson
The movie "300" pulled in over $70 million on its opening weekend, a record for a March release. But many are not talking about the movie's infamous gore, but about what it says about Iranians. The Islamic Republic News Agency argues that the film fabricates history, and finds a sympathetic ear in the blogosphere.
Some have noted the political overtones of the West-against-Iran story line — and the way Persians are depicted as decadent, sexually flamboyant and evil in contrast to the noble Greeks.
According to The Associated Press, Iran's biggest circulation newspaper, Hamshahri, said "300" is "serving the policy of the U.S. leadership" and predicted it will "prompt a wave of protest in the world. ... Iranians living in the U.S. and Europe will not be indifferent about this obvious insult."
Some bloggers understand why Iranians are offended. "I left the theater furious. They've got all the blacks and people who look like me behaving like animals when the Persian Empire was one of the greatest forces of civilization in history," Chee blogs at This Ain’t So Bad.
"The movie does take some liberties on the history as well as making the Persians seem inhuman and mutants in some cases," a blogger at Dave’s Life Journal writes.
But others say claims of bias are overstated. "This movie makes the Persians the 'bad guys,' but that is to be expected. Most Hollywood movies need bad guys to tell a story. Do most intelligent people fall for the black/white dichotomy? Except for some of my extreme right-wing friends, the answer is no," Steverino blogs.
Meggie says the movie is an adaptation, and isn't meant to portray historical fact. "I am well aware of the need to be political correct and culturally sensitive. There is something to love and admire in every person in the world. But please people, let movies be movies," she blogs at Imposter Syndrome.
Some are not surprised the movie has inspired outrage. "Even if you lose a battle, you still get to write the history books if you win the war. Movies about the Alamo don't play real big in Mexico. 'Braveheart' and 'The Patriot' were flops in England," Rabbi Tucker blogs. "It stands to reason, therefore, that '300' will not be well-liked in Iran."
Sam About Iran simply notes that it's ironic that "300" is popular in Iran, "as what the current regime in Iran fears most is the renaissance of this ancient culture."
Ze End Of Frank
Saturday marked the end of "The Show With Ze Frank," a popular yearlong online video project produced in Frank’s living room. Saturday’s episode marked his 250th show.
Frank is a 34-year old New Yorker and his quirky shows, as he says on his site, were a "conversation between the host and the viewers of the program," often incorporating viewer comments. He often read comments from viewers of the previous show, and called the segment,"S-s-s-somethin' from the comments." The overall theme of the program was that Ze wanted to join something called "The League of Awesomeness", a society out to make the world a more awesome place. His initiation into the league was to do a video podcast for one year, which became "The Show."
Each program ran about three minutes before his usual signoff — "This is Ze Frank — thinking so you don't have to."
Bloggers are sad no more Ze Frank Shows are in their future. "One year of episodes was not enough. I'll miss the thought-provoking zaniness that was 'The Show,'" Binary Stream blogs. "After watching The Show with Ze Frank five days a week for the past year, I'm gonna miss it," Hunkagirl adds.
"Every show had something in it that would make me laugh outloud, usually to the point of tears. Now I will have to find something to replace it," JustLisa blogs. Wegrit at A Philistine On The Sidwalk says he's "super sad" about it, adding "he's the perfect mixture of intelligence, sarcasm and wit."
Many fans recall their favorite episodes. "During the year, we've learnt many things, like how the earth is a sandwich, who loves little duckies, power moves, who Ray ismake a t shirts for someone in Germany, and sports racers will help someone travel across the US & back and what makes an ugly Myspace page,” Jazza blogs at
"I am hopeful the gift he gave, that of encouraging people to create and contribute, continues. So long Ze, and welcome to the League of Awesomeness. It couldn't be more deserved," a blogger at Arcane Code reflects.
It may be officially over, but if you haven’t seen the shows, you can still check out the archive.
Sinbad Is In The Building (Really!)
There's always a chance with Wikipedia that some of the entries are incorrect. "The free encyclopedia that anyone can edit" lets its users catch factual errors. And comedian Sinbad was its latest victim, after rumors began circulating that he had died of a heart attack.
"Saturday I rose from the dead and then died again," Sinbad told The Associated Press.
Someone had edited his entry to say Sinbad died of a heart attack. By the time the error was caught, e-mail links circulating news of his death had been forwarded to hundreds of people. A note on Sinbad's Wikipedia page says the site has been temporarily protected from editing to deal with vandalism.
Many bloggers, while not diehard Sinbad fans, were not happy about a false Wikipedia entry. "I have such a love-hate relationship with Wikipedia," Liberal Debutante writes. "The online encyclopedia is known for many things, but it has never been a part of a killing!," BJCrock adds at Blaw, Blaw, Blawg.
