Tinsel Korey = Harsha Patel?

Another person claims Tinsel Korey isn't Native--this time with photo evidence to back up the claim:

Welcome to Harsha PatelTwilight is one of the biggest films right now, most of the stars from this movie were beginning actors and now they are A-list stars. Among the most famous in the World. Robert Pattison and Kirsten Stewart are household names.

New Moon, the second film of the 4 book series is coming out on November 20th. One of those stars is none other than Tinsel Korey, a Canadian actress who has been in such films as Steven Spielburg's Into the West, Tin Man and The Lookout. She has been slowly climbing the ladder of fame, and now she is is portraying Emily Young in New Moon.

Tinsel Korey. Proud Native Canadian.

Harsha Patel. Embarrassed East Indian.

What do these two have to do with each other?

They are the same person.

She was born Harsha Patel to a wealthy doctor and his wife in Ontario, but an estrangement from her family, a move across the country after graduating from William Lyon Mackenzie CI she gave herself a new name, and background (claims she is Ojibway), all fueled by ambition. The movie industry is not easy to break into, there are more doors closed than opened, but Harsha saw what she felt was a loophole. She decided to do what many other people have done to aboriginals in Canada and North America, and that was to exploit them for her own chance at fame. Rather than using her own Indian heritage and drawing on Hinduism for support, she instead rewrote her background to Native America, believing that she could garner more roles.Why this matters, again:Her part is small, but it’s a role that was stolen from a true blooded aboriginal woman….A commenter in another posting makes the same claim about Korey's being Patel:Anonymous said...

great stuff! what tribes is Tinsel tied to? From what I've read she's done a lot of work in the Native side of the industry.

Anonymous said...

She started implying Cherokee in about 2005, then Ojibwe, Mohawk, and now claims Anishinaabe. She also claimed she was adopted at 2, then as an infant, and implies that her step family are Jewish-Russian--claiming that her real parents were hippies in explanation of the name she gave herself as a teenager. She was in fact born and raised Harsha Patel to East Indian parents on 25 March 1980 so there aren't too many groups of people left for her to trivialize, appropriate from or insult.Comment:  As a reminder, I don't know the truth of this claim. That's why there's a question mark in the title.

The picture apparently is from Patel's high-school yearbook. It's labeled "Grade Twelve/O - A - C" at the top.




Unfortunately, the picture only resembles Korey. I wouldn't say it's a conclusive match.

Also, let's note that Ojibwe is a variation of Anishinaabe. Switching from one word to another is the same or a similar claim, not a brand new claim.

Therefore, I'd say the question is still up in the air. We're still waiting for definitive proof one way or another.

But Korey's refusal to address the issue remains suspicious. Most Natives are proud to discuss their particular Native ancestors. E.g., "My mother's grandmother was a full-blooded Cherokee who was born and raised in Tahlequah." The people who refer to mysterious Indian ancestors (often Cherokee princesses) and can't or won't say more usually end up being frauds or wannabes. (That means you, Ward Churchill.)

Incidentally, we've had enough debate on Tinsel Korey in this blog. Supporters will say, "How dare you attack this proud Native actress? She doesn't have to prove herself to you. Stop being so jealous/negative/racist." Critics will say, "Thank you for posting this. How dare she pretend to be Native? She's making a mockery of all the hard-working Natives who have struggled to overcome obstacles."

In other words, we've heard it all before. If you have anything new to say on the subject--especially corroborating evidence--e-mail it to me. I'll decide whether to post it.

For more on the subject, see Tinsel Korey Answers Critics and The Truth About Tinsel Korey.

Capsule reviews of New Moon

From the Rexburg Standard Journal (11/20/09):

'New Moon':  Perfect for the fans, annoying for the non-fans[F]or those of us who don't swoon at high school romances with vampires and don't care to listen to incessant, endless whining, getting through this film might be a bit of a chore. But then again, so was Meyer's second novel, which this film was based on.Indians?The Native American tribe of werewolves...From Bloomberg (11/21/09):

‘Twilight’ Heroine Woos WerewolfBella has recurring nightmares during “New Moon.” So did I, mostly over the wretched dialogue (“It’s not about your soul. You’re just not good for me”), endless shots of a shirtless Lautner and an unintentionally comical scene where Edward faces an ancient vampire tribunal led by Aro (Michael Sheen), whose scary voice was modeled on the music-hating Blue Meanies in “Yellow Submarine.”Indians?A ferocious werewolf tribe...From blog.beliefnet.com (11/20/09):

