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Access Atlanta > Blog > Archives > 2008 > February > 15
Friday, February 15, 2008
Boortz hopes for hit with 2nd tax book
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Syndicated Atlanta talker Neal Boortz admits he’s vain, even though he isn’t as “pretty” as Sean Hannity.
The self-described “talk master” wore a big black cowboy hat to a Wednesday book signing at a Borders near Perimeter Mall to cover up stitches he recently got to remove a bit of skin cancer on his bald scalp.
“Am I hot or what?” he said to more than 180 admirers. “I’m from Texas, so I can get away with this.” He then swapped the hat for a red “Fair Tax” baseball cap.
“Fair Tax: The Truth” is his second book on the topic. His first one in 2005 was a surprise No. 1 New York Times best-seller and helped propel the subject into the national spotlight. Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee read the book a few months back and became an active proponent.
“He might be the vice presidential nominee to bring that Southern vote” for John McCain, Boortz told Buzz before the signing. “If so, we have the Fair Tax in the White House.” And McCain, he noted, is not against the idea.
Boortz wrote this paperback to provide fodder for supporters to defend themselves against skeptics. And he’s, of course, hoping for another No. 1 spot on the best-seller list. “The problem is ‘Eat Pray Puke,’” he said, twisting the name of the runaway hit “Eat Pray Love” by Elizabeth Gilbert. “I don’t think Oprah is going to get her sewing circle to recommend a tax book.” (He’s No. 6 on Amazon.com, the last we checked, right behind — you guessed it — “Eat Pray Love.”)
MORNING ‘MONOLOGUE’
Behold, the power of words. The Internet imploded temporarily Thursday after Poncey-Highland resident Jane Fonda appeared on a live interview segment with pal and “Vagina Monologues” playwright Eve Ensler on NBC’s “Today.”
The pair had been booked to discuss the 10th anniversary of Ensler’s much-staged, empowerment play with “Today” co-host Meredith Vieira. During the chat, Vieira asked Fonda about her history with “Monologues,” suggesting that Fonda had not initially been a fan of the work.
Responded Fonda: “It wasn’t that I wasn’t a big fan. I hadn’t seen the play. I live in Georgia, OK? I was asked to do a monologue called [a slang term for vagina]. And I said, ‘I don’t think so. I have enough problems!”
While the comment no doubt jarred awake a few folks in the “Today” control room, the interview proceeded on track without any acknowledgement that Fonda had uttered the controversial “c-word.” About 10 minutes later, however, Vieira told viewers that both “Today” and the 70-year-old, two-time Oscar winner had apologized for the remark.
While the word is not traditionally bandied about on morning television — and the appropriateness of using such a word on morning TV can no doubt be argued — it was used within the context of a discussion of Ensler’s explicit “Monologues.” Much of the feminist writer’s work is intended to be frank and thought-provoking. And any Atlantan who has attended one of the many public stagings of “Monologues” over the years can tell you that, yes, Fonda correctly referenced the exact title of the piece.
LOCAL DOVE NOMS
McDonough’s Mark Hall of the band Casting Crowns led the field when the nominations for the Gospel Music Association’s Dove Awards were announced on Thursday. The songwriter and vocalist is up for six on his own — including song of the year and male vocalist of the year — and his band Casting Crowns is in the running for four — including group and artist of the year.
They aren’t the only nominees from Georgia, though. Recent Grammy nominees Karen Peck & New River of Dahlonega scored three nods and Duluth’s Aaron Shust is competing against Casting Crowns in the pop/contemporary album category. Atlanta’s Darlene McCoy is nominated for urban album, for her self-titled debut, and urban recorded song.
Atlanta rock quintet Family Force 5 gets recognized in the short form music video category and Columbus native Bebo Norman is among the nominees for Christmas album.
We reached Hall in Grand Rapids, Mich., where Casting Crowns will play tonight, and asked him if being a perennial nominee ever becomes old hat. “It never gets old, because it’s new music,” the hard-working youth minister from Eagle’s Landing First Baptist Church says. “Can’t coast on what you did in the past. The thing I like about the Doves is that it’s your peers, those people that do what you do recognizing you, telling you, ‘Hey, you’re doing a good job, keep it up.’ To me, that’s pretty cool.”
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
Actor Kevin McCarthy is 94. Cartoonist Matt Groening (“The Simpsons”) is 54. Model Janice Dickinson (“America’s Next Top Model”) is 53. Actress Sarah Wynter (“24”) is 35. Singer Brandon Boyd of Incubus is 32. Drummer Ronnie Vannucci of The Killers is 32.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“I can’t lie: It’s easier to get reservations when I want to take my wife out to dinner.”
Barack Obama on the perks of running for president in this week’s People magazine, out today.
Contributing: Shane Harrison, Rodney Ho and news services
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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