Cartoons Saturday, Plus: Female Singers Get Their Due?

And the return of General Jack D. Ripper and his precious bodily fluids...

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So today, first: Rippered from the headlines, from The New York Times:

Utah Becomes First State to Ban Fluoride in Public Water

Medical experts warn the move could have consequences for oral health, especially among children.

Next, major movie creators and stars rip their own Motion Picture Academy for its weak response to beating and arrest of recent Oscar winner for “No Other Land.”

After all the Elton and Freddie and Marley and Bob and Bruce movies, Rolling Stone hails “the rise of the female rock biopic,” with Selena Gomez due to play Ronstadt, Shailene Woodley tackling Janis, Lizzo as Sister Rosetta Tharp—and now A24 announces that a Ronnie Spector biopic, starring Zendaya, will be directed by Barry Jenkins. The film, naturally, is titled “Be My Baby.”

So here’s a little prime Ronnie, singing live, folks, no lip-syncing. And she even survived life with Crazy Phil.

And here is my account of meeting her in the studio with him, with more music to enjoy, and a photo from that day (with Southside and Steve):

I will note here that The New York Times, in its review of the new Broadway musical, “Buena Vista Social Club,” cites Ry Cooder’s key role in the 1990s formation of the Cuban group and subsequent hit album and film—while the musical (which focuses on those early days) somehow does not. Here’s Ry and film director Wim Wenders interviewed by open bathrobe man, Charlie Rose.

From Tunes to Toons

Next week’s New Yorker cover, by Barry Blitt:

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