The Twilight Saga: New Moon[N]ew director Chris Weitz does not have Catherine Hardwicke's feel for the rhythms of teenage interactions and the intensity of teen romance. And he does not have her ability to tell the story through the settings; we miss the lush natural world of the first chapter. Weitz and screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg also have to grapple with a transitional story that translates less well to screen than the first one.Indians?A tribe of wolf-people...Comment:  To be fair, a few reviews have identified the tribe more neutrally: as an "American Indian tribe" or the "Quileute Indian tribe" without claiming it's a tribe of were-beasts. But almost no one is talking about the Indian characters, much less raving about how they're the heroes while the vampires are the villains. So much for the noble part of "noble savages."

And of course no one is learning anything about the genuine Quileute people and culture. About all they're learning is the same thing they learn from most contemporary movies featuring Indians. Namely, that Indians are mystical, otherworldly, and not quite human. That they're associated with shamanism, spellcasters, shapeshifters, ghosts and spirits, burial grounds, curses, and other scary and spooky things.

For more on the subject, see Quileute Werewolves in Twilight.

Battle for Jim Thorpe's body

Interesting story in the Pocono Record: Jim Thorpe lose its namesake?  Grandson speaks out. Jim Thorpe's sons Jack, Bill, and Richard want to move his body from Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, to the family burial ground in Oklahoma. They're suing based on the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, which "provides a process for museums and Federal agencies to return certain Native American cultural items--human remains, funerary objects, sacred objects, and objects of cultural patrimony--to lineal descendants, culturally affiliated Indian tribes, and Native Hawaiian organizations."

Opposing them is Thorpe's grandson Michael Koehler, who takes the position of Thorpe's three daughters and the Borough of Jim Thorpe, which wants to keep the body. Thorpe's grandson explains the differing positions taken by Thorpe's sons and daughters:"Jack identifies with the spirituality of the Native Americans. He wants to return his father's body to his tribal resting ground in Oklahoma. He wants to perform an Indian ceremony in which tobacco is spilled into the grave, because he feels, as do most who believe in Indian spirituality, that his spirit is still not satisfied—it's roaming free and it needs to be back in Oklahoma, and he wants his body back in the tribal ceremonial grounds.

"That's what Jack believes and, fortunately or unfortunately, I'm not sure which, I don't tend to adhere to that. I have felt all along that my grandfather has been well-served by the folks in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, and I know that my Aunt Grace, my Aunt Gale and my mother, Charlotte—although my mother never got into it as much as they did—felt the same way."Comment:  Haven't heard NAGPRA used as a reason to disinter and move modern Indian remains. Could be an interesting case if it ever makes it to court.

For more on Thorpe, see Values.com's Jim Thorpe Billboard and New Jim Thorpe Documentary.

Tyra apologizes for "colorface"

Tyra Banks Apologizes Over Bi-Racial Episode of 'ANTM'

By Dana OliverTyra Banks apologized today if she offended anyone with the recent photo shoot featured on "America's Next Top Model" where contestants were painted in dark makeup to depict bi-racial women.

"I apologize because that was not my intent," said Banks."It's my number one passion in my life to stretch the definition of beauty. I listen to many heartbreaking stories of women who thought they would be happier if they looked different. I want every girl to appreciate the skin she's in."And:In the shoot, models were made up to depict various racial and ethnic combinations, such as "Russian-Moroccan," "Native American-East Indian" and "Botswanan-Polynesian."

Banks said the goal was to create an editorial celebration of the "Hapa," the Hawaiian word and concept of mixed race. Coincidentally, two prominent fashion magazines--French Vogue and V--also recently featured white models painted in dark makeup.Comment:  Here's an idea. Next time, use actual biracial models to celebrate biracial beauty. That way, you won't have to make-up people to be something they aren't. In other words, you won't have to perpetuate a century-plus of minstrel shows and old Western movies.

For more on the Tyra Banks controversy, see "Next Top Models" in Blackface and "Think Native" on America's Next Top Model. For more on the colorface issue, see "Colorface" Yesterday and Today and A Brief History of Redface.

