DOWNEYISM

If you want a good reason why Entertainment Weekly is by far the best magazine right now on popular culture, check out Benjamin Svetkey’s terrific cover-essay in this week’s issue on celebrity drug addiction. He makes a good case that one of the few sub-cultures that might actually benefit from John Walters’ First World War approach to drugs is Hollywood. Stars with addiction have a virtual army of enablers desperate to keep their investments happy. Hilarious bonus: a Hollywood shrink has invented a term for Downeyitis – Acquired Situational Narcissism. No wonder Bill Clinton loved the entertainment industry so much.

AMTRAK SPECIAL: On my way to Philly today for a panel discussion on the gay rights movement. It’s part of the most impressive gay-lesbian festival of arts, sports, politics in America. The only problem is that it’s called Pridefest. I’ve always had a problem with the notion of “pride.” Yeah, yeah, I know it’s better than shame. But do we really have to link a civil rights movement with one of the deadly sins? Can you imagine SlothFest, LustFest, or AngerFest? Actually, come to think of it, they sound kinda fun.