[The following was written by Synthesis Weekly columnist Emilie Clark. She can be reached at emilie@synthesis.net.]

Coming Soon

It’s a well-known fact that people like to adapt movies from books. It’s also a well-known fact that most of these efforts suck. So it’s my job to warn you about upcoming adaptations so you have ample time to read the book. This gives you the chance to complain about inconsistencies and general “suckiness” while still in the theater, making you look learned and therefore more attractive. You can thank me later.

Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson, July 4th: This is a documentary, so I guess it won’t really do to get mad about liberties taken with the adaptation. But it can’t hurt to read some of the famous Gonzo’s work if only for your own amusement. From the description it seems like the filmmakers are big fans, which can be bad in a documentary if you’re trying to eek out truth. The gist I get is that the point the film makes is that Thompson did what journalists are too afraid to do nowadays, namely get high and write caustic things about politicians. This may be true, but I easily tire of ‘60s and ‘70s nostalgia. Sure people were a bit crazier back then and I’m sure there are things to be learned from that era, but it’s over, so deal.

Journey To the Center of the Earth 3D, July 11th: Based on the classic Jules Verne novel about a rogue scientist who travels to, you guessed it, the center of the earth. According to Wikipedia, this novel didn’t age as well as some of Verne’s other works, because he was mostly wrong about what is contained in the center of the earth. However, none of that really matters because this movie is in 3D. And I will watch anything in 3D, even if it stars Brendan Fraser.

more upcoming adaptations after the jump.
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House Staffers and Political Pigs are getting all upset because Legistorm.com is posting already public information about their finances. Staffers who make more than $110,000 a year are required by law to make their information public. The web site, which has been in existence since 2006, recently started publishing information on use of public monies and personal finances. Some legislators are worried about identity theft. I’m more worried that my representatives, or the bulk of them, are milking the system and selling their constituencies down the river.

From their web site:

The information is provided in a strictly factual, non-partisan fashion. We have no political affiliations and no political purpose except to make the workings of Congress as transparent as possible. We expect this resource to be useful to journalists, researchers, lobbyists and current and would-be staffers - as well as regular citizens who simply want to know how their representatives spend public money.

The Number One Terrible Thing about American politics is the monetization of it. The adage “Money is the root of all evil” is especially true when it comes to politics. I say good for Legistorm. Maybe, JUST MAYBE, if we know where and how our representatives are spending their money we can get some damned accountability. It’s better than driving a stake through their black and callous, self-serving hearts. (Hey, I know my stance is slanted against political figures. At least I don’t’ advocate voting with a bullet, alright?)

Take Part Blog’s suggestion that Legistorm may have been created by The Wire character Lester Freamon is pretty on point. Any Public Figure who is speaking out against Legistorm MOST LIKELY has something terrible they’re trying to hide. Fuck ‘em. Let em writhe.