Sting and Indians vs. hydroelectric dam

Sting's plea over Brazil dam row

By Gary DuffyRock star Sting has used his latest visit to Brazil to urge the government there to listen to the concerns of indigenous peoples over a proposed new hydro-electric dam in the Amazon.

He was speaking at a press conference in Sao Paulo where he was reunited with indigenous leader Raoni Metyktire who joined him in a similar campaign 20 years ago which attracted worldwide attention.

Indigenous tribes in the Amazon say the Belo Monte project, which would be the third largest hydro-electric dam in the world, poses a threat to their way of life.Comment:  For more on the subject, see Sting Shows Support for Kayapo People.

Below:  "Sting joined up with Chief Raoni for the second time."

Media doesn't know Quileutes are real

'New Moon' premiere like being in a movie for Quileute tribal members

By Paige DickersonCanadian clothing designer Dorothy Grant loaned [Chairwoman Carol] Hatch a couture dress with a coastal design in red and black--colors that are traditionally important to the Quileute, [Publicist Jackie] Jacobs said.

"It really was amazing," she said.

Jacobs and Hatch walked the red carpet and did interviews with representatives of various media companies.

The rest of the group--along with the Quileute students who were between 8 and 22 years old--went to a VIP area where they could meet the stars and take pictures.

"When we would approach the various media people, and I introduced the chairwoman, it was a really interesting thing," Jacobs said.

"About half of them were shocked that there really was a tribe called the Quileute, and the other half were amazed that she was there on the red carpet with them."Comment:  Let's think about this a minute. Millions of people have read the Twilight books and seen the Twilight movie. The media has written tens of thousands of articles on the Twilight phenomenon. Yet after all that scrutiny, half the media don't realize there's a real Quileute tribe?!

This is what happens when you turn real Indians into fictional warriors, shamans, and werewolves. You place them in some alternate reality of mystery and magic where they never fought European invaders, signed peace treaties, or established modern governments. By equating Indians with ferocious beast-men, you deny that they have the accouterments of a civilized people: history, culture, language, religion, philosophy, and art.

As I've said before, I'd love to see how Twilight fans would do on a Quileute quiz. Some might know that Quileute is a real tribe in Washington state. Other than that, though, I suspect they'd do poorly.

For more on the subject, see Twilight Readers Forget Quileutes and Quileute Werewolves in Twilight.

Kiowa Gordon mobbed by fans

Walking the red carpet

Kiowa Gordon shares ‘New Moon’ premiere experience

By Mary Kim Titla“It was even crazier than I thought it would be,” said Kiowa Gordon, Hualapai, about the Hollywood premiere of the much-anticipated “New Moon,” the second installment of the “Twilight” saga.

Kiowa, 19, who plays werewolf Embry Call, spoke by phone just hours after walking the red carpet with his mom Camille and his manager Dan Spilo at Mann’s Village Theatre in Los Angeles.

“It was awesome. It was pretty exhausting though just walking the whole red carpet for an hour-and-a-half and doing lots of interviews. Fans lined up everywhere and they just steal your energy.” He claims to have given 600 interviews in the last week.

According to his mom, the female fans knew who her son was but didn’t always know how to pronounce his name. “Girls were screaming Kiowa or Kee-oh-wa. I’d say ‘it’s Ki-oh-wa!’ It was crazy with all the girls screaming. It definitely was a night to remember. There must’ve been 1,500 girls and they came from different countries,” Camille said. The night before the premiere, Kiowa and another actor surprised fans who camped out for days to witness the big premiere.

“We went out to the street and we wanted to say ‘what up?’ We wanted to show our love for them. They got up out of their tents. They mobbed us. The security came out and had to rescue us. We went around the block and saw more fans. We were there another hour. I did three more interviews with local TV stations,” Kiowa said.Comment:  For more on the subject, see LA Times Reviews New Moon and Pix of the New Moon Premiere.

Below:  "Kiowa Gordon was swarmed by fans camping out the night before the premiere."

Alcatraz changed course of history?

1969 Alcatraz takeover 'changed the whole course of history'

By Nicole Lapin and Jason Hanna"Forty years later, Native people still recognize the occupation for what it was and remains: a seminal event in American history that brought the plight of American Indians to the world's attention," Bratt and his brother Peter said in a statement.