"The problem with unrestricted community involvement in online research is the great risk to truth and accuracy in the reporting," David Boles writes.
Some mock that the attention might just be what Sinbad's career needed. "I guess Sinbad will have more stuff for his stand up routine," a blogger at Tech.Life.Blog writes. "Wait, is he still a comedian?," a blogger at Kofi’s Hat asks.
"Sinbad announced that, while his career may be on life support, he's still very much alive,” HotStop writes.
As for Sinbad, he seems to be taking it in stride. He told the AP, "It's gonna be more commonplace as the Internet opens up more and more. It's not that strange."
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By Melissa McNamara
© MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Michelle Obama tells how her role as the First Lady has changed her perspective.
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See all 28 CommentsI persued other thing because i realized you basically had to become a doctor to actually do something with the major. (prob biggest mistake i have made in awhile was going into that major).
but i would'nt change it.
maybe they wont be as big of a drain on things as i assume..
I don't exactly know why I feel compelled to argue against homosexual marriage. Most the time it goes on deaf ears. and all sides of are based on opinion pretty much so i can understand that much. (all are opinion except some of the leviticus stuff singinrick goes into).
No $#it? Really, they didn't have those demi-humans with crab claws back then? That just knocks a hole in my reality. No kidding, Sherlock.
Iranians are Arabs, Einstein. Look it up. And you are correct about Islam. That's only about 500 years old. However, I refer to the socio-political-religious climate of the region, which I said "if today's leading examples of Islam and Arabs are any indicator." That would be correct. "If" they are any "example". Read what is written, not what you want to read into it.
Give me a break. I'm sure they didn't have hugely obese guys walking around with crab claws for arms and all the crazy *** like that. That part was so stupid people were laughing in the theatre. Not to mention the Spartans had slaves so all this talk about freedom would have been just that, talk. Secondly Persians/Iranians aren't Arabs and Islam wasn't even around in the time the movie portrays, so that proves that you are a complete ignorant fool. Bottom line is it%u2019s just a movie based on comic book, and even though the comic book was based on an actual event the characterizations are far from the truth.
As I didn't point out any spelling or grammar errors, I can only think that this must be an insercurity of yours - since you brought it up. I can point some out if you'd like, though, I suspect you could do the same for me.
I said you are uneducated about the topics on which you post. I didn't say you were uneducated. I think you are generally well written, you just lack the substance of factual knowledge. As I wrote, most of your posts are angry and based solely on your opinion without the support of any facts.
As for being angry about ***, since you majored in psych, you should know better than anyone why it bothers you so much. Insurance? Tax payers pay for the uninsured as well. Educate yourself about those statistics - you may find your argument is a hollow one.
Personally, I agree with you about Persians. It's only a movie, and it's probably accurate to some degree if today's leading examples of Islam and Arabs are any indicator.
To Islamics and Arabs, if you don't like the stereotype, do something about it. Don't live it, condemn it in other Muslims when you see it and do everything you can to assist in the so-called "war on terror".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Thermopylae
If the Iranians don't like it they can go change history.
And then one pet peeve of mine/ people who can't argue with someone and resort to pointing out grammar and spelling errors to try to cut them down.
And btw after 6 years of college i have had my fair share of psyc and philosophy classes (scene as how for the first 2 years my major was psychology).
now back to the article and my last post.
I may not know the history of the spartans well, but i do know it was a long time ago. and as napoleon said "whoever wins the war gets to write the history books".
Which until the last few centurys could'nt be more true.
Maybe if you limited your posts to rational discussion and an attempt to solve what you see as a problem, your posts wouldn't be removed.
As I have read so many of your posts with mild amusement, I'd say the ones removed were probably deserving of such.
You are a name caller, a bully, and uneducated about most of the topics on which you comment.
Your name says it all. However, opinions without support are worth NOTHING.
I suspect you are an angry, little, frightened man. Read any pshyc 101 book and you will find the reasons for your hate and fear. I won't take the time to educate you myself. I suspect you won't either, as it is evident you haven't about anything else.
Righteous anger, as opposed to yours, does not include such base, crude and inmature tactics as you use.
What the gayys can't handle the truth???
Did you go and cry to you mommy's when you read them?
The fact is mace45, noone wants to hear your gayy views... keep them in closet with yourself and the plunger...
As for your history lesson??? soo what side got to write the history their... you do know that the winning side/country writes the history books??? well up untill recent times... were you their at the time??? was your great great great grandfather lucifer a gayy spartan that passed along a diary or some ***????
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