"It's easy to pass off the Alcatraz event as largely symbolic, but the truth is the spirit and dream of Alcatraz never died, it simply found its way to other fights," the Bratt brothers said. "Native sovereignty, repatriation, environmental justice, the struggle for basic human rights--these are the issues Native people were fighting for then, and are the same things we are fighting for today."And:The occupiers didn't get their demands. But President Nixon ended the U.S. tribal termination policy in June 1970, while they still were on the island. This was a result of the public spotlight that the occupation put on Indian issues, Johnson and Glassner said.

"It might have happened anyway, but Alcatraz had the attention of the nation, and it led to those changes being initiated in the White House," Glassner said.Comment:  Funny, the Wounded Knee episode of the We Shall Remain series assured us that the 1973 occupation of Wounded Knee was the turning point in modern Native history. Now we're hearing it was the occupation of Alcatraz. Which is it: Wounded Knee or Alcatraz?

For more on the subject, see 40th Anniversary of Alcatraz Occupation.

Below:  "Adam Fortunate Eagle says the occupation was the most significant Native American event in more than a century."

Navajo and Apache Christmas trees

Diné Christmas trees to be sent off tonight

By Cindy YurthThe two Navajo Nation forestry technicians were tasked with picking out 17 perfect piñon pines to grace the U.S. Department of the Interior this holiday season.

The trees will be among 75 "companion trees" to decorate federal offices sent along with the 85-foot blue spruce cut in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest that will be this year's Capitol Christmas Tree.

For the first time since the U.S. Capitol started displaying a Christmas tree in 1964, Arizona was selected to provide the tree. The 75 companion trees come from around the state, with both the Navajo and Apache tribes supplying some of the evergreens.

"It's been exciting to be involved in this event, which makes history not only for Arizona but the Navajo Nation," said Navajo Nation Forest Manager Alexious C. Becenti.Below:  "Navajo Nation Forestry vehicles with flatbeds carrying Christmas trees make their way back to Navajo Route 12 Tuesday afternoon in Milk Water, which is northwest of Crystal, N.M. The trees are part of Arizona's Gift from the Grand Canyon State Capital Christmas Tree 2009. The pinon trees will be given offices in Washington D.C." (Special to the Times--Donovan Quintero)

Multimedia Chickasaw cultural production

‘Lowak Shoppala’ brings history, culture of Chickasaws to life

By Dana HudspethThree renowned Chickasaw artists, Jerod Tate, Linda Hogan and Margaret Roach Wheeler, will help bring Chickasaw culture to life at the Nov. 21 premiere, and Nov. 22 performance, of "Lowak Shoppala' (Fire and Light).

"These are three exceptionally talented individuals who have accomplished great things in the fields of music, literature and visual arts," said Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anaotubby. "There is no doubt that they will create an incredibly moving production as they combine their talents with all the other talented individuals and groups involved in this project."The three artists and their roles:Chickasaw classical composer Jerod Tate was commissioned by the American Composers Forum Continental Harmony Project to create the music for the production.

"The title of the work comes directly out of the poetry of Linda Hogan," said Mr. Tate. "She composed a poem called fire and light for the tribe back in 2004. I was so moved by the poetry and the idea that I realized I wanted to use her poetry in the work as well."

"It's a multimedia work in that it's for theater, so it involves acting and staging and costumes and there's dance and soloists, singers, and the children's chorus and traditional dancers from the tribe as well," said Mr. Tate.

Textile artist Margaret Roach Wheeler created the costumes and set designs for the production.Comment:  For more on the subject, see Native Plays and Other Stage Shows.

Filming World's Best Indian Taco

Some location shots from the filming of Creative Spirit's Search for the World's Best Indian Taco:

Pamela Peters's Photos--Creative Spirit 2009
Steven Judd's Photos--film shoot

Quite an array of talent involved in making this short film: Steven Judd (writer/director), Saginaw Grant, Cody Lightning, Noah Watts, Crystle Lightning, JR Redwater, and more.

As you may recall in 2009 Script Winners Named, I was one of the Creative Spirit judges. I thought this script was by far the best one I read. James Lujan, the founder of Creative Spirit, wasn't sure he had the funds to make the film, so I'm glad to see it happening.

For more on the subject, see Creative Spirit Script Competition.

Indians and athletes at G2E

Lise King's pix of the Global Gaming Expo, including appearances by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, and Joe Montana:

G2E--Lise King Photography

Highlights of Lise's photos for those with a short attention span:

Lise Balk King's Photos--G2E 2009

For more on the subject, see Pix of Global Gaming Expo 2009.

Global Gaming Expo 2009 (Day 4)

Continuing my report begun in Global Gaming Expo 2009 (Day 1), Global Gaming Expo 2009 (Day 2), and Global Gaming Expo 2009 (Day 3):

After sleeping three hours Wednesday morning, three hours Wednesday evening, and one hour Thursday morning, I was up early and ready to go. Victor and I had breakfast in our room, then packed up and headed for the Convention Center.

I attended an Indian gaming panel that promised "issues and answers." Among the speakers were three I know personally: Mark Macarro, Ernie Stevens Jr., and Mark Van Norman. The panelists offered overviews of the subject but no hard-hitting Q&As, as I expected, so I left earlier. I took a circuitous route back to our booth and snapped some more pictures.

At our booth we met William Spain and Andrew Gellatly, the gaming writers from last night. We also met our good buddy Chad Gordon, a Native lawyer, and his new girlfriend Amy. Because Victor was eager to get home, we packed up the booth early.

Heading home

On the way out we met Dr. Kate Spilde, Indian gaming researcher, and had a long chat. We were a bit surprised to see Steve Kroft and a 60 Minutes crew pass by. Apparently they were at G2E to do an exposé on slot-machine addiction.

We picked up Victor's car from the Las Vegas Hilton, where he had parked it, and headed out. We had one interesting stop in Baker, California, in the middle of the Mojave Desert. A store selling "Alien Fresh Jerky" had dummy aliens on display on their roof and in a car.

We listened to Howard Stern all the way back. Victor did almost as well on Stern's SuperFan Quiz as the participants. At Victor's house, his wife Pat made us chicken soup and I played with their kitty Maya. Then I headed home.

For more on the subject, see The Facts About Indian Gaming.

Below:  IGT incorporates the hottest entertainment trends into its slot machines.

Megafauna died before Clovis Indians arrived

Scientists zero in on reason for mammoths' demise

The sediment beneath an Indiana lake is providing clues. One thing is clear: A meteor didn't kill off the mammoths, mastodons and other large plant-eaters, as previously theorized.

By John Johnson Jr.To track the population of large herbivores, scientists analyzed the pollen, charcoal and fungus in ancient sediments beneath Appleman Lake, a 35-foot-deep body of water left behind when the last ice age ended 20,000 years ago. The research focused on the amounts of the fungus Sporormiella present in the sediments, according to Jacquelyn Gill, a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin, Madison and a co-author of the paper appearing in today's issue of the journal Science.

Because the fungus is commonly found in the dung of large plant-eaters, its prevalence in the fossil record should be a direct measure of population density, Gill said. The research team found that the decline of the large mammals started about 14,800 years ago--and was virtually complete a thousand years later.What it means:According to Gill and the other researchers, from the University of Wyoming and Fordham University in New York, these dates eliminate several possible reasons for the mass extinction that were put forward previously.

The first is habitat loss due to a changing climate. Around this time, tree species such as black ash, elm and ironwood began spreading across the landscape of North America. According to Gill, the die-off of the big mammals predated this change. In fact, the loss of the big herbivores may have helped precipitate it. Without the large plant-eaters around to keep them in check, the tree species were free to colonize the countryside.

Another theory suggested that a comet or meteor impact that occurred about 12,900 years ago could have wiped out the big mammals in the same way that a similar but larger impact is believed to have killed off the dinosaurs. The new timeline shows the extinction event was already over when that impact took place, Gill said.

A third theory held that the animals were wiped out by a so-called "blitzkrieg" of hunting by Clovis culture humans. The Clovis culture is distinguished by the fluted spear points used by hunters to bring down large animals. But according to Gill, the die-off was already underway before the Clovis hunters arrived. "This was already happening before humans adopted the Clovis tool kit," Gill said.Comment:  The researchers say what didn't kill the megafauna, but not what did.

The precise timeline doesn't necessarily rule out any of the theories. A previous era of climate change or comet or meteor strikes could've wiped out the megafauna. Even a previous wave of Paleo-Indian immigrants could've done the job.

I'm still betting on some variation of climate change. Several Ice Ages occurred over the previous millennia, so this was an epoch of cataclysmic climate shifts. Each cooling and warming period must've been a huge shock to ecosystems.

For more on the subject, see Dennis Prager and The Ecological Indian.

Below:  "Researchers found that the decline of large mammals started about 14,800 years ago--and was virtually complete a thousand years later." (Ethan Miller, Getty Images/September 30, 2009)

Sioux fight for "Fighting Sioux"

Tribe battles to keep logo for Fighting Sioux

By Valerie RichardsonThe most prominent defenders of the University of North Dakota's right to call its teams the Fighting Sioux are neither alumni nor hockey fans.

They're Sioux.

A group of Spirit Lake Sioux won a temporary restraining order last week to stop the North Dakota University System from retiring the nickname and logo, one of the last in the country associated with an American Indian tribe. A hearing for a preliminary injunction is slated for Dec. 9 in Ramsey County District Court in Devils Lake, N.D.

Most such university team names have been abandoned in the face of criticism that they were offensive or derogatory, but that view isn't the only one in Indian country. Some tribal members take pride in their association with the Fighting Sioux and worry that eliminating the moniker "will cause isolation and a diminishing of public interest, knowledge and respect for Sioux history," according to the complaint.Comment:  The claim that a mascot is the only way people will remember the Sioux was stupid when a non-Indian made it. It's just as stupid when an Indian makes it.

How stupid is this claim? Here's a clue. The press frequently covers Sioux-related subjects--for instance, poverty, crime, and (the lack of) healthcare on the rez. Even in Newspaper Rock's limited area of pop culture, we talk about sweat lodge abuses, the SCALPED comic book, Indian chief wine holders, museum exhibits, old Western films, the Crazy Horse Memorial, and on and on.

If that isn't enough, the state is named for the Dakota people. And most Indian appearances in the media--for instance, the recent tribal summit--include Plains chiefs and tipis. If Americans ever forget Indians, the ubiquitous Sioux stereotypes will be the last thing they remember.

For more on the Fighting Sioux, see State Board Postpones "Sioux" Decision and Fighting Sioux = Fraidy Cats.

Pix of Global Gaming Expo 2009

Pix of our four-day trip to Las Vegas to man the PECHANGA.net booth at the Global Gaming Expo:

Day 1

Global Gaming Expo (Day 1)--Nov. 16, 2009

Report:  Global Gaming Expo 2009 (Day 1)

Day 2

Global Gaming Expo (Day 2)--Nov. 17, 2009
Global Gaming Expo (Day 2 evening)--Nov. 17, 2009

Report:  Global Gaming Expo 2009 (Day 2)

Day 3

Global Gaming Expo (Day 3)--Nov. 18, 2009

Report:  Global Gaming Expo 2009 (Day 3)

Day 4

Global Gaming Expo (Day 4 morning)--Nov. 19, 2009
Global Gaming Expo (Day 4 afternoon)--Nov. 19, 2009

Report:  Global Gaming Expo 2009 (Day 4)

For more on the subject, see The Facts About Indian Gaming.

Global Gaming Expo 2009 (Day 3)

Continuing my report begun in Global Gaming Expo 2009 (Day 1) and Global Gaming Expo 2009 (Day 2):

Not much to report today. After a day of rich food (chocolate candy, chicken parmesan), hard work, and little sleep, I felt a bit queasy when I woke up. I hoped it would go away, but I'd experienced this feeling before. I didn't think it would go away until I heaved up whatever was in my stomach.

So I stayed in bed all day, missing a CityCenter tour and the trade show. I did throw up a few times--once when the maid was present, embarrassingly. Since I hadn't eaten since 8:00 the previous evening, only clear fluid came up.

Victor covered the trade show for us. He came back early to work, then went to dinner with the Daily Gaming Writers, an annual event. I'm known for how much I ate at these dinners, but it wasn't to be this year.

Victor returned with two writers--Bill Spain of MarketWatch and Andrew Gellatly of Gambling Compliance--so I got to say hello. By then I had slept three hours in the morning and three in the evening. I was feeling well enough to go downstairs and take some pictures of the MGM Grand at night.

LA Times reviews New Moon

Movie review:  'The Twilight Saga: New Moon'

The novel demands that Bella and Edward be kept apart, robbing the movie of the crazy love that made 'Twilight' such a guilty pleasure. And about the director ....

By Kenneth Turan"This is the last time you'll ever see me," Edward Cullen says to Bella Swan. As if.

Spoken early on in "New Moon," that promise is one of the least likely to be kept in movie history. With most of that film still to unfold, and two more adaptations of Stephenie Meyer's "Twilight" series in the works, the next due out as soon as next summer, the world is going to see as much of Kristen Stewart's melancholy Bella and Robert Pattinson's undead Edward as it can take. Maybe more.

In the short term, however, Edward is as good as his word and "New Moon" suffers as a result. Constrained by the plot of the novel, the film keeps the two lovers apart for quite a spell, robbing the project of the crazy-in-love energy that made "Twilight," the first entry in the series, such a guilty pleasure.

"New Moon," which has been grandly titled "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" in honor of that first episode's huge success, marks the franchise's entrance into the self-protective, don't rock the boat phase of its existence, which is inevitable but a bit of a shame.

In place of "Twilight" director Catherine Hardwicke, a filmmaker of intense, sometimes overwhelming and out of control emotionality who seemed to feel these teenage characters in her bones, "New Moon" has gone with the more polished Chris Weitz.

A smooth professional whose credits include such adaptations as "The Golden Compass" and "About a Boy," Weitz makes the vampire trains of Melissa Rosenberg's capable script run on time, but he almost seems too rational a director for this kind of project. This lack of animating madness combined with the novel's demands give much of "New Moon" a marking time quality.

Yes, I know, "New Moon's" emotional energy is supposed to come through Bella's putative attachment to newly buff best friend Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner). But though audiences gasp when Jacob uses his shirt to staunch Bella's blood (don't ask) and reveals a torso that would make Charles Atlas swoon, the connection between these two is so self-evidently non-romantic that it turns out not to be much of a diversion.

More interesting is Jacob's discovery that as a member of the fierce Quileute tribe he is prone to turning into an exceptionally large wolf at a moment's notice, a wolf whose main objective in life is to safeguard humans from vampires. In addition to pining for Edward, Bella suddenly finds herself in the middle of age-old and bitter enmities. This is one hard-luck young woman.Comment:  Apparently the only message Turan got about Indians was that the Quileute tribe is "fierce." No doubt he got this message because the Indians are portrayed as half-naked, dark-skinned beast-men.

For more on the subject, see Quileute Werewolves in Twilight.

Below:  "I'm shirtless, dark-skinned, and fierce. I'm an Indian!"

Natives call Going Rogue fiction

State leaders call Palin's "Going Rogue" a work of fiction

Now that former Governor Sarah Palin's book is out for all to read, some Alaska leaders say he facts are plain wrong.

By Matthew SimonIn the manuscript's early pages Palin talks about the oil boom. While she says energy production and jobs were an upside, she also says downsides, like social problems for Alaska Natives, were created.

"Some Alaska Native leaders knew they must aggressively protect natural resources to which they were spiritually and physically connected." Palin writes. "Thankfully, the young state's founding fathers and mothers ensured the state constitution contained specific language guaranteeing equal rights."

But Alaska Inter-Tribal Council Executive Director Brad Garness says, "Sarah Palin has never supported tribal sovereignty, and she's made it clear she'll sell resources based solely on profit, with no respect for people who've inhabited the land since before recorded history."

Garness' organization represents all 229 Alaska tribes.Comment:  For more on the subject, see Palin Attacks Native Rights and The 2008 Presidential Campaign.

Natives address climate change

Native Americans Meet In Minn. On Climate ChangeNative American groups gather in Prior Lake, Minn., on Wednesday to strengthen their clout in global climate change talks.

The Native Peoples Native Homelands conference aims to give indigenous people more say ahead of a 192-nation conference on climate change in Copenhagen next month.

The conference will look at the effect of climate change on Native American communities, touching on subjects including subsistence economies, traditional plants and sacred sites. Organizers say global warming has a disproportionate effect on Indian communities because of their relationship to the land.

Sponsors include the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 36 tribal colleges and Native American environmental groups. The conference runs through Saturday at Mystic Lake Casino Hotel.Comment:  For more on the subject, see Indians Fight for Earth's Future and IsumaTV's "Countdown to Copenhagen."